Siteman Cancer Center Marks 40 Years of Mobile Mammography, Launches Lung Screening Van

Members of the WashU Medicine and BJC HealthCare communities came together to celebrate 40 years of Siteman Cancer Center’s mobile mammography program and unveil the newest addition to its cancer screening fleet. The milestone marks four decades of bringing lifesaving breast cancer screening closer to home for people throughout the St. Louis region.

Representatives from WashU Medicine Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) joined a celebration in Florissant to recognize the history and impact of the mammography van and mark the launch of the new lung screening van with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests toured both vehicles while staff demonstrated the equipment and explained what patients can expect during their visits.

The Past, Present and Future of the Mammography Van

The mammography van was the vision of MIR faculty members Barbara Monsees, MD, and Judy Destouet, MD. When it launched in 1986, it was the first program of its kind west of the Mississippi River. The original Airstream RV was equipped with a mammography unit and on-site film processing — cutting-edge technology at the time.

Today, the mobile mammography van provides screening to an average of 4,000 people across the region each year. Its technology has evolved dramatically, with advanced 3D mammography and, more recently, artificial intelligence assistance that helps radiologists identify cancers when they are smaller and more treatable.

Pamela K. Woodard, MD, the Elizabeth E. Mallinckrodt Professor and MIR director, reflected on the van’s origins and enduring mission. Woodard emphasized the impact of Drs. Monsees and Destouet in bringing breast cancer detection to the women who needed it most — at a time when mammography was new but research was pointing to the approach as the best way to reduce disease and prevent early death.

Debbie L. Bennett, MD, the Ronald and Hanna Evens Endowed Chair in Women’s Health at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and chief of breast imaging for MIR, highlighted how advances in imaging have transformed what the mobile program can offer patients.

While the mobile units look beautiful and impressive on the outside, said Bennett, the state-of-the-art technology, patient experience and clinical expertise offered are the hallmarks of the program’s success,” she said. And as imaging has advanced over the past 40 years, the mobile mammography program has kept pace to detect cancer earlier when it’s most treatable.

A New Chapter in Lung Cancer Screening

The celebration also marked the launch of Siteman Cancer Center’s new mobile lung screening van. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States after skin cancer and often causes no symptoms in its early stages. The 40-foot unit, the only one of its kind in the region, is equipped with a state-of-the-art low-dose computed tomography (CT) scanner for quick, painless imaging to detect the disease earlier. The van also includes a lift to accommodate people who use wheelchairs or have difficulty climbing stairs.

By bringing advanced lung cancer screening directly to communities across Missouri — including areas where more than one in five adults smoke — the mobile unit will expand access to early detection.