Mammography is hitting the road in Ventura County.

The Ventura County Health Care Agency's mobile mammography unit, a virtual radiology suite on wheels, debuted Friday in the parking lot of the Camarillo Health Care District office. County officials hope the new mobile unit will allow more women, particularly those who have difficulty accessing healthcare due to financial or transportation constraints, to get mammograms and ultimately, provide early detection and treatment for breast cancer.

'Early detection saves lives'

"It is a long time coming, but good things come to those who wait," said Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long at an opening ceremony just before the vehicle's first patient was scheduled to undergo an exam.

"Early detection saves lives. Mammograms save lives," Long said. "Every woman deserves access to mammography."

The vehicle, which includes an exam room, a changing area and mammography equipment typically found in freestanding radiology clinics, was the product of a years-long effort by the Ventura County Cancer Task Force — chaired by Long — the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation, and the county, who teamed up to pay for the mobile program.

The task force selected the mobile mammography unit as a project because breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in Ventura County and because early detection and treatment improves outcomes for women who are diagnosed with the disease. The vehicle made its debut just as Breast Cancer Awareness Month is winding down.

The vehicle is not intended for evaluation of recently discovered breast lumps or follow-up for women with a history of breast cancer. Instead, the mobile unit is aimed primarily at providing routine screening for women over 40.

Medical research has shown that making mammography more convenient increases the odds that women will undergo the exams, said Dr. Robert Gonzalez, medical director for the Health Care Agency.

Regular stops each month

The unit is expected to roam throughout the county each month, including stops at various county clinics most Tuesdays and Thursdays. Stops at health fairs or other community venues also will be scheduled for the vehicle, officials said.

"You can have sponsoring companies, agencies or community organizations that will encourage their members to do this," Gonzalez said. "You can go into areas that are geographically isolated. You could take mammograms to farm fields."

County officials expect that doctors at their clinics around the county will suggest the service to patients. And patients are more likely to follow through and have a test if they can have it done in familiar surroundings like their own doctor's parking lot, Gonzalez said.

Patients using the mobile unit need a doctor's order to undergo a mammogram. The vehicle is not limited to people who use county healthcare programs; private insurance also will be accepted. Women who don't have insurance or otherwise need financial assistance can also be connected to programs that cover the costs for those who qualify.

"The mission of the Health Care Agency is to provide access to all," said director Mike Powers, "and to remove barriers to access."

Community groups interested in scheduling the vehicle should call program administrator Jane Barbosa at 677-5223.