On the afternoon of October 28, 2024, Fox Chase Cancer Center unveiled the latest iteration of its Mobile Screening Unit (MSU), which has evolved over nearly four decades to become a cancer research center on wheels. The MSU is dedicated to screening and outreach in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, as well as parts of New Jersey. Bigger than a SEPTA bus, the unit is now expanding its capabilities to include new services as well as 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 includes our most vulnerable populations who experience a higher burden of cancer.”
Uzzo joined in cutting the ribbon with Eric Green, MBA, CEO of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.; 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, President of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association; and Kirstin Diepholz, a representative of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a non-profit organization serving North Philadelphia’s Latino community.
A History of Advancing Cancer Screening and Awareness
Fox Chase Cancer Center introduced the first mobile mammography unit – affectionately known as the “Mammovan” – in 1988. It would soon become a mainstay of breast cancer screening as well as breast cancer awareness in the Delaware Valley. It was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, and over the intervening 36 years it has become a common sight across the region, in demand in various settings from corporate office parks to federally qualified health centers and faith-based, academic, and community groups.
“Nearly half of those who use these services—a staggering 47%—report that they would not likely have received recommended routine cancer screenings if not for our Mobile Screening Unit,” Uzzo said. “In addition, 99% of people served report that they would use our Mobile Screening Unit again.”
Today’s 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—in addition to offering digital 3-D mammography. The MSU will also serve as a mobile vaccine distribution center as well as a place for phlebotomy (drawing blood) and a means of conducting population studies and biospecimen collection in underserved communities across 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 corporate partnership with West Pharmaceutical Services, a longtime philanthropic partner of Fox Chase. Fundraising kicked off in 2021 as West pledged their support for the initiative, supplemented by donor events such as the 2021 In Vino Vita, which focused on the next-generation MSU as the special pledge of the year, and the Volley for Life volleyball tournament organized by Bob and Tricia McCool.
“We had been looking to upgrade our mobile screening unit for some time in order to adapt to the new 3-D mammography technologies and expand our screening offerings,” said Evelyn González, MA, Assistant Director of Fox Chase’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. “It is amazing to see how versatile this 40-foot truck really is, and it was all made possible through our partners and a dedicated community of donors.”
The new MSU may look like an oversized campervan, but it is built over a Freightliner truck body, which makes 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 hints of its truck pedigree, but the driver’s seat sits back from the front window, over the left front tire, providing great visibility in some of the crowded lots Wang finds himself navigating for events.
According to González, the MSU cost more than $900,000 to build, with a good portion of that going to the custom 3-D digital mammography suite the vehicle houses in its rear. Between the driver’s seat and the mammography technology is a private multipurpose patient area for screenings, examinations, vaccine distribution, phlebotomy, and the collection of biospecimens for research.
Promoting Inclusivity in Research and Care
In fact, the MSU will serve as a collection point for biospecimens as well as population data to advance cancer research. Too often, underserved communities find themselves under-represented in the science of cancer medicine. The MSU will serve as an extension of Fox Chase’s population studies research, and allow staff members to collect vital biospecimens that that will provide a broader understanding of disease biology and cancer genetics, especially among communities that may not always receive the benefits of cancer medicine.
“One reason we have over 19 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today is because we have found more effective ways to prevent, screen, and treat cancer; however, not every population has benefitted equitably,” González said. “This unit will enable us to offer research opportunities to populations who traditionally have been underrepresented, thus furthering our understanding of how to tailor our care to improve outcomes for all patients.”
Congreso is an organization that supports the Latino community of eastern North Philadelphia. Over the years, Congreso has been a Fox Chase community partner. According to Diepholz, the MSU has brought much-needed screening capabilities to the Congreso community and has saved the lives of more than one community member who might not otherwise have received care, let alone early detection. With support from state agencies, Congreso has assured that underinsured members of their community were able to access both breast cancer screening with the MSU as well as treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Screening, as Uzzo remarked, is intensely important to early cancer intervention. “It is difficult to understand the level of fear and uncertainty felt by people with a cancer diagnosis who come to Fox Chase for the first time,” Uzzo said. “The MSU helps take away fear—finding tumors early remains the most effective way to save lives.”