Who’s Behind the Wheel of the Mobile Mammography Coach

Cecilia Carpenter, Reading Hospital Mobile Mammography Coach driver.

When you see the Reading Hospital Mobile Mammography Coach traveling throughout Berks County and surrounding areas, make sure you wave to Cecilia Carpenter, the coach driver who is helping the hospital provide easier access to annual screening mammograms.

At Reading Hospital, ourmotto is 'Find It Early. Fight It Hard.' Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and in the United States, one in eight women will be diagnosed at some point in their lives. A mammogram is the bestway to detect breast cancer early so treatment is less invasive and survival rates are much higher. Starting at age 40, it is recommended that women at an average risk of breast cancer begin screening annually. If you have a family history of breast cancer, screening is advisable earlier. We encourage you to talk with your provider to determine the appropriate time to start screening.

"When I first applied for this role, I didn't realize the impact we would have," said Carpenter, whotakes pride in what she does, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. "It's great that we're reaching out to the community and getting people their exams."

Reading Hospital's Mobile Mammography Coach, sponsored by the Reading Hospital Foundation, helps reducebarriers by making it quick, easy, and convenient to access life-saving mammogram screenings. Even when patients are nervous about their first visit, they tend to relax once they arrive, thanks largely to Carpenter and her warm, energetic personality.

Carpenter welcomes patients and then, along with a trained Mammography Technologist, helps to answer any questions. "I've had mammograms, and I know it can make you nervous. But I tell patients, 'You're going to be fine, I promise,'" she said. "We like to provide insight to make them feel more comfortable, and most patients relax once they experience it. They leave with a sense of accomplishment because they did something they needed to do and something that could save their life."

Mammogramsare truly the best defense against breast cancer. From September 2022 through July 2023, the Mobile Mammography Coachscreened 790 women at 97 events. Of those screened 81.3 percent live in Berks County and 41.4 percent live in the City of Reading. The coach hopes to address barriers faced by those in need of care by making it easier to get screened wherever they are in the community.

"We know what works well and are very efficient so that people are in and out of their screenings on time," Carpenter said. "We've been operating for over a year now, and we're already seeing repeat patients," Carpenter said. "I've seen names I recognize. Once you get settled in, it's greatinteracting with everyone, and they're eager to come back."

Schedule Your Mammogram

A mammography screening on the Mobile Mammography Coachis private and takes only 15 minutes. The Coach is outfitted with two private rooms for changing, curtains that securely block the front windows, and the same state-of-the-art technology - 3D tomosynthesis - found at any Tower Health breast imaging center. The technology improves imaging accuracy, reduces unnecessary call-back visits, and enables providers to detect more invasive cancers.

Patients can schedule an appointment with the Reading Hospital Mobile Mammography Coach here , view upcoming event dates and locations, or reach out for assistance with scheduling by calling 1-833-34-TOWER.