NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Outside Norfolk International Airport, people were able to check their bags and their breasts.
Sentara’s 3D Mobile Mammography van that was parked outside offered employees, passengers and passers-by the opportunity to obtain potentially lifesaving screening.
Previously: Sentara’s 3D Mammography van brings cancer screening to you
“I always wondered how you can get a mammogram done in such tight capacity, but it’s actually roomy here,” Tiffney Smith said.
Smith, an airport employee, popped in during a work break. It only took abut 15 minutes.
Sentara staff screened 2,600 women on the mobile unit last year. They detected 418 abnormal results, which led to 20 breast cancer diagnosis.
“It tears out a lot of barriers,” said Darlene North, mobile mammography team lead. “A lot of ladies in those areas don’t have transportation, so we’re coming to them.”
North would like to get to more women screened, especially in high-demand areas.
“We’re hoping to get more funding for some more vans,” North said. “We’re going to have one on the Peninsula exclusively, and then an additional one for the Hampton Roads area.”