R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JUNE 25
In a city where too many women still postpone cancer screening until symptoms become impossible to ignore, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, has put a mammogram on wheels.
In a significant public-health intervention aimed at pushing early breast cancer detection beyond hospital walls, the hospital, in partnership with Lions Club of Chennai KVG Charitable Trust and Lions District 3241C, has launched a Mobile Mammogram Unit that will take screening services directly to women in residential areas, workplaces, community centres and outreach locations across urban, semi-urban and rural belts.
- Kauvery Hospital and Lions District 3241C roll out mobile breast cancer screening in Chennai, taking early detection to women’s neighbourhoods, workplaces and underserved communities
- CSR-backed mammography van to offer digital breast screening, Pap smear and colposcopy under one moving women’s wellness unit
- Doctors stress that delayed diagnosis remains a major risk as breast cancer continues to be the leading cancer among women
- Global screening guidance broadly targets women aged 50–69 for mammography, while experts increasingly advise risk-based screening from 40 onward depending on family history and symptoms
- Specialist counselling, preventive screening and community outreach to combine in a doorstep healthcare model aimed at saving lives through early detection
Flagged off by P Venkatramanan, Tamil Nadu Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, the mobile unit seeks to tackle one of the biggest gaps in women’s healthcare — late diagnosis caused by lack of awareness, distance, fear, time constraints and poor access to routine screening.
The van has been designed not merely as a mobile diagnostic facility but as a travelling women’s preventive cancer clinic. Along with digital mammography for breast cancer screening, it will also provide Pap smear and colposcopy services, helping women undergo screening for both breast and cervical cancer risks in one accessible setting. The unit will be supported by women consultants and radiologists from Kauvery Hospital, who will counsel women on findings and guide them on the next course of action wherever required.
The launch also carries wider significance in the context of growing concern over breast cancer burden among Indian women. Public-health guidance internationally has often prioritised mammography screening for women in the 50–69 age group in organised programmes, while doctors increasingly encourage risk-based consultations and screening discussions from the age of 40, particularly for women with family history, symptoms, dense breasts or other clinical risk factors.
Speaking at the launch, PMJF Lion S Bose, District Governor 3241 C, Lions International, said the initiative was aimed at taking screening to women who otherwise fall through the cracks of the healthcare system.
“Breast cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers affecting women in Tamil Nadu. Due to lack of awareness and access many women do not get screened at the right time. Through this initiative we aim to bring screening closer to women in urban, semi urban and rural areas. We are pleased to collaborate with Kauvery Hospital, one of the leading healthcare chains in Tamil Nadu.”
Underscoring the need for timely diagnosis, Dr Sujay Susikar, Senior Consultant Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgeon, said state cancer data already points to the scale of the challenge and the urgent need to normalise screening.
“State cancer registry data shows that breast cancer is the leading cancer among women, highlighting the urgent need for timely screening and early detection. With the latest advancements in cancer treatments, breast cancer is now treatable when detected early. Many women delay diagnosis due to lack of access and awareness. With this Mobile Mammogram Unit, we are taking screening closer to women helping them detect concerns early, seek timely treatment, and improve outcomes.”
For Kauvery Hospital, the initiative is also a statement on how preventive care must be delivered if it is to truly work at scale — by going to people before disease brings them to hospitals.
Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, said the mobile mammogram initiative was intended to reduce barriers, deepen awareness and make preventive care part of everyday health behaviour rather than a last-minute response to illness.
“This initiative reflects Kauvery’s commitment to building healthier communities through care that is accessible, proactive, and inclusive. The Mobile Mammogram Unit is not just a screening service; it is a step towards reducing barriers, creating awareness, and empowering women to take charge of their health. By taking healthcare closer to communities, we hope to make preventive care a regular and trusted part of everyday life. We are pleased to associate with Lions International for this noble initiative.”
Kauvery Hospital said the mobile unit will begin scheduled screening camps in the coming weeks, with a special focus on communities where access to early cancer screening remains limited. In effect, the initiative seeks to turn a test many women defer into one they can access close to home, close to work and, crucially, before it is too late.
With breast cancer outcomes improving dramatically when detected early, the message behind the van is as important as the machine inside it: screening should not wait for symptoms, and distance should not decide diagnosis.
