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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:00 PM

Hospital advocates hope unit’s upgrade will help in battle against breast cancer

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

You can help women better detect breast cancer.

Hospital advocates are asking for the community’s help to bring digital mammography to Ransom Memorial Hospital within the next year.

The RMH Charitable Association and the RMH Auxiliary are collecting donations to raise $500,000 to upgrade the hospital’s mammography X-ray unit.

“Digital mammography is the state of the art for diagnosing breast cancer and is fast becoming the standard of care for diagnosing breast cancer,” Dr. Bob Davis, diagnostic radiologist and the hospital’s director of imaging services, said.

“It enhances our ability to diagnose breast cancer in the premenopausal female and in women with very dense breast tissue, including the very young.”

One in nine women will develop breast cancer during their lifetimes, according to a press release from the charitable association.

Most of the women who get breast cancer are past menopause, but about 8,000 people diagnosed each year are younger than 50, the press release said.

Digital mammography uses X-rays and a special computer to convert the images to digital pictures. The images can be viewed immediately by the technologist and radiologist, and help the radiologist better inspect the breast tissue.

Other advantages of digital mammography, according to the charitable association and the hospital, include:

• Reduced exam time for the patient.

• Reduced need for the patient to return after screening mammography for additional film studies.

• Quicker results for patients and their physicians.

• More accurate detection of breast cancer because of the ability to zoom in and magnify an area.

• Ability to transmit images electronically to other physicians for continuing care.

The campaign kicked off earlier this week as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness month and will continue for some time, organizers said. The charitable association plans to have the system available for an open house next October.

The Ransom Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Board already pledged $100,000 toward the project.

For more information or to contribute, contact Brenda Pfizenmaier at (785) 229-8458 or go to www.ransom.org

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Hospital advocates hope unit’s upgrade will help in battle against breast cancer

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.