Low-Cost Digital Screening Mammograms in April

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) is offering $50 screening mammograms with no physician order or proof of insurance during the month of April.

Breast cancer remains the second most common cancer among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In women who are over 40 or at a high risk of developing breast cancer, annual screening mammograms are critical to early detection and diagnosis, which can lead to more treatment options and successful health outcomes.

Throughout the pandemic, the hospital saw a 25% decrease in women scheduling a screening mammogram for breast cancer. Postponed appointments are likely to have been caused by a number of factors, including fear of contracting COVID-19 in a healthcare setting, loss of health insurance or lack of access to transportation or childcare.

“The pandemic has caused many individuals to put off important health screenings, including mammograms,” says Paul Reisch, MD, medical director of the Breast Health Center at PVHMC. “By offering these low-cost mammograms, we’re hoping to reduce any financial barriers that may be preventing women in our community from getting the care they need.”

Women who are eligible for this screening include:

• Women over 40 years of age
• Women without breast implants
• Women who do not have a history of breast cancer in the past five years
• Women who are not currently experiencing breast problems

While many breast care centers only offer 3D mammography to women with dense breast tissue, PVHMC was one of the first in the region to offer digital 3D mammography to all of its patients, regardless of their income or insurance coverage. PVHMC is also one of the only hospitals in the region to offer the SmartCurve™ breast stabilization system, which is clinically proven to deliver a more comfortable mammogram without compromising image quality, workflow or dose. The system detects more invasive cancers, and reduces false positives, pain and discomfort associated with flat paddle compression traditionally used for mammograms.

To schedule a $50 3D mammography appointment in April at the Breast Health Center, located within The Robert & Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center in Pomona, or at the Pomona Valley Health Centers in Claremont, Chino Hills or La Verne, call PVHMC’s scheduling line at (909) 469-9395. Learn more about breast imaging services at PVHMC here.