The Story of Women's Outreach Network

It was the summer of 1982. Mom, a high school biology teacher, was on vacation as usual. My mother’s mom was visiting with our family, when my mother stumbled upon my grandmother’s breast cancer. Grandma was washing her nightgown again in the bathroom sink. She did this every morning since she had arrived. My mother made a comment to Grandma about the availability of the washer and dryer. Grandma explained how every morning she would find a small stain on her night gown as a result of a discharge from her left nipple. Grandma thought this was just a sign of aging and nothing more. Grandma who was 77 years old at the time , set in her ways, had no formal education past the eighth grade, and a widow of more than 35 years was not ready to openly discuss her breast health changes with anyone. Breast self examinations or clinical breast exams were just not in her vocabulary, she was not ready to discuss her breast issues with her doctor or daughter! Mom became concerned immediately. She explained to Grandma, a discharge of any kind must be evaluated by a doctor, since it may mean that something abnormal had developed. Mom took grandma to a local radiologist that day.

After a mammography and some diagnostic testing she learned that Grandma had a ductal breast cancer. Luckily, Grandma’s breast cancer was found early. Grandma was treated successfully and went on to live well and cancer free for the rest of her life. My mom , an educator for so many years, had always been interested in women’s health issues. She was alarmed to learn that other than finding a lump in a breast, most of her family and friends had not been educated further, with regards to recognizing the signs of early breast cancer. Mom also realized that although mammography was recommended and available in 1983, that the majority of women she knew had never had a mammogram. She also found that few had ever heard of the exam and that in fact even fewer had a mammogram recommended by their physicians. My mom began to ponder and soon realized that one of the main reasons why she had not obtained a mammogram was lack of convenience. Being a full time mother, wife and teacher occupied all or most of her time. She realized that she was just not inclined to seek care for herself especially when she felt well. She began to conceive of a program that would bring the examination to women where they worked, or lived. Mom was, to say the least, committed to finding a way to get involved in the breast cancer fight.

She went to the library and began to research mammography. It was while doing this research that she found that although the science was approximately 85% specific, that few women nation wide were being screened regularly. She found that at the time 180,000 new breast cancers were diagnosed annually and approximately 46,000 women died every year. The statistic which concerned her the most was the fact that the mortality rate associated with breast cancer had remained unchanged since the early 40’s. Even with the invention of mammography which when utilized regularly would detect early curable cancers, women continued to die needlessly. She also learned that the first study of mammography called the HIP study, eventually proved mammography to be an effective examination. The HIP study took place in the early 60’s, and was conducted on board a mobile van which screened 10,000 women over a ten year period in New York City. My mother looked up the doctor involved in the HIP study and made an appointment to learn more.

Mom meet with Dr. Strax, a true pioneer of mammography. He was excited that the idea of mobile mammography could be re-born and agreed to help. Mom brought the idea of mobile mammography to my Dad, an engineer involved in designing equipment for the medical field. He confirmed that mobile mammography was possible, yet not practical. Dad was supportive yet skeptical. Mom forged ahead. She continued to consult with Dr. Strax. His enthusiasm was overwhelming. He offered his assistance on one condition, that she find a way to provide services to as many underserved women as possible. Dr. Strax provided policies and procedures that were compliant with State and Federal protocols. Together they designed a program which provides each patient with a mammography, clinical breast exam, and breast self exam instruction and named it Women’s Outreach Network, WON. My mother mortgaged her home and purchased a 33 foot van and mammography equipment. The van was transformed into a mobile examination office. She took a sabbatical from school and hired a staff of technologists and nurses and hit the road.

It was now the winter of 85’. WON began its important mission, to effect the mortality rate associated with breast cancer, by screening women and detecting early breast cancers. I joined WON in 1987. Our relationship as mother and daughter has been enhanced as we work together every day, dedicated to providing an alternative to traditional mammography settings. WON servesthe New York Metropolitan area. Thousands of women are screened every year. WON reaches women through community organizations , their coordinators, churches, synagogues, senior centers, schools, libraries, pool clubs, legislators, corporations, and clubs.

Annually, thousands of women are provided with the program at no-out-of-pocket cost. This is made possible through the generosity of the American Italian Cancer Foundation (AICF), and New York State/Center for Disease Control Partnership funds. The majority of these patients are not insured at all or are poorly insured. Free mammography is available to any patient regardless of race, religion, financial status, or any other constraint. Ironically , in May of 1999, Mom had a routine screening mammography on board the WON mobile van. A small lesion was discovered in her left breast. We soon learned that Mom had a breast cancer. Luckily for all of us Mom’s breast cancer was discovered very early. She has been successfully treated and is a survivor. Once again breast cancer had invaded our lives. However, due to awareness, and access to screening exams, my mother was spared the horrors of this disease. In fact Mom was back to her desk in a matter of days after her lumpectomy. I can now speak from first hand experience, the detection of early breast cancer is essential to the survival of the patient. Perhaps as important, the benefits are felt by family, co-workers, friends and the community at large. Although today we can not prevent a breast cancer from developing, together we can insure for the successful treatment of breast cancer through early detection. WON has been a terrific success story.

In the past 20 years of service, more than 145,000 examinations have been provided. Hundreds of early breast cancers have been uncovered. Early detection has not only saved the lives of the great majority of these women, their families, and friends have been profoundly affected. It is the dream of Women’s Outreach Network to be able to one day retire our van from service, because screening mammography will no longer be needed. We look forward to the day when science will offer a preventative method and eliminate this dreadful disease and the devastation it leaves behind.

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