Center for Women's Services Offers New Ally In Fight Against Breast Cancer

In Adams and Weld counties, breast cancer will affect an estimated 2,000 women during the next year, statistics show. Today, the Center for Women's Services at North Suburban Medical Center advanced the fight against this pervasive disease by installing front-line digital mammography technology for its patients.

Thornton, Colo. (PRWEB) April 9, 2008 -- In Adams and Weld counties, breast cancer will affect an estimated 2,000 women during the next year, statistics show. Today, the Center for Women's Services at North Suburban Medical Center advanced the fight against this pervasive disease by installing front-line digital mammography technology for its patients.

Identifying cancer in its early stages is essential to finding an effective treatment.

"We know mammography saves lives," says Jane O'Connor, director of Diagnostic Imaging at North Suburban Medical Center. "Recent studies have proven digital mammography to be better for detecting the subtle signs of early breast cancer, especially for women with dense breast tissue, implants, young women who have a history of breast cancer in their immediate family and women who are pre-menopausal."

Benefits of Digital Mammography:

•    Permits quicker exams with high-precision accuracy;

•    Produces images through computerization rather than on x-ray film, thus reducing wait times for film development and image usability;

•    Allows radiologists to magnify specific image areas and adjust the contrast so abnormalities are easier to see;

•    Uses a lower radiation dose for patients with dense or fibrous breasts;

•    Enables earlier diagnoses, as digital images are ready to read within seconds; and

•    Creates superior, high-quality images, thus increasing physicians' ability to detect cancer.

The American Cancer Society recommends the following breast cancer-related check-ups:

•    Breast Self Exams, 20 years of age and over, every month.

•    Clinical Breast Exams, 20 to 40 years of age, every three years; over 40, every year.

•    Mammography, 40 years of age and over, every year.

For more information or to schedule a mammogram, call the Center for Women's Diagnostic Services at 303-457-7777.

(http://www.northsuburban.com) is a 157-bed licensed hospital with two adjoining medical office buildings and 550 physicians on staff. Located in Thornton, CO, the hospital offers cardiovascular services, critical care and emergency medical services; surgical services; MRI, mammography and other diagnostic imaging services; the Women's Center for maternity care, the (http://www.northsuburban.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=9F740314-A5F9-4BBC-9D52-FE62D717901C), the (http://www.northsuburban.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=28F706DD-5B56-4D64-A423-A8A1EF925122) and Kids Express for pediatric problems occurring outside of normal physician office hours. North Suburban is proud to be a designated Mentor Hospital in the 100K Lives Campaign and part of the HCA-HealthONE LLC System of Excellence.

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