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| Home > News > 2004 News |
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Breast Cancer Awareness is important all year round
Nov. 8, 2004
St. John’s St. Francis Hospital wants to remind women that breast cancer
awareness is important all year long.
“It should be a continuing awareness issue for women,” explained Kim Butler,
RT(R)(M), registered mammographer at St. John’s St. Francis Hospital in Mountain
View.
According to the National Cancer Institute, one in seven women born today will
be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life. The American Cancer Society
stated that in 2003 an estimated 211,000 women learned they had breast cancer
and more than 40,000 were expected to die from the disease.
“With earlier detection through self exams and mammograms, women have a better
chance to become cancer survivors. It is suggested that when a woman reaches age
40 she has a screening mammogram and one each year thereafter,” explained
Butler.
St. John’s St. Francis Hospital offers screening mammogram services through
coordinated efforts with St. John’s Breast Center in Springfield.
“Screening mammograms are offered in Mountain View and can be accessed with a
doctor’s order.
“All of our mammograms are read in Springfield by radiologists who only read
mammograms and we utilize the latest in technology — they are read with the CAD
system,” added Butler. “CAD is a computer-aided detection program that actually
provides a second reading or an over read if you will. The latest statistics
show that with the CAD system there is a 20 percent decrease in false positives
and an increase in correct detection.
“This technology is not generally offered in small hospitals, so our patients
are very lucky to have the best possible care right here close to home.
Butler is a radiological technologist registered in mammography. She received
her registration from St. Joseph School of Radiological Technology in Pontiac,
Mich., and attended Oakland Community College in Mich. She has worked in
mammography for 10 years, three of these being at St. John’s St. Francis in
Mountain View.
“Monthly self exams are also one of the best ways to detect breast cancer. Many
women who perform monthly exams might initially find a lump and then follow-up
with their physician to schedule a mammogram or further testing,” Butler
reasoned. “In most cases, the lumps turn out to be non-cancerous but all
abnormalities should always be checked out by a physician.
“Breast cancer is a survivable diagnosis,” added Butler. “There are various
treatment options and if found early enough, the cancer doesn’t have the
opportunity to spread to other organs, tissue or bones.
“We are proud to be able to offer quality screening mammograms to the
individuals of Mountain View and surrounding area,” said Butler, “and the fact
that this service is available right here close to home is comforting. I’m
afraid many patients would not get their screening mammograms if they could not
do it here at home.”
For more information about mammography services at St. John’s St. Francis
Hospital in Mountain View, call 417-934-7000.
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