Hologic New 3D Mammography Tomosynthesis a Breakthrough in Womens' Health

3D Tomosynthesis mammography machine could be key to detecting breast cancer
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PHOENIX - A Valley hospital is one of the few hospitals in the country using the 3D mammography machine.
Breast cancer survivor Mindy Carpenter wishes there would have been a 3D mammography machine when she was trying to figure out if the lump in her breast was cancer.
Carpenter, then 19 years old, went to the doctor for a normal check-up.
She felt fortunate her doctor detected a lump.

Doctors told her they would watch it.

She insisted whatever it was, it should be taken out. She finally underwent surgery and after it was removed, the mass was taken for a biopsy and doctors later acknowledged it was an aggressive cancer.

Carpenter had to undergo a second surgery to ensure the cancer was completely gone.

All this happened a week before her finals during sophomore year in college.

"It made me very early on realize how important life was," she said from the John C. Lincoln's Breast Health and Research Center.
Carpenter, now 35, is a survivor.
She thanks the 3D mammographic machine for alleviating constant anxiety or stress when it comes to testing for new cancers.
"I was like a kid in a candy store when I heard about the 3D mammogram," Carpenter said. "This was the first time in 15 years, I felt like there is nothing there. They can see everything. There was no question."
Dr. Linda Greer, a radiologist specialist, said the new 3D machine relieves stress and anxiety for women who may be testing for the disease.
More importantly, it has helped doctors detect small tumors.
Dr. Greer compared the technology improvement to the difference between an old TV and a new high definition TV.
"In just the month that we've had it, I've seen four or five cancers that I honestly would like to think that I would have found on the original mammogram, but it was without a doubt present when we did the 3D imaging," Greer said.
Carpenter, a self-proclaimed advocate, knows women are going through the same thing she went through.
She reminds them not to give up when it gets tough.

"You have to be your own advocate and make sure you're taking care of yourself," Carpenter said.
"Be pushy and if you think something is wrong, fight until you find out what it is," she said.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tomosynthesis
• mammography
• mammograms
• 3d
• womens' health hologic
• new
• technology