News
April 2007
RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
April 9, 2007 |
For more information, contact:
Anne Thomure, Director
Hospital/Community Relations
618-257-5649 |
Memorial Mammography Centers provide
latest in ‘high-tech, soft-touch’ mammography
Memorial Mammography Centers – in Belleville and O’Fallon - now provide the latest in “high-tech, soft touch” mammography by combining its full-field digital mammogram technology with a new breast cushion, which dramatically eases the discomfort some women feel when they get a mammogram.
The FDA-approved foam cushion, called MammoPadR, creates a softer, warmer mammogram and has been clinically demonstrated to reduce discomfort for most women.
Both of Memorial Mammography Centers are certified Softer Mammogram ProvidersR, a distinction awarded only to an elite group of healthcare facilities. By offering women a softer mammogram, the centers hope to increase the number of area women who will follow recommendations for regular screenings.
There is no additional cost to the patient associated with a MammoPadR mammography. “The discomfort many women feel during mammography compression is widely known to be reason that many don’t get regular screenings,” said Pam Holbrook, radiology director at Memorial. In addition to compression, the cold surfaces and hard edges of the mammography device can make the experience uncomfortable for some patients.
“The breast cushion addresses these issues by providing a soft warm cushion for the breast during mammography,” added Holbrook. “Because women are more relaxed during the exam, it makes it even easier for our mammography technologists to get the best possible image.”
The single-use, adhesive-backed foam cushion, made of recyclable materials, attaches to the compression plates of the digital mammography equipment. The breast cushion is “invisible” to x-rays and does not interfere with the image quality of the mammogram.
“We’re dedicated to creating the best possible experience for our patients,” said Ruth Holmes, Memorial’s vice president of diagnostic services. “The combination of the MammoPad and digital mammography is recognized in healthcare as essential to optimizing mammography and breast health. We’re pleased to be able to offer our patients this important enhancement.”
For more information or to schedule a mammogram, call Memorial Mammography Centers – in Belleville at 257-5065 or in O’Fallon at 622-3699.
Additional Information
The American Cancer Society reports women can greatly reduce their risk of death from breast cancer if they receive regular mammograms. For this reason, both the Society and the American College of Radiology recommend that women 40 and older receive annual mammograms.
Despite the urgency of this message, nearly 40 percent of American women don’t get regular mammograms. Studies have shown mammography pain is a major reason many women do not return for annual screening.
Digital mammography, along with the recent development of MammoPad could help reverse this trend. MammoPad has been clinically studied in both the United States and Sweden, where evaluations in more than 1,300 patients found approximately 70 percent experienced a significant reduction in pain when the cushion was used.
“Early detection of breast cancer can make a crucial difference,” said Dr. Alan Harris, radiologist with Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. Mammograms identify lumps that a woman’s self-exam wouldn’t find until an average of 1.7 years later. That’s why regular mammograms are the only scientifically proven way to reduce breast cancer mortality. This breast cushion removes a major barrier to women receiving this important procedure. The MammoPad utilized in conjunction with digital mammograms help ensure that every women gets the clearest and most accurate possible image.
In offering both the breast cushion and digital mammography, Memorial Mammography Centers provide the latest in imaging quality and comfort technology.
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