The launch event was attended by medical professionals, health experts, government officials and patient organizations, who reiterated the importance of early diagnosis.
In Latvia, breast cancer is often detected too late - at stage 3 or 4. The response rate to breast screening in Latvia is one of the lowest in the European Union.
This is one of the factors why 411 women died prematurely from breast cancer last year, according to the Disease Prevention and Control Center.
"I don't think there is anything to be afraid of. You just have to come in, have a look, and if there's a problem, it can be dealt with straight away - the earlier the problem is detected, the earlier it's dealt with, and that's the main reassurance. I think that time is what is most lacking with these diseases. So just come, do, find - treat, don't find - everything will be fine, and you'll have peace of mind and feel good." Ilze, who was one of the first women to have her health checked with the pink mobile mammogram, told Latvian Radio. She said she regularly visits both her gynecologist and her general practitioner to check her health.
Similarly to Ilze, Maija stressed the importance of visiting a doctor at least once a year for peace of mind and safety: "I take great care of my gynecological health and also my breasts. I have two daughters who I have to set an example for and also make sure that they take care of themselves. That's probably the motivation."
As Zinta Uskale, founder of the Pink Train Charity Foundation, pointed out, the earlier the disease is detected, the easier and better the treatment:
"Women over 40 can come [for a mobile mammogram]. We have a doctor on site who can write a referral because you can't come totally 'off the street'. The test itself takes about 8 minutes. It is quick and painless. If oncology is suspected, the woman's GP will be contacted, and then the GP will refer the woman through the green corridor for further tests."
Starting October 1, the pink mobile mammography van will travel across Latvia.
It will stop, for example, in Dundaga, Smiltene, Viesite, Iecava, and Grobiņa, making the screening available to women living outside the bigger cities.
Women over 40 will be able to have a free mammogram. A referral from a doctor or specialist is required to receive this service free of charge [doctor available onsite]. Women over 50 who have received an invitation letter from the National Health Service for breast cancer screening (mammography) will also be able to receive free examinations outside the capital on a daily basis during mobile mammogram trips.
You can follow the route of the mammography van to know the day it will stop in your city on the Pupkultūra Instagram account and on the website mamografija.lv.
