October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time for women across the country to take steps to detect breast cancer as early as possible to have the best chance of recovery. It can be intimidating and mentally uncomfortable to go through the procedure of getting a mammogram, always wondering what the results will be. With new technology, doctors have even more tools than ever to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages and provide the opportunity to treat before it reaches the advanced stages. The St. Agnes Breast Center has some new tools and options for detection that can provide even clearer results than ever before. Two of the options at their facility include breast ultrasounds and digital mammography:
What is a Breast Ultrasound ?
A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the tissues inside the breast. A breast ultrasound can show all areas of the breast, including the area closest to the chest wall, which is hard to study with a mammogram. Breast ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of radiation.
A breast ultrasound is used to see whether a breast lump is filled with fluid (a cyst) or if it is a solid lump. An ultrasound does not replace the need for a mammogram, but it is often used to check abnormal results from a mammogram
What is Digital Mammography with CAD?
One of the most recent advances in x-ray mammography is digital mammography. Digital (computerized) mammography is similar to standard mammography in that x-rays are used to produce detailed images of the breast. From the patient's perspective, a digital mammogram is the same as a standard film-based mammogram in that breast compression and radiation are necessary to create a clear image of the breast. However, conventional film mammography requires several minutes to develop the film while digital mammography provides the images on the computer monitor in less than a minute. Thus, digital mammography provides a shorter exam time.
Digital Mammography has benefits which include:
- Improved contrast between dense and non-dense breast tissue
- Faster image acquisition
- Shorter exam time
- Easier film storage
- Physician manipulation of breast images for more accurate detection of breast cancer
Health Care to the highest power
St. Agnes Breast Center offers full-field digital mammography with CAD, Breast MRI, Breast Ultrasound, Stereotactic Biopsy & Bone Mineral Densitometry.
• While others in the Acadiana area are touting the “latest, state-of-the-art” technology, St. Agnes Breast Center was the first facility in our area to incorporate this cutting edge technology. St. Agnes Breast Center has utilized only digital technology since 2005.
• Screening/Diagnostic exams utilizing computer assisted diagnosis (CAD), which benefits women with dense breasts or women under the age of 40.
• As one of the first women’s center in Acadiana to house the digital mammography, our technologists are very experienced and well-schooled having performed over thousands of screenings on women in Acadiana. Our professional staff is experienced, compassionate, and competent, and the care delivered is based on the individual needs of each patient.
- Fast results for the physicians.
- Images and reports are available on Lourdes GE PACs system.
- Because we utilize voice recognition dictation, physician offices should receive a fax report from our office within minutes of a diagnosis.
- We recommend patients to bring any prior films/reports to their appointment.
Our goal at St. Agnes Breast Center is to be of service to the physicians and their busy practice so that they can provide the best patient care possible. Welcome to Care and Compassion!
During the month of October, you can take advantage of the $99 mammogram special! Visit St. Mary's Imaging Center for more information.