St. Joseph-Breese to offer $5 discount on mammography thru May

The American College of Radiology re-accredited the mammography program at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese for another three years in 2007. Displaying the certificate received at that time were five of the hospital Mammography Technologists (from left) Cheryl Rakers of Aviston, Lisa Schulte of Breese, Michelle Reilman-Roeper of Aviston, Michele Diekemper of Breese and Lead Mammography Technologist Mary Siebert of Greenville. Behind them is the department's General Electric Senographe DMR Mammography Unit. Other department Mammography Technologists include (not pictured) Renee Kohrmann of Bartelso, Gloria Hitpas and Karen Messer of Carlyle and Jennifer Goodall of Greenville.

In honor of Mother's Day and to encourage all women to have these two important tests, St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese will reduce a mammogram by $5 and a DXA bone density exam by $10 during May.

The hospital offers state-of-the-art equipment, a dedicated mammography suite and staff who are registered radiologic technologists with special training in mammography. Radiologists reading the mammography films utilize the hospital's ImageChecker Computer Aided Detection or CAD unit.

Studies have shown that using CAD on a screening mammogram can result in earlier detection of over 23 percent more cancers. Early detection such as with a mammogram continues to offer the best protection and using computer aided detection can enhance those results.

Radiologist Thomas Doyle, MD, explained that after a mammographic procedure is completed, films are scanned into the CAD unit which has software for analysis and identification of suspicious features.

“We read the entire mammogram, then activate the CAD monitor,” Dr. Doyle said. “If an image is marked, we go back to the original film to review that area in more detail.”

CAD is an interpretive aid and does not replace imaging technology or the expertise of an experienced radiologist, Dr. Doyle said.

“It's a second pair of eyes when reading a mammogram,” he said.

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 seven 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.

Women having mammograms may notice the hospital is using MammoPad breast cushions to bring additional warmth, comfort and cleanliness to the experience. About 70 percent of women surveyed said their discomfort was reduced in half when they used the cushion.

A physician's order is required; appointments are requested. For an appointment, call 526-5396; for more information, contact your physician, Medical Imaging at 618.526-5458 or email Jene Bieri.