City of Hope is taking leading-edge clinical screening and care into Southern California communities and beyond with the launch today of its new mobile cancer prevention and screening program. The program, the first in the United States to provide this level of mobile comprehensive cancer prevention and screening services, marks an important advancement in City of Hope’s long-standing mission to bridge health equity gaps and address community health needs.
Clinics to Aid in Early Cancer Detection Efforts
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), inadequate access to health care services due to geographic, financial or logistical challenges contributes to the lower rates of cancer screening and follow-up among many populations in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 2 million new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths will occur in the United States this year. Its data suggests that 42% of those cancer cases and 45% of the cancer deaths are related to modifiable risk factors. Cancer screening programs like City of Hope’s can help address these issues and prevent thousands of cancer cases and deaths through early detection.
"Our comprehensive mobile cancer prevention and screening program is the next step in our mission to expand access to optimal cancer care, bringing our expertise outside the walls of our campus and into the communities we serve,” said Harlan Levine, M.D., president of health innovation and policy at City of Hope. “We know that identifying and addressing cancers early saves lives, and we want to do our part to ensure every person has access to these services and help create a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
Mobile Mammograms, Genetic Screenings
The program will feature two highly advanced mobile clinics with a full staff, including nurse practitioners, nurses, mammography technologists and support staff. Mobile clinic clients will receive personalized screening recommendations based on a novel risk assessment, along with any necessary lab tests, genetic testing for mutations associated with increased risk for developing cancer, and vaccines for viruses, which may be linked to multiple types of cancer. The mobile clinic assesses the risk and screens for at least 15 different types of cancer, including state-of-the-art mammography technology. If a mobile clinic client receives a positive finding from their screening, a nurse navigator will guide them through the diagnostic process and provide appropriate resources. While mobile clinic clients are not required to use City of Hope as their provider, if they do, their treatment plans may include access to City of Hope’s world-renowned clinical trials and research programs.
While the first mobile clinic will spend the majority of its time serving the Antelope Valley area, it will also be made available for screening events reaching underserved populations in the greater Los Angeles area. The second unit is slated to launch later this year.
Unique Collaboration in Cancer Prevention
The new mobile screening program was made possible by a collaboration with U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA 27th District), who secured funding through the congressional appropriations process for City of Hope’s first mobile screening clinic through a human resources and services administration grant. The program will continue to grow and expand due to the generosity of City of Hope donors, namely Steve and Farah Gozini of BH Properties, as well as leaders in the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) fundraising program.
“I’m so proud to have secured this funding for our community’s state-of-the-art mobile cancer screening unit,” said U.S. Rep. Garcia. “The Antelope Valley is one of the most socioeconomically diverse and medically vulnerable regions in California. For many individuals, early detection and preventive care create better outcomes and reduce long-term medical costs when diagnosed with cancer. City of Hope has been leading in cancer research and treatment across our communities and our nation. That’s why I am thrilled to bring this first-in-the-nation mobile clinic to the AV. We must continue to work to build more capacity in the AV, but, through this mobile clinic, City of Hope will help bridge the gap by expanding optimal care to more patients, families and communities.”
The mobile cancer prevention and screening program is one of many examples of the organization’s ongoing work to reduce cancer burden and inequities among vulnerable communities in California. In 2022, the organization invested $365 million to fund community programs, including health research to better understand cancer disparities and education around proper screening and symptoms to reduce misdiagnoses and late diagnoses. While City of Hope’s mobile cancer prevention and screening program will initially launch in Southern California, the organization has plans to expand these offerings into additional communities in other City of Hope cancer center locations.
“City of Hope was founded by donors and volunteers determined to help people left out of care,” said Kristin Bertell, chief philanthropy officer at City of Hope. “That vision for health equity drives us and our supporters still today. We are grateful to Rep. Garcia, the Gozinis and the leaders of our MFEI group for helping us increase access to early detection and prevention services — an essential step in fulfilling our mission to treat and cure cancer for all.”
The new program is currently scheduling screening events with community organizations and businesses. Organizations interested in partnering with this program to offer mobile prevention and screening services at their location can visit CityofHope.org/mobile-screening for more information or call 844-238-HOPE (4673) to schedule a screening event.