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According to the Texas Cancer Registries, an estimated 1,134 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer occur each year in Tarrant and Parker counties, making evident that there is a tremendous need for more education, as well as better imaging equipment, to diagnose breast cancer at its earliest stages.
Texas Health Hospitals offers digital mammography, one of the latest advancements in technology for detecting breast cancer. Digital mammography takes an electronic image of the breast and stores it into a computer where it can be enhanced, magnified or manipulated for further evaluation. The electronic image can also be printed on film. Traditional film mammography units use film to both capture and display the image. "Providing digital mammography revolutionizes the type of care we deliver in our imaging and diagnostic services. We are excited to have this new advanced technology to offer to our patients," said Tony Sanchez, manager of radiology at Texas Health Azle.Digital mammography offers a more in-depth look at the images obtained to aid in providing the most accurate diagnosis possible for patients. According to a study by the National Cancer Institute, digital mammography was significantly better at diagnosing cancer in women under 50 and in women of any age who have very dense breasts. "Images obtained through digital mammography are amazingly clear, much like the difference between high definition television and standard television," said Linda Wren, manager of radiology at Texas Health Arlington. In addition, while the amount of compression is relatively equal to film mammography, the majority of women who have had the procedure done report very little discomfort. In some cases, it allows for less exposure to radiation because the digital image allows clinicians to magnify areas of the breast instead of subjecting patients to additional images during the mammogram. Digital mammography also provides for easier storage and transmission of images because the "pictures" can be stored and sent electronically. "I think the most important thing that women need to know is that it is OK to ask questions about any part of a procedure to understand what is being done and why," said Lucrecia Griffith, RT(R)(M), Kupferle Breast Center manager at Texas Health Fort Worth. The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend that women 40 and older have a screening mammogram yearly because the sooner cancer is detected, the less invasive the treatment and higher the success rate. Women who have a family history of breast cancer and/or women who are at higher risk for breast cancer should consult with their physicians about whether they should begin screening at an earlier age and how frequently they should receive a mammogram. To book a digital mammogram screening at a Texas Health Hospital near you, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit www.texashealth.org/breast.
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