On a mission to detect breast cancer early

David Doisy has found a very special driving job and also his vocation: He drives an extraordinary MAN TGX for a French cancer screening and prevention organisation. The semitrailer is kitted out with diagnostic equipment for carrying mobile screening tests. David does not just drive the truck from one site to the next – he also looks after the medical equipment and patients. A job with a truckload of responsibility.

This MAN truck also boasts a rather special name: Mammobil. The aim of the name is to indicate the truck’s function: The semitrailer is where screening tests (mammograms) for the early detection of breast cancer are conducted. The truck attracts attention wherever it goes. And no wonder – the semitrailer behind the white MAN tractor unit is entirely in pink to grab people’s attention. And that’s exactly how it should be: The more women who become aware of and use this mobile cancer screening service, the better.

“Thanks to this new vehicle, we can be even more effective in approaching those women for whom screening and raising awareness are most important,” says Silvia Loy Morel, Head of the Association Montpellier Hérault pour le Dépistage du Cancer du Sein (AMHDCS). This organisation is heavily involved in the fight against breast cancer in southern France.

David Doisy plays a vital role: He has been driving trucks for 24 years and was looking for a job with working hours and responsibilities that better fit his life. Being on the road with the Mammobil is perfect for him: Not only because it is about people, but because he fully identifies with the task. “It is a meaningful job that helps others and where I feel of use. If the Mammobil did not exist, at least half of the women would not have been screened and examined. This is why it is so vital to drive to nearby where they are and encourage them to be screened.” He is noticeably enthusiastic that such a mobile screening option now exists.

David may not have a medical background, but he is responsible for the medical equipment in the semitrailer. He also manages the screening schedule, receives the patients, gets them to fill out a medical questionnaire and takes their mind off the fear of the test in a reassuring preliminary conversation. “We sometimes have a queue of over 20 people at the Mammobil,” adds David.

Another reason David was hired was due to his extensive experience as a truck driver. His calm and careful driving style is an absolute must to prevent damage to the incredibly expensive medical equipment housed in the trailer. The strengths of the truck are clearly evident, too. A French company called Magarinos donated the MAN TGX, which features the GM cab and boasts ultimate driving comfort. It is also ideally equipped for David’s breaks.

More than 600,000 breast cancer screenings have taken place since 1990. David and the “Mammobil” are continuing this mission and playing a key role in the health of women in France. What a fantastic mission!