Free Breast Cancer Screening Event Coming to Riverhead

By Dr. Steven Ouzounian

Northwell Health's Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) is once again opening its doors—and its mobile screening unit—to the community for its annual No Cost Breast Screening Event. The event will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in the front parking lot of Northwell Health Radiology at North Fork, 1333 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY.

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All community members are welcome, with a special focus on reaching the uninsured and under-insured who may otherwise lack access to these life-saving screenings.

Attendees can receive free clinical breast exams in the mobile unit, and those who qualify may also receive a free mammogram the same day.

The event comes during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a critical time to remind our neighbors about the importance of early detection.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. In 2026, an estimated 310,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women nationwide.

Yet early detection remains the most powerful tool in the fight against this disease. When breast cancer is detected early and is in the localized stage, the five-year relative survival rate is 99%. Despite this, many women—particularly those without insurance or with limited coverage—skip routine screenings due to cost. Studies show that uninsured women are significantly less likely to receive timely mammograms, leading to later-stage diagnoses and poorer outcomes.

Events like this one bridge that gap, removing financial barriers and bringing screenings directly into the community.

"We encourage everyone, especially those who may have put off screening due to cost concerns, to take advantage of this opportunity," organizers said.

No appointment is necessary. For more information, contact Northwell Health Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Your screening could save your life.