Breast Health Services -- 618.463.7647
Mammography
A state-of-the-art mammography unit at Alton Memorial Hospital gives River Bend area women another option for protecting themselves from breast cancer. Mammography is the most effective method of screening for breast cancer. It can detect cancer several years before physical symptoms appear.
The American Cancer Society recommends an annual screening mammogram for women 40 and over.
ImageChecker
Alton Memorial Hospital uses ImageChecker -- a computer-aided detection system -- to perform a review of all mammograms. Studies show that computer-aided detection systems can result in earlier detection of up to 23 percent of the cancers currently detected with screening mammography. ImageChecker is used in conjunction with film-based mammography. After digitizing a film, the system's specialized software analyzes the image and draws the radiologist's attention to suspicious features that may be indicative of cancer. The radiologist typically reviews the entire mammogram first and then activates the ImageChecker monitor to see if any areas have been highlighted for additional review. If an image is marked, the radiologist goes back to the original mammogram to review the area in more detail.
"Softer Mammograms" with MammoPad
Women who have their mammograms at Alton Memorial Hospital benefit from a new product that dramatically eases the discomfort of the procedure. MammoPad is an FDA-approved foam cushion that cradles the breast during a mammogram, providing a softer, warmer experience. The MammoPad is a single-use, adhesive-backed foam cushion that attaches to the compression plates of the mammography device. The breast cushion is "invisible" to X-rays and does not interfere with image quality of the mammogram.
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
If a suspicious lump is found, your doctor will take a biopsy (tissue sample) of the abnormal area to determine if cancer is present. Alton Memorial Hospital also offers stereotactic breast biopsy, which uses computers -- guided by mammograms -- to map the exact location of the mass. Then the computer guides a needle to the spot so a tissue sample can be drawn. In many cases, this procedure may be used in place of surgical biopsy.
Sentinel Node Biopsy
Alton Memorial Hospital can perform sentinel node biopsies for women with breast cancer. The Neoprobe is a hand-held gamma radiation detection device -- like a Geiger counter -- that allows for minimally invasive evaluation of breast cancer metastasis spreading to the lymph nodes. If the sentinel lymph node is excised and is free of cancer, most likely the cancer has not spread. The procedure can prevent the need for a more invasive surgery to remove more lymph nodes, which may lead to side effects such as lymphodema. Sentinel node biopsy can eliminate the need to remove all lymph nodes.
Treatment Options
Breast cancer comes in many forms. Treatment depends upon the type of cancer, the size of the tumor, its location, how fast it's growing and if it has spread. Possible treatments include a lumpectomy to remove only the breast lump and the surrounding area, mastectomy to remove the entire breast, chemotherapy, and radiation.
One in eight women develops breast cancer, which claims the lives of more than 43,000 women in the United States each year. More than 200 women in Madison, Macoupin and Jersey counties will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. The National Institutes of Health reports if breast cancer is identified early -- when it is confined to the duct or local area of the breast -- the patient's chances for survival is dramatically higher.
If you find a lump, don't panic. Eight out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous. Call your doctor for an appointment or find a physician. When breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 96 percent. More than two million breast cancer survivors are alive in America today.
Accreditations
Alton Memorial Hospital's mammography program complies fully with the Mammography Quality Standards Act and is accredited by the American College of Radiologists.
