MMH among first to offer new wide-angle 3D mammogram

Melissa Memorial Hospital is advancing the fight against breast cancer with innovative technology designed to overcome barriers to detection and compliance.

With the help of fundraising through the Melissa Memorial Hospital Foundation, MMH installed a new machine capable of 3D mammography last week, with the first patient scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23.

“We chose MAMMOMAT Revelation because the wide-angle technology makes it easier to find even the smallest cancers earlier with greater accuracy,” said Tim Johnson, MMH radiology director. “We also see the system’s personalized compression helping women overcome any fear they might have because the MAMMOMAT Revelation exam has been proven to be more comfortable.”

MAMMOMAT Revelation, from Siemens Healthineers, is the next generation of 3D mammography (breast tomosynthesis). Its unique wide 50-degree angle, the industry’s highest depth resolution, captures more detail for extremely high-quality 3D images that increase diagnostic confidence and enable earlier detection of even subtle lesions.

MAMMOMAT Revelation is also the first mammography platform to provide automated breast density measurements at the point of examination. High breast density can increase the risk of developing cancer. Traditionally, breast density was estimated visually during the image reading process, usually after the patient had left.

With MAMMOMAT Revelation, getting this information during the exam enables immediate and personalized risk assessment and allows MMH to provide supplemental imaging while the patient is at her exam.    

Compression is key to getting an accurate mammogram. However, the associated discomfort and pain are reasons why women avoid mammography exams. “It was important to us to remove any barrier that could stop a woman from getting the screening she needs,” said Johnson.

With MAMMOMAT Revelation’s Personalized Soft Compression, each woman gets exactly the right amount of compression for her breast type. The force is automatically adjusted for the greatest individual comfort without losing any accuracy.

“We are thrilled to bring this breakthrough technology to northeastern Colorado. When breast cancer is found early, the chances of survival are greatly improved. And MAMMOMAT Revelation is the best system to provide the quality images and patient experience to make early detection possible,” said Johnson.

Age 40 is the time to start annual mammograms

Those who schedule a mammogram at MMH will be working with Megan Garrett.

She is an American Registry of Radiologic Technologists board certified mammography tech. Her training included time at the Breast Diagnostic Center in Fort Collins and Loveland, and she started at MMH in 2015.

Garrett actually got certified the same day her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mom had been doing routine 3D mammograms, and Garrett was quick to say, “Catching it early is what saves the lives.”

She explained that 2D mammograms are like looking at the cover of a book. With 3D, it’s like opening up each individual page of that book.

Garrett urges women to get a mammogram every year beginning at age 40, noting that the chances of breast cancer increase with age.

She pointed out that if a woman’s mother had breast cancer at a young age, she should start mammograms 10 years prior to the age of the mom when she was diagnosed. A woman should also talk to her doctor about starting earlier than age 40 if she knows she has the breast cancer gene.

Garrett reminds women that 85% of those diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of it.

MMH offers 3D mammograms five days a week, and it can be done by self-referral, meaning patients do not need a doctor’s order to get one.

Patients will get to enjoy the new, fluffy robes the radiology department recently purchased, and Creative Traditions has contributed by making new capes.

To schedule a mammogram at MMH, call 970-854-2241.

Foundation contributes over $130,000

The idea of bringing life-saving 3D mammography to Holyoke spoke to the hearts of many people throughout the last year.

The MMH Foundation gave $130,736.89 to MMH to help pay for the $280,000 machine, and the foundation is still accepting donations.

“This was truly a community effort through the foundation to be able to offer this worthy service in our MMH radiology department,” said Nancy Colglazier, MMHF executive director.

Funds were raised through the 10th annual MMHF Legacy Event, memorials, MMHF Cajun Boil, Holyoke High School volleyball and basketball Pink Outs, MMH radiology department T-shirt sales, year-end donations, IRA rollovers, Glow-a-thon, MMH Cancer Walk, MMH Biggest Losers, HHS Coaches vs. Cancer event and miscellaneous donations.

Colglazier said the Doyle Skinner family selected the 3D mammography project for Skinner’s memorials and Joy Schafer gave a memorial in memory of her husband, Randy. Eighteen other memorials were not designated for this specific project but were chosen to go toward 3D mammography by MMHF.

In Colglazier’s opinion, the 3D mammography project and the Londa Wernet Bradford Cancer Center have been, by far, the two most meaningful projects that the foundation has worked toward since she became executive director in 2014.

“Being a breast cancer survivor, I truly understood the importance of these services for our local community and MMH. The 3D mammo will help with early diagnosis so the outcome can be so much better for the patient, while the cancer center allows our community to receive treatments close to home, which is a tremendous benefit for the patient and the caregivers,” said Colglazier.

“It is true joy for me that MMH will be offering 3D mammography. I know the importance of this as 3D found my breast cancer, and now long road trips will not have to happen,” she added.

MMHF expressed gratefulness to the community, businesses, families, MMH staff and surrounding communities for the support and generosity they have shown.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23, to celebrate the arrival of 3D mammography at MMH.