Posted In TidalHealth Foundation News on June 19, 2024
In rural communities across the Delmarva Peninsula, getting essential healthcare services can be difficult for those who are particularly challenged with financial and transportation restrictions or the lack of care nearby. One essential service is mammography, which helps detect breast cancer early.
In response, TidalHealth is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking initiative and a “Drive for Mobile Mammography” fundraising campaign that marks a new chapter in its commitment to community health and empowerment.
TidalHealth Foundation has pledged to raise $1 million to help launch the region’s only mobile mammogram unit, bringing life-saving breast cancer screening services and earlier detection directly to communities—even the doorsteps—of people who need it the most.
“Breast cancer is a relentless adversary, affecting millions of lives worldwide each year. Its impact knows no bounds—it doesn't discriminate based on age, race, or socioeconomic status,” said Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President/CEO of TidalHealth. “Yet, in the face of this formidable foe, we have a powerful weapon: early, which saves lives.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, but if found early, the five-year survival rate is 99%. However, many women on Delmarva miss their regular screenings because of the forementioned restrictions.
The mobile unit will travel to Sussex County, Delaware, Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties in Maryland visiting neighborhoods, workplaces, and community centers, offering high-quality mammograms in a convenient and comfortable setting.
The unit, a 38-foot luxury motor coach outfitted as a breast center on wheels, will also feature services to educate women about breast health and connect them with resources for follow-up care if needed.
The unit is fully self-sufficient and equipped with the latest 3D mammography technology, which can detect 20-65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D technology. Mammograms will be performed by a certified TidalHealth mammographer ensuring the delivery of quality care and patient comfort. The images will be transmitted and interpreted by TidalHealth radiologists.
Hope Palmer, 50, owner of HD Marketing in Ocean City, Md., is a breast cancer survivor and supporter of the mobile unit.
In recovery and doing well from her Stage 3 diagnosis in 2011 during a routine exam with her OB/GYN and the numerous surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatment sessions that followed at TidalHealth’s Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute, she understands the importance of not only strength, support, and early detection, but the convenience of care.
“Resources and great doctors are so important in this fight. And the convenience of local facilities and mobile options that come directly to people is needed for both financial reasons as well as timing restraints for most women, particularly working women, today,” said Palmer. “It absolutely changes your perspective on life. Breast cancer has touched so many of us, and I know people will want to support such a great campaign.”
The TidalHealth Foundation’s campaign aims to bridge those gaps and eliminate barriers, making essential breast cancer screenings more accessible than ever. TidalHealth’s Population Health team will work with local health departments and community organizations to find the areas with the greatest need.
“This is truly a grassroots effort. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal. Gifts commemorating a loved one, whether in honor or in memory, will be listed on the mobile unit,” said Jessica Hales, TidalHealth Foundation President. “This will serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of mammography in early detection and prevention of breast cancer. This also underscores the significance of the support from loved ones in the journey towards health and recovery.”
TidalHealth hopes to have the Mobile Mammography Unit on the road by 2026. To learn more or contribute, please visit tidalhealth.org/mobilemammo or call the Foundation at 410-543-7140.
