Long Beach Island Health Department hosts Dr. Jan Astin Digital Mammography Van May 20

Taking time out from work or family to get a mammogram can be a hassle. The Dr. Jan Astin Digital Mobile Mammography Van, funded through the AMI Foundation of Atlantic Medical Imaging, is a convenient option that provides women in southeastern New Jersey with high-quality, digital mammography services.

Photo via AMI Foundation
The mammography van is furnished with
a comfortable waiting area.

In observation of National Women’s Health Week, female residents can access the mammography van at the Long Beach Island Health Department, located at 9306 Long Beach Blvd. in Peahala Park (behind the water tower and next to the Acme Supermarket), on Tuesday, May 20, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. Most insurance plans are accepted for the screening, and funding for those without insurance coverage is available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a time, call 609-677-9729.

“It’s important for women to be screened, to prevent breast cancer and catch it in the early stages,” said Dana O’Connor, public health nurse supervisor at the LBI Health Department, which has been offering the program for more than 20 years. “It’s been very favorable over the years, and that’s why we continue to offer it. It’s very convenient.

“Sometimes women don’t plan to have a mammogram. If they see the van, they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I have time today, let me get it done.’ So that’s really good,” she added. “Women are always so busy caring for everybody else in the family, the husband, significant other, children, they don’t stop to take care of themselves. If they see the van, it might trigger something, like, ‘You know what, I really should get this done.’ Maybe they’ve never had one done ever. Hopefully it’ll encourage them to take some time out of the day for themselves.”

In addition to featuring state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment, the van is fully furnished with a comfortable waiting area and private dressing rooms. The services meet the high accreditation standards set by the American College of Radiology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Studies have shown that digital mammography, which uses a computer rather than conventional film images, helps radiologists better detect breast cancer among some women, including women with dense breast tissue and younger women.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 40 and older have a mammogram every year, for as long as they are in good health. It is also recommended that women at high-risk have at least one baseline mammography screening between the ages of 35 and 40. O’Connor suggests talking to a primary care physician for further information.

The LBI Health Department will host the mammography van again later in the year, on June 11, Oct. 22 and Dec. 19. For more information, visit lbihealth.com or call 609-492-1212.

–Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper