Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan coming to Carson City

The Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan will be in the Carson City area next week to provide screening and diagnostic mammograms for women 40 and older.

“We have been seeing an increase (in the number of women) with a demographic change of women who haven’t accessed (the Mammovan) before,” said Paula Guzman, development coordinator for Nevada Health Centers in Carson City.

These are “individuals who have lost jobs or insurance. We’re seeing increases specifically in pockets of Hispanic and African American women.”

On March 19 the van will be at the Smith’s grocery store at 599 E. William St., and March 20 it will be at the Nevada Legislature, at 401 S. Carson St.

Appointments are required and can be made by calling 877-581-6266.

In conjunction with the van at the Legislature, there will be a news conference at 10:30 a.m.

The speakers include a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed after a Mammovan visit and Nevada’s first lady, Kathleen Sandoval, the spokeswoman and honorary chairwoman for the Mammovan. In addition, the VON and Safeway foundations will be recognized for a $300,000 donation to keep the vans rolling.

The Mammovan is a mobile mammography van that travels to under-served areas of Nevada.

It provides mammograms to geographically isolated or uninsured women who probably would not seek out mammography services on their own.

Most insurance, Medicaid, Medicare are accepted, and mammograms will be available to qualified low-income or uninsured women.

Since the Mammovan began operations in 2000, 35,000 women have received mammograms through the service, Guzman said.

The 120 women diagnosed with breast cancer were followed and received treatment through partnerships with Nevada Health Centers.