Grantee Spotlight

ST. JOSEPH’S MEDICAL CENTER
DIGITAL MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY PROGRAM

My name is Carol Spinks and a piece of paper and a phone call changed my life. It all started with one small, pink half sheet of paper. And it might have saved my life. It was a flyer providing information on the St. Joseph mobile Mammography unit and the availability of free and reduced Mammograms. I had recently changed jobs and lost the coverage of my previous job and was ineligible for new coverage until July. I had been thinking about a mammogram but felt no urgency; so when I called to make an appointment but was unable to attend I assumed I get to it……eventually.

But to my surprise St. Joseph called me. They asked if there was something they could do to reschedule a successful appointment and so I went. As I looked at the same digital image that the Mammographer was viewing, I knew what she was not saying, those dots on the screen were not “normal”.

I was diagnosed as having ductal carcinoma in situ which is defined by the American Cancer Society as:

“Ductal carcinoma in situ (also known as intraductal carcinoma) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. DCIS means that the cancer cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.

About 1 out of 5 new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. Nearly all women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured. A mammogram is often the best way to find DCIS early. “(American Cancer Society website page What Is Breast Cancer?)

I had a lumpectomy all the way to the base of my chest wall. Throughout all of these procedures St. Joseph remained a presence by calling and checking in with me offering support, compassion and information.

I am now on estrogen reducing drugs and so far so good.

But I can say that two small almost insignificant things changed my life forever; a small slip of pink paper and a phone call.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center of Stockton “Mobile Mammography Program”, is the first mobile unit of it’s kind in Northern California, providing the latest in state of the art digital mammography services. The development of this program was made possible through a grant received by the, Sacramento Valley Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

This full-service mammography clinic on wheels, housed in an 18-wheel tractor-trailer, is licensed by the State of California and accredited by the FDA and the ACR (American College of Radiology) and meets all requirements for performing screening mammography.

The mobile unit is the first in the state using digital technology. The GE Senograph 2000D is a full-field digital mammography system, designed and manufactured by GE Medical Systems. It provides the radiologist with a precise all-digital image, rather than the standard X-ray film.

Our program targets women age 40 and older, that are underserved or uninsured, facing financial barriers or are living in hard-to-reach outlying areas. Our service region includes 22 counties of central and northern California, which include urban and very rural parts of the state. We are providers in California’s, “Every Women Counts”, Cancer Detection Program, allowing us to provide screening mammograms and pap smears free of charge to those women who qualify. .

Our program makes it convenient for women to obtain mammograms, by delivering mammography equipment and experienced staff to locations that are easily accessible; shopping centers, churches, health clinics or any site where women can benefit from having convenient access to high-quality mammography services. The program also offers a work-site program, where the unit will come to a company site and provide services to the employees. This makes it convenient for the employee and saves the company lost productivity time. Our visits can be scheduled monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or annually. Our goal is to reach out to all women.

Once the services are complete, follow up is just as important to us. St. Joseph's Cancer Detection Case Managers and Outreach workers continue to work with the women when follow up is needed.