Belk brings Mobile Mammography unit to Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn. — The BelkGives mobile mammogram screening center parked Tuesday outside Old Hickory Mall in Jackson.

“Today, we are out here at Belk, the department store,” mammogram technician Brynn Poplin said. “We are doing mammograms for women who don’t have insurance.”

Women could make appointments Tuesday if they were 40 or older with a regular physician and haven’t had a screening in a year.

Becky Browder, a mammogram patient, said the mobile center is awesome and a big help to women who are uninsured.

“‘Cause it’s one way to hopefully catch cancer if you have breast cancer,” Browder said. “It’s an early way to do that, especially if you don’t do self-exams.”

The Mobile Mammography bus travels from North Carolina to Belk stores across the country providing free mammograms to women who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

“Because you don’t have an excuse not to get a mammogram because of financial reasons, because they are available free and all you have to do is make the time to come get it done,” Browder said.

“There’s such a need for this,” Poplin said. “Women need mammograms, especially those who don’t have insurance, so this is such an important thing, really helping out the community.”

The mammogram tech says although some women fear their results, taking the test could be helpful in the long run.

“Early detection is key, and having a yearly mammogram is the way to do that,” Poplin said.

After the 10-minute exam, women received complimentary bra fittings inside the store. The BelkGives mobile unit will still be in Jackson from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Women must make an appointment by calling 855-655-2662. The bus will make its way Friday to Springfield in Middle Tennessee.