Mobile Mammography Schedule Brings Screenings to Apache County Communities
The Navajo Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention Program released its October–November mobile mammography schedule, adding stops across the Chinle Agency that serve Apache County communities. Local residents in Chinle, Many Farms, Rock Point, Lukachukai, Rough Rock, Round Rock, and Tsaile can call the program for dates, locations, and eligibility, improving access to early cancer detection.
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The Navajo Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention Program has published its October–November mobile mammography schedule, listing upcoming stops within the Chinle Agency and contact information for residents seeking screenings. The program’s online page includes program contacts — including a Chinle office number — and links to health education materials and podcast episodes designed to inform community members about breast and cervical cancer prevention and screening.
Bringing a mobile unit to communities across Apache County aims to reduce geographic and logistical barriers that often prevent timely cancer screening in rural areas. The schedule identifies service availability for residents in Chinle, Many Farms, Rock Point, Lukachukai, Rough Rock, Round Rock and Tsaile, and encourages people to call for specific dates, locations and eligibility details. For many families, having a nearby mobile mammography clinic can mean the difference between receiving routine screening and facing delayed diagnosis.
Public health experts emphasize that screening is a cornerstone of cancer prevention because it enables earlier detection, when treatment options are most effective. In rural and tribal areas, however, long distances to fixed clinics, limited public transportation, and competing family or work responsibilities can hinder access. Mobile services are a targeted response to these systemic barriers, bringing care closer to where people live and work.
The program’s online resources go beyond scheduling details. Health education materials and podcast episodes aim to provide culturally informed information about the importance of screening, what to expect during a mammogram, and how to navigate eligibility and follow-up care. These materials can be particularly helpful for community health representatives, clinic staff and families coordinating appointments.
Access to mobile mammography also intersects with broader healthcare access issues in Apache County, including provider shortages and underfunding of rural health infrastructure. While mobile units help fill immediate gaps, community advocates say sustained investment in local health systems, transportation solutions, and outreach is needed to ensure long-term equity in cancer prevention and care.
Residents interested in the October–November schedule, or who need information on eligibility and locations, are directed to the Navajo Department of Health’s Navajo Cancer Prevention Program page for contact numbers and educational resources (https://ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/Department/Division-of-Public-Health-Service/Navajo-Cancer-Prevention-Program). Local clinics and community health representatives can also support scheduling and follow-up for individuals who need additional assistance.
