Banner Boswell Medical Center now offers digital mammography
SUN CITY, Ariz. (May 5, 2010) – This month, Banner Boswell Medical Center is upholding its commitment to breast health by replacing current mammography units with state-of-the-art digital mammography, made possible by generous contributions from the community through Sun Health Foundation.
Mammography is an important tool in the early detection of breast cancer. Each year in the United States, more than 192,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and more than 40,000 die from the disease.
Goodyear resident Nancy Burton, 57, thought she was pretty diligent about getting her annual mammogram. But as some women do, she got busy and missed a few years. It wasn’t until the former CEO of Banner Boswell Medical Center had a casual conversation with Ann Schwartz, R.T.(M), supervisor of Women’s Diagnostic Services, that Burton finally scheduled her mammogram – a decision that probably saved her life.
In February 2007, Schwartz walked into Burton’s office to ask permission to display literature about breast health awareness throughout the hospital, and while she was there, asked Burton when she last had a mammogram. Burton guessed that it had been about two years, but later realized it had been closer to five years. Schwartz insisted that Burton schedule her mammogram, and when she did, the radiologist discovered a spot in her left breast. After a stereotactic breast biopsy, doctors diagnosed her with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer.
“This is one of the easiest cancers to detect through mammogram, and we can see it when it’s at an incredibly small stage,” said Schwartz.
According to the American Cancer Society, many breast cancers are diagnosed as larger, more advanced cancers simply because too much time has elapsed from the date of the last normal mammogram. This is why women should talk with their doctors about a plan for receiving regular mammograms according to recommended guidelines.
Three years after Burton’s lumpectomy and radiation, she remains cancer-free. She now has a mammogram with ultrasound on her left side every six months and bilaterally once a year.
“I credit Ann with being that person who came upon my doorstep,” she said. “She’s my guardian angel.”
Digital mammography produces images of better clarity and accuracy than traditional screen-film mammography that results in the detection of up to 28 percent more cancers, particularly in women under age 50, women with dense breast tissue, and pre-or peri-menopausal women. Additionally, digital mammography administers lower doses of radiation to patients and it detects cancers in their early stages, when they are most treatable.
“Improved imaging will lead to early detection of breast cancer, which can result in increased long-term survival amongst both men and women diagnosed with the disease,” emphasized Steven Charney, MD, interventional radiologist and medical director of Banner Boswell’s Medical Imaging department.
The arrival of the new units will be timed with a move of Banner Boswell’s mammography services and outpatient DEXA bone densitometry screening to Banner Lakes Imaging Center located in the Lakes Medical Plaza at 10474 W. Thunderbird Blvd., Suite 100. The new location provides patients with easy accessibility to parking, an expedited admitting process and the same friendly, skilled technologists. Interventional breast services, including stereotactic biopsies and ultrasound biopsies of the breast, will remain at the main hospital in conjunction with Medical Imaging. Mammograms can be scheduled by calling (623) 876-5652.
About Banner Boswell Medical Center
Banner Boswell Medical Center is a 430-bed, acute-care hospital located in Sun City, Arizona. Founded in 1970, Banner Boswell offers heart services, cancer care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women’s diagnostics, emergency care, and medical and surgical services. Banner Boswell is part of nonprofit Banner Health, the leading provider of health services in the Valley with 22 hospitals throughout the West. For more information about Banner Boswell, visit www.BannerHealth.com/Boswell.
Contact:
Lisa Guinn
(623) 876-5704
