Looking ahead a few weeks, a mobile mammography van will be on hand at the Bridgehampton Firehouse on Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering breast cancer screenings by appointment. The 40-foot van, which offers state-of-the-art 3-D digital mammograms, has a comfortable waiting area, a private dressing room, and a complete exam room. New York State-registered radiologic technologists with advanced training in mammography administer the screenings, which will be read by board-certified radiologists at Stony Brook Hospital.
Women 40 years or older never diagnosed with breast cancer, who have not had a mammography in the past year and are not pregnant or breast feeding, are eligible for a screening. They must not have had implants or breast issues, such as a lump or nipple discharge. All patients must have had an office visit within the past year with a gynecologist, primary care physician, or internist who has agreed to accept the results of the screening.
On the day of the screening, women must take photo identification and an insurance card. If they are not insured, the mammography will be processed through the Cancer Services Program of New York, if it is eligible. The program is supported with funds from Health Research, Inc. and the New York State Department of Health.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment may call 631-638-4135.