Mobile mammography group holds Safford screening

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: The Mobile On-site Mammography trailer sits outside the Graham County Department of Health Services building. The trailer brings high-tech mammograms to communities throughout Arizona.

jon@gilavalleycentral.net

SAFFORD – Mobile On-site Mammography (MOM) Inc. is bringing the mountain to Moses with its traveling screening facility, which will be parked in Safford on Monday and Tuesday.

MOM is Arizona’s largest and most advanced mobile mammography program in Arizona and has been screening women throughout the state for 21 years. For the past 10 years, the program has also been available annually in Safford.

A mammogram is a specific type of breast exam used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women. It is a quick, noninvasive X-ray targeted to each breast, producing pictures a doctor can use to identify and treat any abnormal areas.

The MOM trailer parked outside the Graham County Department of Health Services building at 826 W. Main St. on Monday, and its appointment book was full of county and city employees for that day. The trailer, which utilizes fully digital mammography technology for early detection breast cancer screening incorporated with digital computer aided detection (CAD), will also be open to the public Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The procedure is covered by individual health care plans, and those interested in making an appointment should first call the facility’s administrative office at 480-967-3767.

MOM technologist Kristina Krause said the mobile facility was very busy throughout Monday. She encouraged all women ages 30 and up to have a yearly mammogram and added that their procedure only takes about 15 minutes.

MOM employee Rise Ashcraft agreed and said those interested should call for an appointment as soon as possible. 

“Early detection saves lives,” Ashcraft said.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: MOM technologist Kristina Krause, left, and employee Rise Ashcraft encourage women ages 30 and up to have an annual mammogram.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: MOM technologist Kristina Krause, left, and employee Rise Ashcraft encourage women ages 30 and up to have an annual mammogram.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women ages 40-49 and one in seven American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, according to MOM.

Mammography has helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the United States by nearly 40 percent since 1990.

For more information visit mobileonsitemammography.com.

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