For the past three years, breast cancer has continued to be the leading cancer site diagnosed at McLeod Health. One segment of the McLeod referral base, Dillon County, ranks number one in the state for mortality from breast cancer; Darlington County ranks third for breast cancer mortality, and Lee County ranks sixth. Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. A mammogram is valuable because it can identify breast abnormalities before they can be felt. In addition, it has been shown that early detection increases survival and treatment options. When cancers are detected early, survival rates are better than 95%.

To reduce the impact of breast cancer on women in the region, the McLeod Health Foundation Board of Trustees unanimously voted to embark on a campaign to fund a new state-of-the-art digital Mobile Mammography Unit. After a very successful fundraising campaign, the McLeod Foundation announced in August of 2007 that the more than $800,000 needed to purchase the mobile unit had been raised through gifts from private, philanthropic sources, and that the unit had been ordered.

The McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit provides a convenient, comfortable, and private setting in which women can undergo a screening mammogram (used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer). An onsite mammogram in a mobile unit is just as safe, accurate, and confidential as going to a hospital.

The state-of-the-art equipment on the unit is identical to the two digital units located in the McLeod Breast Imaging Center. An all-female team of registered radiological technologists with advanced training in the discipline of mammography staff the mobile unit. Furthermore, trained registration staff members on the unit discuss personal and financial information with each woman in a highly confidential setting.

With the image processed on board using digital equipment, a woman knows before she leaves that her image is technically accurate. The images are then sent back to McLeod via satellite. The same board certified radiologists who read mammograms at McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Medical Center Darlington, and McLeod Medical Center Dillon interpret all mammograms performed on the mobile unit. After the images are read, a report is sent to the patient's referring physician, and a result letter is sent to the patient within 7 - 10 days after her mammogram. This process is exactly the same as if a woman had her mammogram performed at the hospital; the only difference is that the hospital comes to her.

Knowledgeable McLeod staff on the unit also provide education on performing breast self exams along with mammogram screenings. In addition, women will have the opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns they may have about breast health issues to the staff on board.

The McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit is the first of its kind for the Pee Dee Region and the first digital mobile mammography unit in the state.

The Mobile Mammography Unit is available Monday through Thursday to businesses, industries, health care facilities, and health fairs throughout the Pee Dee Region. Certain criteria must be met. For more information, and to schedule the Mobile Mammography Unit to come to your business, please call (843) 777-5657.