Project Renewal ScanVan to provide mammograms
for low-income residents in Long Island City
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | OCT. 9-OCT. 15, 2020 39
Cancer survival rates
are on the rise, and
that rise can be credited
to a host of factors.
Advancements in cancer research
and treatment have
played a big role in rising
survival rates, as have the
efforts of various organizations
to promote cancer prevention
and raise awareness
about the disease.
The World Health Organization
notes that between 30 and
50 percent of cancers can currently
be prevented by avoiding
certain risk factors and
implementing evidence-based
prevention strategies. However,
people can be vulnerable
to cancer if they do not pay attention
to their bodies or make
an effort to protect themselves
against certain risk factors for
cancer. In such instances, cancer
may already have spread
to other parts of their bodies,
or metastasized, before they
are even diagnosed, greatly
reducing their likelihood of
surviving the disease.
Cancer that spreads to distant
parts of the body is known
as metastatic cancer and is
often referred to as “stage IV
cancer.” According to the National
Cancer Institute, when
observed under a microscope,
metastatic cancer cells feature
traits like that of the primary
cancer and do not mimic the
cells in the part of the body
where the cancer is found.
That is how doctors can tell
that the cancer is metastatic
cancer and has spread from
another part of the body.
When doctors diagnose
metastatic cancer, they will
refer to it with the same
name as the primary cancer
regardless of where the metastatic
cancer was discovered.
For example, the Institute
notes that breast cancer
that has spread to the lungs
will not be referred to as lung
cancer, but metastatic breast
cancer.
In addition, when treating
the disease in this example,
doctors will treat the cancer
as stage IV breast cancer, not
as lung cancer.
Understanding metastatic
cancer can help recently
diagnosed men and women
better comprehend their disease
and their prognosis.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Each year the Project
Renewal ScanVan provides
mammograms, clinical
breast exams and care coordination
for communities
in need – regardless of their
ability to pay — including to
women who are homeless,
low-income, or uninsured.
During Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, the Scan-
Van will be providing those
services at no cost to lowincome
residents in Long
Island City on Monday, Oct.
19, at the Community Healthcare
Network Center located
at 36-11 21st St. from 9 a.m.
to noon.
Project Renewal’s mission
is to end the cycle of homelessness
by empowering individuals
and families to renew
their lives with health, homes
and jobs, according to Angela
Brunswick, director
of the Project
Renewal ScanVan.
Photo courtesy
of Project Renewal
The 40-foot,
s t a t e - o f - t he - a r t
ScanVan is the nation’s
first mobile
mammography clinic
and has been run
by Project Renewal
since 2008. The van
typically travels to
more than 200 locations
throughout the
five boroughs and in
Nassau County.
Its regular schedule
had been disrupted
due to
COVID-19, but
in July, the
van returned
to operation after
four months
off the road.
Amid the pandemic,
many women are hesitant
to get their mammograms.
In May, the Epic Health Research
Network indicated
breast cancer screenings
decreased by 94 percent nationwide,
compared to prior
years.
Approximately 60 percent
of uninsured women who
don’t have a regular doctor
forgo their annual mammogram
because of high costs
and lack of access to care.
According to Brunswick,
early detection can save
lives.
“Once you’re over 50
years old it’s important to
get an annual checkup. Black
women and white women
both get breast cancer, but
Black women and women of
color die at a higher rate due
to disparities in not having
access to health insurance,
or access to healthcare facilities
in their area and not
having their annual checkup,”
Brunswick said.
The Project Renewal
ScanVan is helping underserved
women safely access
screenings by following
strict sanitation and disinfecting
guidelines and utilizing
personal protective
equipment.
“We are also scheduling
less patients so that we are
seeing a lower capacity of
patients. It takes a little extra
time because we have to
do sanitizing between each
patient,” Brunswick said.
“Before patients enter the
van, we are taking their temperature
and making sure
they’re wearing a mask and
sanitizing their hands.”
Residents living outside
of Long Island City are welcomed
to visit the ScanVan.
To schedule an appointment,
call 646-415-7932 or visit www.
projectrenewal.org, or email
ScanVan@projectrenewal.
org.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–
4526.
The 40-foot state-of-the-art Project Renewal ScanVan provides mammograms, clinical breast
exams and care coordination for homeless, low-income or uninsured residents.
Photo courtesy of Project Renewal
Explaining metastatic cancer
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