Mammo/FIT: A Project to Assess the Effectiveness of Combining Breast Cancer Screening with Colorectal Screening on a Mobile Health Unit

Authors:

Stephenie Kennedy, West Virginia University Cancer Institute
Stacy Tressler (Presenter)
West Virginia University Cancer Institute

Sara Jane Gainor, West Virginia University Cancer Institute

Public Health Statement: West Virginia (WV) has the 3^rd highest cancer mortality rate in the nation and colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 4^th most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in WV. West Virginia’s colorectal screening rate (63%) is one of the lowest in the country.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 50, which is during the time when women should also be receiving mammograms.

Methods/Approach: Bonnie’s Bus, a mobile mammography unit serving WV, partnered with the ACS and a local business to offer education on CRC screening/early detection and free take-home Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) to eligible women receiving mammograms on the bus. All women age 50 and older who were not current with colorectal screening were offered CRC screening take home kits.

Results: Twenty-five employees received screening mammograms. Twenty-two were age 50 or older and received education on CRC screening and the use of FIT tests. Thirteen women were not current on CRC screening, twelve women agreed to participate in the project and were provided with take home FIT kits. Eight kits were returned and all results were negative.

Conclusions/Implications: Mammo/FIT was modeled on the highly successful Flu/FIT Program developed and implemented by the ACS. Pairing mammograms on Bonnie’s Bus with CRC screening education and take home kits could prove valuable to increasing CRC rates in West Virginia and reducing barriers associated with low CRC screening rates in WV.