Mammograms encouraged all year long

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all year long, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese encourages all women to have mammograms.

According to the National Institute of Health, the chances of surviving breast cancer are dramatically higher if the cancer is identified in Stage 0 or 1, when it is confined to the duct or local area. The five-year survival rate drops from 95 percent for cancers treated early to 36 percent for Stage 3 when the cancer has spread to surrounding tissue and to 7 percent for late-stage cancers that have spread to distant organs.

The American Cancer Society recommends every woman over age 40 have an annual mammogram.

To assist in the early identification of breast cancer, St. Joseph’s in Breese has installed a new GE Healthcare Senographe Essential Digital Mammography System.

“The equipment offers new and powerful technology for the detection and fight against breast cancer,” said Jene Bieri, hospital Professional Services director . The hospital Friends underwrote the $500,000 cost.

“This new system allows us to offer state-of-the-art mammograms and provide referring physicians with clear, precise, all-digital and extremely accurate images to use in diagnosis,” he said. Quicker exams, greater patient comfort and easy wheelchair access are other benefits.

The Senographe Essential has been fully integrated with a Sectra Diagnostic Workstation which allows radiologists to review patient images quickly and easily and provides the capability to pull up previous mammography or other imaging scans for comparison.

Radiologists reading the images utilize a “Second Look” Computer Aided Detection unit. Studies have shown that using CAD on a screening mammogram can result in over 23 percent more cancers detected.

Also, the new system is linked with the hospital’s Picture Archiving and Communication System which integrates the hospital’s imaging procedures to be read and stored digitally or electronically and reviewed online by the referring physician over a secure internet connection.

Mammograms are offered in a dedicated suite by registered radiologic technologists with special training in mammography. Staff members have an average of 12 years of experience; the program has been accredited since its beginning in 1992 by the American College of Radiology.

Digital mammography is available Monday through Saturday; a physician’s order is required. For an appointment, call 526-5396. F or more information, contact a physician or Medical Imaging at 618.526-5458.