Women's Imaging Center observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Women urged to take steps for early detection WARWICK —October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the staff at the St. Anthony Community Hospital Women’s Imaging Center on Ronald Reagan Blvd. in Warwick is urging all women, especially those over 40, to schedule an annual mammogram. The Center is located just off Kings Highway near Merchants Square. Since its beginning more than 20 years ago, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has been dedicated to increasing awareness of breast cancer issues, especially the importance of early detection. “Early detection is the best protection,” said St. Anthony Community Hospital’s Women’s Imaging Coordinator Cookie Sell-Jones. “And here at the Women’s Imaging Center we’re equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and sufficiently well staffed to be able to schedule appointments within a week.” The Women’s Imaging Center’s advanced mammography equipment, which produces digital breast images through computerization rather than traditional X-ray film, has revolutionized the quality, wait-time and overall experience of traditional mammograms. The enhanced system provides exceptional images of the breast in all women, regardless of breast tissue type. Higher quality images, especially near the skin line and chest wall increase the rate of cancer detection by 19 percent. Computer aided detection (CAD) software acts as a radiologist’s “second pair of eyes” for screening and diagnosing any abnormalities and takes only a fraction of time needed to process a film mammogram n the image is visible in 10 seconds. If a second opinion is needed, the image can be sent electronically to another physician for immediate review. The center is not solely for women; comprehensive radiology and detection capabilities such as high-tech Bone Densitometry, a screening for osteoporosis, and cutting-edge ultrasonography to perform non-surgical biopsies and minimally invasive biopsies, benefit all at-risk patients. Behind the technology is a specially trained team of experienced, board-certified radiologists and mammography technicians with advanced certification from the American Association of Radiology Technicians (AART). And the center’s staff promotes a pleasant and quiet patient-friendly environment. Robes replace scratchy paper disposables and mammographies are performed using soft mammo-pads. To learn more about the center or other services visit www.StAnthonyCommunityHosp.org. To schedule a convenient day and time for your mammography call 988-9905.