Radiography & Radiology Blog

Mobile mammography service soon

MUSCAT — The National Association for Cancer Awareness (NACA) has launched the Sultanate’s first Mobile Mammography Unit (MMU).

NACA’s MMU service will begin end of July or early August 2009. For six months it will be located in the Governorate of Muscat, within or near designated health centres. The MMU’s schedule will be posted on NACA’s website and the public will be made aware accordingly. NACA’s MMU was custom-built in Oman and its service will be offered free of charge and to all residents of Oman, nationals and expatriates.

Latest technology
“In the interest of promoting good health and regular examination, this MMU will be dedicated to offering digital mammograms across the Sultanate, providing the convenience of rapid diagnosis and access to the most up-to-date technology. One of the barriers women face when choosing to attend a mammography session is the distance and time required to have the examination.

“This MMU will not only save lives and reduce suffering, it will save the health services a sizable amount of its budget by screening more women, regularly, thereby, reducing the number of potentially fatal or advanced cases,” said Yuthar Mohammed Al Rawahy, chairperson of NACA.

“The capital cost of the MMU is around half a million, the running costs will be RO34,000, annual cost for fuel and maintenance will be RO32,000, power will be just under RO50,000,” informed Dr Walid Ali Al Kharusi, member board of directors.

NACA’s MMU will be travelling the roads of Oman with the dual purpose of providing women access to mammography screening and raising awareness in communities across the country about cancer and the life-saving importance of regular checkups and early diagnosis.

Protocol
The programme targets women who fit the protocol laid out by Oman’s highly specialised oncologists, namely women aged 40 and older. Women below 40 with a palpable breast lump will be considered for mammography according to the mentioned protocols. An all female team of registered radiological technicians with advanced training in the discipline of mammography will staff the unit. A fully equipped examination room is on board allowing for clinical breast examinations as well.

The unit is accessible to women with special needs facilitating NACA’s aim to reach every woman. Upon entering, women will be led through a reception area, registered, and trained staff will take a brief medical history before the mammogram is taken. Following examination, women will be given a CD of the images to keep as a reference.

Before leaving they will have an opportunity to ask questions and receive information about how the results will be communicated to them as well as their physicians. Having an onsite digital mammogram in the MMU is just as safe and confidential as going to a fixed-site centre. Images will be transmitted to NACA where they will be read by specialised radiologists.

If lesions are suspected, the images will be transmitted directly to the oncology centres at Royal and Khoula Hospitals in the Ministry of Health, as well as Sultan Qaboos University Hospital where further analysis will be carried out and a decision on whether treatment is required can be made.

If the results are abnormal, the woman will be contacted by the Breast Centre staff at NACA to discuss follow-up care.

If results are normal with no signs of abnormality, women will be contacted and advised accordingly as to when they should return for their next mammogram.

Early detection
Early detection is crucial, especially as one third of all cancers, if detected early, can be effectively treated. With breast cancer, eight out of 10 lumps are not cancerous, and more than 90 per cent of people who are diagnosed early with breast cancer will live for five years or more. But early detection means that the disease must be detected before it becomes obvious and this is only possible through screening.

NACA chose a digital mammography machine as it has been identified as the best tool in early detection of breast cancer, having a higher detection rate in women under 50, pre- and peri-menopausal women and women with dense breast tissue. It also holds the added benefit of reducing the need for recalls and additional pictures, thereby reducing patient anxiety and stress.

No appointments
“Appointments are not necessary. However, the association will welcome advanced notice. We encourage women over 40 to approach the unit wherever it is stationed.

“Please look for the MMU and benefit from NACA’s outreach programme. The real benefit of NACA’s efforts with this MMU is the fact that screening for breast cancer through mammography reduces mortality due to breast cancer by approximately 20-25 per cent over 10 years among women 40 and older. Help us achieve that goal. Join us in our aim to reach every woman,” said Yuthar Mohammed Al Rawahy.

“It is important to recognise that the National Association for Cancer Awareness’ Mobile Mammography Unit has only been made possible through the support and generous funding from the private sector, individual philanthropists across the community, and the support of relevant government ministries.

The National Association for Cancer Awareness wishes to thank all its members, supporters and contributors and congratulates those who supported and funded this project and made it a reality,” added Dr Kharusi.

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