Roswell Park, City of Niagara Falls bring Eddy to community

Submitted by the City of Niagara Falls Public Information Office

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the City of Niagara Falls are teaming up to bring the lung cancer screening unit, Eddy, to the Niagara Falls community.

Eddy, which stands for “Early Detection Driven to You,” is mobile lung cancer screening on wheels, aimed at making it easier for people to get screened, diagnosed and treated.

Launched in fall 2022, Eddy has screened numerous Western New York residents for lung cancer. The screening consists of a low-dose CT (computed tomography) scan, which is similar to an X-ray. The quick and easy test is painless and takes no more than 30 seconds to complete.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women, causing more deaths than colorectal cancer, pancreatic and breast cancer combines. Currently, only 6% of eligible New Yorkers have been screened for the disease. When treated early, survival rates are much more favorable. Awareness and early detection are the first step in saving lives.

Niagara Falls residents ages 50-79, with a smoking history of 20 years, or those who have smoked within the past 15 years, are eligible to be screened. Black Americans have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, but are 18% less likely to be diagnosed early as appose to white Americans.

“Cancer screening is all about accessibility, and it’s our mission to help reduce the cancer burden and improve health equity across Western New York and beyond,” said Mary Reid, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., chief of cancer screening, survivorship and mentorship at Roswell Park. “Eddy makes lung cancer screening easy and readily accessible. Just make an appointment and you can get this state-of-the-art screening right in your neighborhood.”

Mayor Robert Restaino said, “Screening and diagnosis are the first steps in the fight against cancer. And with our collaboration with Roswell Park, Niagara Falls residents will be able to take those steps by having access to Eddy in order to get screened, get diagnosed, and, if needed, get treatment.”

Catch Eddy at the following locations across Niagara Falls, each from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

√ Aug. 1-3, LaSalle Senior Center, 9501 Colvin Blvd.

√ Sept. 5-7, John A Duke Senior Citizens Center, 1201 Hyde Park Blvd.

√ Sept. 12-14, Doris Jones Family Resource Building, 3001 Ninth St.

To Learn more about Eddy, screening eligibility or to fill out an assessment form, visit www.roswellpark.org/eddy or call 1-800-ROSWELL.