'The Pink Life Saver' Lives Up To Its Name For Evergreen Breast Cancer Patient
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - She got a diagnosis of breast cancer on her lunch break, and now a woman from Evergreen is crediting a mammography motor coach with saving her life.
CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh found out it was a chance connection after Holly Tosetti saw an opportunity to get a mammogram on the go, and luckily she took it.
Tosetti is on a break -- halfway through four rounds of chemotherapy. Her treatment started in June, shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I'm diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive lobular carcinoma," Tosetti said.
It came as a shock to the 50-year-old professional and mother of three. The discovery was driven by the Pink Life Saver, a mobile mammography unit run by the University of Colorado Hospital.
On the Tuesday after Memorial Day the Pink Life Saver was parked in downtown Denver at 17th and Curtis streets, right across the street from Tosetti's office at U.S. Bank.
"It was just kind of staring me in the face telling me I should go over and get my mammogram done," she said.
That same day Tosetti had her first mammogram and radiology technician Melody McCleland saw a tumor.
"Her lump is … about midway in her breast," McCleland said. "It's a very, very good catch."
The Pink Life Saver has been traveling the Front Range for nearly three years targeting busy women.
"With this we bring the mammogram to them," radiologist Wei-Shin Wang said.
Wang says the motor coach offers sophisticated 3D imaging.
"We can see smaller cancers, and we've found we are detecting cancers earlier, at earlier stages, potentially make them more treatable," Wang said.
Tosetti is a believer.
"I wasn't symptomatic, I couldn't feel it for myself," Tosetti said. "I feel like they've given me a second chance at life."
Appointments aren't needed to visit the Pink Life Saver. Imaging takes about 20 minutes. This fall it will be parked at Sports Authority Field at Mile High during some Broncos games.
LINK: Mobile Mammography - The Pink Life Saver
Additional Resources
Proceeds from Men for the Cure funded the Pink Life Saver as well as the 3D mammography machine one year. To support breast cancer research and programs at the University of Colorado Hospital, men are invited to attend the 15th annual Men for the Cure, on Sept. 24. The event was co-founded by CBS4's Ed Greene and Sharon Magness Blake. To purchase tickets, go to https://uch.thankyou4caring.org/menforthecure.
