On the afternoon of October 28, 2024, Fox Chase Cancer Center unveiled the latest version of its Mobile Screening Unit (MSU), which over nearly four decades has evolved into a cancer research center on wheels. MSU is committed to screening and outreach in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, as well as parts of New Jersey. The unit is larger than a SEPTA bus and is now expanding its capabilities to include new services and support for cancer science and population studies.
“With generous support from West Pharmaceutical Services, the new MSU will allow us to reach more people in more ways, breaking down barriers and increasing access to early screening and lifesaving care,” said Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center. “This also applies to our most vulnerable populations, who experience a higher burden of cancer.”
Uzzo teamed up with Eric Green, MBA, CEO of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. cutting the ribbon; State Senator Jimmy Dillon, of Fox Chase’s local Senate district; Sean Tobin, a representative of U.S. Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02); Aizaz Gill, chairman of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association; and Kirstin Diepholz, a representative of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a nonprofit serving the Latino community in North Philadelphia.
A history of promoting cancer screening and awareness
Fox Chase Cancer Center introduced the first mobile mammography unit – affectionately known as the “Mammovan” – in 1988. It would quickly become a mainstay of breast cancer screening and breast cancer awareness in the Delaware Valley. It was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, and in the intervening 36 years it has become a common sight across the region, in high demand in a variety of settings from office parks to federally qualified health centers and faith-based, academic and community groups . .
“Nearly half of those who use these services – as many as 47% – report that they likely would not have received the recommended routine cancer screenings if it were not for our Mobile Screening Unit,” Uzzo said. “In addition, 99% of people helped report that they would use our Mobile Screening Unit again.”
The current MSU has capabilities that far exceed the original van. While the first van pioneered mobile mammography, the new MSU will host screening for a variety of cancer types, including skin, colorectal, oral, head and neck and cervical cancers, in addition to offering digital 3D mammography . The MSU will also serve as a mobile vaccine distribution center, as well as a phlebotomy (blood collection) site and a means of conducting population studies and biospecimen collection in underserved communities throughout the area.
Serving the community, with local partners and philanthropic support
According to Uzzo, the new MSU was only possible through the efforts of Fox Chase donors and a business partnership with West Pharmaceutical Services, a longtime philanthropic partner of Fox Chase. Fundraising began in 2021 when West pledged their support for the initiative, supplemented by donor events such as the In Vino Vita 2021, which focused on the next generation of MSU as the special pledge of the year, and the Volley for Life volleyball tournament hosted by Bob and Tricia McCool.
“We have been looking to upgrade our mobile screening unit for some time to adapt to new 3D mammography technologies and expand our screening offerings,” said Evelyn González, MA, deputy director of Fox Chase’s Office of Community Outreach and Commitment . “It’s amazing to see how versatile this 40-foot truck really is, and it’s all made possible by our partners and a dedicated community of donors.”
The new MSU may look like an oversized camper, but it’s built over a Freightliner truck body, making for a solid yet ultimately comfortable driving experience, says Ed Wang, who has been driving for the outreach program since January 2018. There are few clues to his truck’s origins, but the driver’s seat is behind the windshield, above the left front tire, providing excellent visibility in some of the busy parking lots. Wang navigates to events.
According to González, the MSU cost more than $900,000 to build, much of which went to the custom 3D digital mammography suite located in the rear of the vehicle. Between the driver’s seat and the mammography technology is a multi-functional private patient area for screenings, examinations, vaccine distribution, phlebotomy and collection of biospecimens for research.
Promoting inclusivity in research and care
In effect, the MSU will serve as a collection point for both biospecimens and population data to advance cancer research. Too often, underserved communities are underrepresented in the science of cancer medicine. The MSU will serve as an extension of Fox Chase’s population studies research and will allow staff members to collect vital biospecimens that will provide a broader understanding of disease biology and cancer genetics, especially among communities that may not always receive the benefits of cancer drugs.
“One reason we have more than 19 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today is because we have found more effective ways to prevent, screen and treat cancer; But not every population has benefited equally,” González said. “This unit will allow us to provide research opportunities to populations that have traditionally been underrepresented, helping us better understand how to tailor our care to improve outcomes for all patients.”
Congreso is an organization that supports the Latino community in eastern North Philadelphia. Over the years, Congreso has been a community partner of Fox Chase. According to Diepholz, MSU has provided the Congreso community with much-needed screening options and saved the lives of more than one community member who otherwise might not have received care, let alone early detection. With support from state agencies, Congreso ensured that underinsured members of their community had access to both breast cancer screenings at MSU and treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Screening, as Uzzo noted, is very important for early cancer intervention. “It is difficult to understand the level of fear and uncertainty felt by people diagnosed with cancer who come to Fox Chase for the first time,” Uzzo said. “The MSU helps eliminate fear; early detection of tumors remains the most effective way to save lives.”
