Upstate University Hospital unveils mammography van in state program to boost breast-cancer screenings

ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Upstate University Hospital on Tuesday introduced its mammography van, which is “aimed at ensuring easy access” to breast-cancer screenings for women in eight counties.

Those counties include Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Oneida, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence, Upstate Medical University said in a release.

Upstate held a morning ceremony to unveil the new van at its Community Campus at 4900 Broad Road in the town of Onondaga.

The van, funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Health, is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “No Excuses, Get Screened” breast-cancer initiative.

The van and equipment cost more than $833,000, Darryl Geddes, director of public and media relations at Upstate Medical University, told BJNN at the event. The grant funding totals $3.2 million for operating costs over three years, he added.

The initiative is aimed at “getting rid of obstacles to breast-cancer screening for women in New York,” per the Upstate release.

The average rate for screening mammography in New York is 81 percent. Cuomo’s initiative seeks to increase screening rates by 10 percent over the next five years.

About the van, availability

The mammography van spans 45 feet and includes a 3D digital-mammogram system, a private exam and dressing room, and a waiting room.

To be eligible for a mammogram on the van, women should be 40 years of age or older, have a doctor’s order for a mammogram, have health insurance, not have had a mammogram in the past 12 months, and not be having breast problems, per the release.

The van will visit various locations in June across Central and Northern New York, often partnering with municipalities and other organizations that provide space to host the mammography-van screenings. Kinney Drugs is partnering with Upstate University Hospital to make the service available at many of its upstate New York stores.

A list of locations and dates is available at the Upstate University Hospital website.

The van is also available to corporations, businesses and other institutions, like universities, that may want to offer mammograms to their employees.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com