Breast cancer screening is recommended every 2 years from the age of 50. Knowing that 34 women die per day in France from this pathology, including 1 000 per year in Occitania. Access to this screening is sometimes complicated with the problem of mobility in rural areas and the closure of certain radiology centres.
Mammographe mobile
At the end of 2019, when it was announced that the Quillan mammograph would stop working, a group of ladies launched a petition filed at the Limoux sub-prefecture. An action to develop the organized breast cancer screening offer in the Haute Vallée de l’Aude and a working group has been set up to work towards the arrival of a mobile mammograph on the territory : the Mammobile.
Thursday 23 June, a press conference intended to present this new equipment was held at the headquarters of the community of municipalities in the presence of Dr Pujol, director general of the CRDC-OC (regional cancer screening coordination center in Occitanie), Dr Elsa Vignon head of the CRDC site, Xavier Crisnaire, director of the ARS (regional health agency), Mr. Brizon, director of the Limoux-Quillan hospital center, Dr. El Habchi, doctor in Quillan, Pierre Castel, mayor of Quillan, Christian Soula mayor of Espéraza, of Francis Savy president of the community of communes of the Pyrenees Audoises, and of the five Quillanaises at the origin of the petition. All paid tribute to Christian Maugard who supported the petition of these women and worked with energy for the establishment of the Mammobile on the territory.
The Mammobile is a real mammography center on board a semi-trailer, in which a team of experienced and caring professionals work for women. Breast cancer screening is offered free of charge, without an appointment and without a prescription (CRCDC-OC sends an invitation to participate in this screening).
Intended for women aged 50 to 74, the examination, lasting less than 20 minutes, makes it possible to detect early, small cancers before the appearance of symptoms.
In addition to the realization of the mammography, a clinical examination will be carried out by a general practitioner of the territory on the spot. The mammogram will then be analyzed by a first radiologist, then re-read by a second for a double check.
During the visit of the Mammobile, a midwife will also be present, in order to raise women’s awareness of cervical cancer screening.
This project proposed within the framework of the local health contract of the Vallée de l’Aude is carried out by the regional center for the coordination of cancer screening in Occitania (CRCDC-OC) with the support of the Regional Health Agency, the Caisse Primary Health Insurance and MSA Grand Sud.
Free, without appointment
The Mammobile will be present 3 days from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. non-stop: Monday July 4 at Espéraza, Espace Louis-Alibert.Tuesday July 5 on Axat, place de la Gare;Wednesday July 6 in Quillan, Espace Cathare. For the occasion, doctors from the area are mobilizing: Espéraza: Dr Michel Grand and Dr Cécile Grand, retired doctors but still active for the area. Quillan: Dr. Michel Pech, retired doctor, but still active for the territory. Axat: Dr Marie Julie Tromme, doctor at Axat’s multidisciplinary home. The Mammobile can accommodate people with reduced mobility thanks to its lift. It offers the same guarantees and the same quality of care as in a traditional radiology center .