‘Sophie’ Visits Senior

Center To Save Lives

By Susan Coney

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer. It is the most common form of cancer among American women and the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. The agency stated that 3.5 million women between 40 and 64 years of age are uninsured or have limited income and are far less likely to get screened, therefore they have an increased risk of dying from the disease.

Many women do not receive mammograms for other reasons such as lack of transportation, unavailability of nearby screening facilities, and the fear of learning the results. Marilyn Place the director of the Senior Center in Sandy Hook confirmed that all of the above are common reasons that women do not go for mammogram screenings.

With those concerns in mind the Senior Center arranged to bring “Sophie” for a visit to the center. “Sophie,” a state of the art, brand new, mobile mammography machine was brought to the Senior Center last week with the help of the organization, Swim Across the Sound and St Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport. Swim Across the Sound is an organization that is committed to providing breast and prostate screenings for those who would not have the access to such technology. It is a lifesaving concept that brings technology where it is needed most. Ms Place said that the mammograms were free to those with limited or no health insurance and that those providing the screenings worked with other seniors to help them file the required insurance papers to cover the test.

 Ms Place said that 27 women were screened that morning alone and many more received the lifesaving test as the day progressed. “Having it here and not at a medical facility takes the fear out of it. It tapped into a lot of ladies. We had two women this morning alone who have never had a mammogram,” she said.

Ms Place said that this was “Sophie’s” first trip to Newtown and that the screening was a huge success. She stressed the need to continue to provide health care screenings for those in the community with limited access to medical care. She said, “It was so well received by the community and a wonderful turn out. We will be offering the screening again in the fall.”