It's no secret that homelessness is one of Seattle's most pressing problems. A one-night count of homeless people in the city last year revealed more than 12,000 people have no place to call home -- including families with children, who accounted for 22 percent of Seattle's homeless population.
Some of those families seek assistance at Mary's Place, a shelter for women and children. Shortly before National Cancer Prevention Month — observed each February to raise awareness of the importance of cancer screening and healthy lifestyle choices — Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) brought its Mammogram Van to the shelter for the first time.
The van, a full-service mammography suite travels around King County to make it easier for women to get their annual mammogram, especially lower-income women who may not have easy access to medical care. “We are always looking for ways to get the van out there to those that otherwise wouldn’t be able to get their mammogram,” says Jovanna McKinney, manager of SCCA's mobile mammogram program. "The goal and intent of why the van exists is to take care of people who would otherwise have challenges getting care — underserved populations, which includes homeless people."
Anita Kennedy is among the 10 women who got screened on the Mammogram Van when it visited Mary’s Place. A former drug addict, Kennedy lost her home and has been staying at the shelter, where she was eager to sign up for a mammogram. “You’re just giving us the gift of life,” she told UW Medicine, whose radiologists read the scans.
Dr. Julie Gralow, director of breast medical oncology at SCCA, emphasizes that earlier detection saves lives. “If you can relieve some of the worry about, 'Where am I going to sleep tonight?', then maybe you can start thinking about, 'How am I going to protect my health so that I can be here to raise my children?'” she says.
Although the van typically requires appointments, McKinney says, the visit to Mary’s Place required a little more flexibility. “These women can’t make an appointment because they don’t know where they’re going to be,” she says. “We know they have different needs."
McKinney worked with the health services manager and a nurse at Mary’s Place to encourage interest. Some of the women who showed up were diligent about getting an annual mammogram; others came only due to a friend’s urging. “Everyone has different perspectives on screening,” says McKinney. “It doesn’t matter where you are in life — cancer is a risk. This is why we will continue to work in underserved communities."
Find out where the Mammogram Van will be located next by viewing the schedule. The van motors around the county six days a week, with occasional Sunday hours. Patients can book an appointment by calling 206.606.7800.
