Lorain Market takes mammograms on the road, expands access to breast cancer screening
Mercy Health is making it easier for women across Lorain County to get potentially lifesaving breast cancer screenings with a new mobile mammography unit that will help remove barriers and make routine screening more convenient and accessible to women across the county.
Equipped with advanced 2D and 3D mammography technology, as well as bone density screening capabilities, the mobile unit will provide convenient access to screening mammograms for women throughout the region. The unit will initially make stops in Oberlin, Wellington, Wakeman and Oak Point, with plans to expand to additional communities.
The mobile unit uses the same high-quality imaging technology available within Mercy Health facilities, allowing patients to receive screening services closer to home, work and daily activities. By reducing transportation, scheduling and other access barriers, the mobile unit makes it easier for women to complete recommended screenings and support earlier detection of breast cancer.
The new mobile mammography unit was made possible through a gift from community supporters Chris and Heather Russo, whose personal experiences with cancer inspired their commitment to expanding access to breast health services. Their support, along with contributions from the Prentiss Foundation and the Mercy Health Foundation Lorain, helped bring the mobile unit to Lorain County. A ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted by Mercy Health Foundation Lorain on Thursday, August 13th to celebrate the Russo family and the new mobile mammography unit.
For Chris and Heather, support for the mobile mammography unit is deeply personal. The couple first met in second grade while riding the school bus and grew up together in Lorain County. Over the years, cancer touched both of their families in profound ways. After losing loved ones to breast and ovarian cancer, the Russos witnessed firsthand the critical role early detection can play when another family member was diagnosed with breast cancer. Their hope is that expanding access to screenings through the mobile unit will help more women prioritize their health and detect breast cancer as early as possible.
“Cancer has taken so much from our families. We know that early detection is everything,” said Heather Russo. “This mobile unit will help break down barriers like lack of transportation, demanding work schedules and childcare challenges by bringing lifesaving screenings directly to women in their own neighborhoods.”
“When we can remove barriers to preventive care, we create more opportunities for people to take an active role in their health,” said Scott Pember, president, Mercy Health Foundation Lorain. “Chris and Heather’s generosity, along with support from the Prentiss Foundation, is helping bring an important preventive service to more women across Lorain County.”
Additional information regarding mobile mammography locations, scheduling and availability will be announced in the coming months.
