BarnesCare and the Siteman Cancer Center, believe mammography screening should be available to every woman, everywhere. Mammography, an X-ray examination of the breasts, is the best test for identifying breast cancer before it can be felt – when the cancer is more likely to be curable.

To improve the convenience and availability of mammography, Siteman’s mobile mammography van that offers screenings by appointment will be at BarnesCare Midtown on November 18, 2013. Using state-of-the-art digital equipment that emits the lowest possible radiation dose, technologists obtain two-view mammograms. Each exam takes about 30 minutes, requiring very little time from a woman's busy schedule. Digital mammography images are examined by board-certified radiologists affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine and the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, and the results are reported to the patient and her physician.

The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for women age 40 and older with average risk. While the two-view mammogram represents an effective diagnostic tool, detecting 90 percent of any irregularities in breast tissue, it is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those who have breast implants, those with a history of breast cancer or those who may be experiencing warning signs of cancer.

The mammography van is certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 314-747-7222 or 800-600-3606 toll free. Van hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee will be billed to the patient, her insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid. Women should bring their insurance card to their appointment. For women who do not have insurance, special programs are available. For more information, call 314-454-8466.