Free mammograms offered Saturday in Tucson

The event, paid for by a donation from Jim Click Automotive, is the company’s way of observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

After seeing an employee whose wife was going through breast cancer treatment, Click called Susan G. Komen Southern Arizona to find out what he could do to help, said Suzanne Reichart, events manager for Susan G. Komen. “He asked ‘what am I doing locally?’ and it developed into this.”

“Anything we can do to help women, even men — a guy I knew actually had breast cancer,” Jim Click said Thursday. “We’re excited about it. Ford is a big sponsor of Susan Komen, so we thought we’d give them some help, and at the same time, provide free mammograms at our dealership.”

Insured or not, nobody will be turned away at the event, Reichart said.

Appointments are recommended to speed up the process, since the pre-screening questions can be done by phone, but are not required. The average time it takes for a person with an appointment is 15 minutes, compared to 30 minutes for those without an appointment.

Approximately four mammograms per hour will be performed on the vehicle. “We’re trying to see as many people as we can,” Reichart said. “Anybody that Assured Imaging cannot see on Saturday will be scheduled by Pima County Health Department’s Women’s Wellness program to get a mammogram.”

Results will not be read on-site. For insured patients, results will be sent to his or her doctor. If the patient does not have insurance or a doctor, members of the Pima County Health Department’s Women’s Wellness program will be on-site to coordinate a doctor visit to have the results read.

The Pima County Health Department will also address follow-up questions on women’s wellness issues, Reichart added. “It’s not just about getting the mammograms, but any follow-up that is needed.”

Similar events have been held in the past at the dealership, Reichart said. “It’s a community partnership that we’re looking to build on and continue beyond October.”