Patillas to get free cancer screenings as Mobile Oncology Unit visits on November 7

The Liga Puertorriquena Contra el Cancer and its Hospital Oncologico Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez will bring free cancer prevention and early-detection services to Patillas on Saturday, November 7, 2026, as part of the Oncologico Sobre Ruedas (Mobile Oncology Unit) initiative. The event will take place at the Cancha Bajo Techo Nestor Vazquez, in partnership with Accion Social de Puerto Rico, Inc. and the Municipality of Patillas, and is aimed at residents of that town and nearby municipalities such as Arroyo, Maunabo, Guayama and Yabucoa ¹.

Oncologico Sobre Ruedas is the mobile outreach arm of the Hospital Oncologico, the institution that for decades has concentrated much of Puerto Rico's specialized cancer care at its campus in Centro Medico, San Juan. For thousands of families in the southeast of the island, reaching that hospital means hours of travel, transportation costs, and often the need to take a day off work. Events like this one aim to break down that barrier by bringing diagnostic equipment directly to town courts and plazas instead of waiting for patients to make the trip to the hospital.

According to the hospital's official announcement, registration will run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and all services will be completely free ¹. Services offered that day include mammograms, pulmonary function evaluations, gynecology and Pap smear services, breast cancer screening, genetic testing, dermatology, dental care, nutrition counseling, bloodwork, and health education ¹. The Liga Puertorriquena Contra el Cancer runs the Onco Sobre Ruedas program as part of its community services portfolio and keeps direct contact lines open at 787-763-4149 and [email protected] for anyone seeking more information about its screening initiatives ².

What this means for you

If you live in Patillas or a neighboring municipality, this event is a concrete chance to get preventive exams that would otherwise require an appointment, a referral, a copay, or a long trip to San Juan. Early screening for breast and lung cancer in particular is one of the most effective tools for improving outcomes, and for many people in rural areas the barrier isn't willingness but logistics: a car, gas money, time, and cost. A free, local event removes all three barriers at once. It also matters for caregivers of older adults or people with limited mobility, since not having to travel to the metro area makes it far easier for them to finally get screenings they've been putting off.

Checklist

1. Mark the date: Saturday, November 7, 2026.
2. Head to the Cancha Bajo Techo Nestor Vazquez in Patillas.
3. Arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the registration window.
4. Bring identification and, if you have them, prior mammogram or exam results so medical staff have your history on hand.
5. Decide ahead of time which services interest you: mammogram, pulmonary function, gynecology and Pap smear, breast screening, genetic testing, dermatology, dental care, nutrition, or bloodwork, so you know what to ask for when you arrive.
6. If you have questions before the date, call the Liga Puertorriquena Contra el Cancer at 787-763-4149 or email [email protected].
7. If you can't make it that day, ask about the Oncologico Sobre Ruedas's upcoming schedule for other municipalities.

What's next

The Liga Puertorriquena Contra el Cancer has not publicly announced its next stop after Patillas, but taking the hospital to the community has become part of its strategy for expanding screening access outside the San Juan metro area. For southeastern residents, the November 7 event will also be a real test of local demand for this kind of service in small towns — turnout that often shapes whether these initiatives return more frequently to a region. In the meantime, the public health guidance remains the same: don't wait for symptoms to get screened, since early detection is still the single factor that most changes the outcome of a cancer diagnosis.