[November 08, 2008]

Mobile mammography unit unveiled: Bonnie's Bus will serve rural counties starting in spring '09

(The Dominion Post in Morgantown (WV) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 8--THE AMERICAN Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older have a mammogram every year. For more info about Bonnie's Bus or to schedule an appointment at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, call 293-4500 or (877) 427-2894.

Women in rural West Virginia counties will be able to undergo lifesaving breast cancer screenings closer to home with WVU Hospitals' new mobile digital mammography unit, called Bonnie's Bus.

WVU and Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center officials displayed Bonnie's Bus at the new WVU Erickson Alumni Center on Friday.

Starting in spring 2009, a mammographer, traveling with a coordinator and driver, will begin screening women in West Virginia counties with the worst breast cancer mortality rates in the state.

According to the National Cancer Institute, West Virginia has the fifth highest death rate from breast cancer in the country. Death rates are rising in McDowell County, even though rates nationwide and statewide are falling. Mercer County and Mingo County could also be among the first counties visited because their rural nature creates access issues.

Also according to the NCI, death rates are higher than the national average in other West Virginia counties, including Taylor, Marion, Wayne, Mason, Logan, Mineral, Greenbrier, Cabell, Berkeley, Fayette and Jefferson.

In addition to the digital mammography machine, which is faster and exposes women to less radiation, the 40-foot long bus also has a patient consultation area, a small kitchenette, restroom and waiting area.

Bonnie's Bus is a result of the largest philanthropic gift in WVU history, made by native West Virginians Jo and Ben Statler, who gave $25 million to the university in October 2007. From that, $2.5 million was designated for the cancer center for the Bonnie Wells Wilson Mobile Mammography Program.

The bus and program are named after Jo Statler's mother, Bonnie, who succumbed to breast cancer in 1992.

"Mammograms were not available when mother was diagnosed," Jo Statler said, "and had they been, she would have been diagnosed much earlier and would probably still be living today. This was something we could do in memory of my mom and it's something that will be great for the state of West Virginia. We just feel like if we save one life, it's all worth it."

Breast cancer survivor and cancer center volunteer Gina Stewart said women in rural parts of the state are often medically underserved and do not have access to early breast cancer screenings.

Bonnie's Bus "is going to be a tremendous asset for rural folks," Stewart said, "It's especially hard with gas prices the way they are now to be able to travel clear to Morgantown or to a local hospital that actually has mammography. With Bonnie's Bus, we're going to take that to them, so more women are able to have mammograms and in turn be diagnosed early enough and then cured."

Before Bonnie's Bus can hit the road, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will evaluate the quality of mammography images as well as record keeping and other issues under the Mammography Quality Standards Act.

The mammograms will not be free. But billing services will be provided, and women who lack insurance will be matched to government or nonprofit charities.

Mammograms provided by Bonnie's Bus will be billed to the patient's insurance.

Women, who need follow-up exams as a result of their mammogram, will be referred to doctors or hospitals in their home communities.

"Over time, we will see some change in the breast cancer mortality rates," said Dr. Scot Remick and Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center director, "That's realistic because this is a relatively small state and even if we reach small numbers of women, we should be able to make changes in their lives."

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Copyright (c) 2008, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
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