Reading Hosting Dana-Farber Institute Mammography Van

READING, MA — The Town of Reading has announced that next month it will host the Dana-Farber Mammography Van, which will provide digital screenings (3D mammography) to women due for their annual mammogram.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 12, the van will be at Reading Town Hall, located at 16 Lowell St. Pre-registration is required and available online, by phone at 617-632-1974 or via email mammo_van@dfci.harvard.edu. Most forms of insurance are accepted.

"The van comes to you, and our friendly, professional staff provides easy access to a vital screening," the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute said in a statement. "The entire process takes less than 20 minutes."

In an ad promoting the event, the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute listed screening recommendations from three major American healthcare agencies.

According to the American Cancer Society, screening should begin at 45, with the option to start at 40. Women should get mammograms annually between the ages of 45 and 54 and every one to two years at the age of 55 and older. Women should stop screenings when their life expectancy is less than 10 years.

The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women start screenings at the age of 50, with the option to start at 40. Women should get screenings every two years and stop at the age of 74, according to the task force.

The American College of Radiology/Society of Breast Imaging recommends that women start getting mammograms at age 40, and get them annually until their left expectancy is less than five to seven years.