Novant Health’s mobile mammography unit will be making a stop in Mint Hill on Feb. 12.

The unit, which is comprised of a 38-foot Winnebago that was modified to allow for a mammography machine inside it, allows for free mammogram screenings to be offered in local communities, during special events and other activities the unit can be taken to.

Along with the stop in February, the unit is also scheduled to make additional stops throughout the year up until mid-October when the breast health center at the new Mint Hill Medical Center is expected to open.

“We’ve been going (with the mobile mammography unit) since June of 2012. We’ve been serving businesses, community events and we also go to some of our Novant Health physician sites, physician offices that are kind of out in the perimeters,” Elizabeth Currie, Novant Health’s regional mammography manager for the Charlotte region, said.

With the mobile mammography unit, their goal is to make mammography screening convenient for people in the community. The screening does not take long, is free and people only need to bring their insurance card with them. The screening is recommended for women age 40 and older, Currie said.

She emphasized that it is mainly focused on women who are due for an annual mammogram and is just a screening. If something odd is found during the screening though, the person will be informed and connected with resources in the Novant Health medical system, Currie said.

“It’s a need. Every woman should have a mammogram starting at age 40 to screen for early stage breast cancer,” Currie said.

On Feb. 12 and on future visits to Mint Hill, the unit will be sitting in front of the Novant Health Medical Office Building at 8110 Healthcare Loop. The unit will be at the site 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Feb. 12 and return during the same time period on March 13 and April 17. Other future dates the unit will be available at the site are May 23, June 19, July 17, Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Oct. 16. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome, she said.

Each year Novant Health serves around 3,500 women with the mobile mammography unit. The demand is so high for the unit, that there are plans to soon add a second mobile unit, Currie said.

To schedule an appointment call 704-384-7226.

For more information about the mobile mammography unit visit www.novanthealth.org/mobilemammo.