Ellijay family story spotlights mobile mammograms and screening access

A local media story about an Ellijay man’s breast-cancer diagnosis is putting screening back in front of Gilmer County readers during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The piece follows Jerry Allan, now 84, who said he first noticed a lump in 2008, and his daughter, Kerry Bernard, who said that experience pushed her to bring mobile mammography to Ellijay.

Why it matters

The story also underscores that breast cancer can affect men. Local media said men have less than a 1% lifetime chance of the disease, but Allan said his own diagnosis came after an ultrasound and needle biopsy. He later had surgery and said he is now cancer-free.

Where residents can go

For people who want a fixed-site option, Piedmont lists breast imaging in Jasper at 1266 Highway 515 South. That gives Gilmer County residents one nearby place to ask about screening if they are looking beyond the mobile-bus setup described in the story.