The Story behind the program
It was the summer of 1984. Mom, a high school biology teacher, was on
vacation as usual. My mother’s mom was visiting with our family, when
my mother stumbled upon my grandmother’s breast cancer. Grandma was washing
her nightgown again in the bathroom sink. She did this every morning since
she had arrived. My mother made a comment to Grandma about the availability
of the washer and dryer. Grandma explained how every morning she would
find a small stain on her night gown as a result of a discharge from her
left nipple. Grandma thought this was just a sign of aging and nothing
more. Grandma who was 77 years old at the time , set in her ways, had
no formal education past the eighth grade, and a widow of more than 35
years. She was certainly not ready to openly discuss her breast health changes with anyone.
Breast self examinations or clinical breast exams were just not in her
vocabulary. She was not going to discuss her breast issues with
either her doctor
or daughter. Mom became concerned immediately. She explained to Grandma,
a discharge of any kind must be evaluated by a doctor, since it may mean
that something abnormal had developed. Mom took grandma to a local radiologist
that day.
After a mammography and some diagnostic testing that week Mom learned that Grandma
had a ductal breast cancer. Luckily, Grandma’s breast cancer was found
early. Grandma was treated successfully and went on to live well and cancer
free for the rest of her life. My mom, an educator for so many years,
had always been interested in women’s health issues. She was alarmed to
learn that other than finding a lump in a breast, most of her family and
friends had not been educated further, with regards to recognizing the
signs of early breast cancer. Mom also realized that although mammography
was recommended and available in 1984, that the majority of women she
knew had never had a mammogram. She also found that few had ever heard
of the exam and that in fact even fewer had a mammogram recommended by
their physicians. My mom began to ponder and soon realized that one of
the main reasons why she had not obtained a mammogram was lack of convenience. Being a full time mother, wife and teacher occupied all or most of her
time. She realized that she was just not inclined to seek care for herself
especially when she felt well. She began to conceive of a program that
would bring the examination to women where they worked, or lived. Mom
was, to say the least, committed to finding a way to get involved in the
breast cancer fight.
She went to the library and began to research mammography. It was while
doing this research that she found that although the science was approximately
85% specific, that few women nation wide were being screened regularly.
She found that at the time 180,000 new breast cancers were diagnosed annually
and approximately 46,000 women died every year. The statistic which concerned
her the most was the fact that the mortality rate associated with breast
cancer had remained unchanged since the early 40’s. Even with the invention
of mammography which when utilized regularly would detect early curable
cancers, women continued to die needlessly. She also learned that the
first study of mammography called the HIP study, eventually proved mammography
to be an effective examination. The HIP study took place in the early
60’s, and was conducted on board a mobile van which screened 10,000 women
over a ten year period in New York City. My mother looked up the doctor
involved in the HIP study and made an appointment to learn more.
Mom met with Dr. Strax, a true pioneer of mammography. That the idea of mobile mammography could be re-born
was exciting to Dr. Strax and immediately agreed to help.
Mom brought the idea of mobile mammography to my Dad, an engineer involved
in designing equipment for the medical field. He confirmed that mobile
mammography was possible, yet not practical. Dad was supportive but yet skeptical. Mom forged ahead. She continued to consult with Dr. Strax. His enthusiasm
was overwhelming. He offered his assistance on the condition, that services to
the underserved woman would be an integral part of the program.
Dr. Strax provided policies and procedures that were compliant with State
and Federal protocols. Together they designed a program which provides
each patient with a mammography, clinical breast exam, and breast self
exam instruction and named it Women’s Outreach Network, WON. My mother
mortgaged her home and purchased a 33 foot van and mammography equipment.
The van was transformed into a mobile examination office. She took a sabbatical
from school and hired a staff of technologists and nurses and hit the
road.
It was now the winter of 85’. WON began its important mission. The mission then as well as now is to reduce the mortality rate associated with breast cancer, by screening women and
detecting early breast cancers. I joined WON in 1987. Our relationship
as mother and daughter has been enhanced as we work together every day,
dedicated to providing an alternative to traditional mammography settings. We served the New York Metropolitan area. Thousands of women
were screened every year. We reached women through community organizations , their
coordinators, churches, synagogues, senior centers, schools, libraries,
pool clubs, legislators, corporations, and clubs.
Today, thousands of women are provided with the program at
no-out-of-pocket cost. This is made possible through the
generosity of our contributors like the Avon Foundation, Komen Greater
New York, Colgate Palmolive Corporation, Henry Schein Corporation,
Richmond County Savings Foundation, Cummings Foundation, Judges and
Lawyers Against Breast Cancer, and the NYS Cancer Services Program. The majority of
our patients are not insured at all
or are poorly insured. Free mammography is available to any patient regardless
of race, religion, financial status, or any other constraint. Ironically
, in May of 1999, Mom had a routine screening mammography on board our van. A small lesion was discovered in her left breast. We soon
learned that Mom had breast cancer. Luckily for all of us Mom’s breast
cancer was discovered very early. She has been successfully treated and
is a survivor. Once again breast cancer had invaded our lives. However,
due to awareness, and access to screening exams, my mother was spared
the horrors of this disease. In fact Mom was back to her desk in a matter
of days after her lumpectomy. Recently my sister at age 49 was
diagnosed with breast cancer, also in an early stage due to diligent
screening. The detection of early breast cancer is essential to the survival of the
patient. Perhaps as important, the benefits are felt by family, co-workers,
friends and the community at large. Although today we can not prevent
a breast cancer from developing, together we can insure for the successful
treatment of breast cancer through early detection.
In September 2008 the WON program became a division of Project Renewal.
Project Renewal is a 501 C3 charitable organization. Project Renewal
Scan Van program carries on the mission.
In the past 24 years of service, more than 161,000 examinations have
been provided. Hundreds of early breast cancers have been uncovered. Early
detection has not only saved the lives of the great majority of these
women, their families, and friends have been profoundly affected. It is
our hope to one day retire our
van from service, because screening mammography will no longer be needed. We look forward to the day when science will offer a preventative method
and eliminate this dreadful disease and the devastation it leaves behind.
