Erlanger Bledsoe announced the arrival of a new 3D mammography machine relaunching mammography services in the area.
A 3D mammography is an imaging process that combines multiple X-rays to create a three-dimensional picture. The many benefits of 3D mammography include reducing the need for follow-up imaging, detect slightly more cancers than a standard mammogram alone, and improved breast cancer detection in dense tissue.
According to cancer research, mammograms have helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the country by 40% since 1990. Three out of every four women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history and are not considered high risk.
“We are proud to offer this important service to our community,” said Stephanie Boynton, CEO of Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital. “The 3D enhanced technology is a wonderful upgrade for our women as it helps the radiologists to truly see and identify abnormalities, while routine screenings help to track any changes women may not notice themselves”
The new machine will service the community Monday through Friday at Erlanger Bledsoe. It is one of very few state-of-the-art machines available in the region and only two available through Erlanger.
“During the pandemic, preventative cancer screenings fell around the country,” said Dr. Jeanie Dassow, OB-GYN at Erlanger Women’s Health – Sequatchie Valley. “Now, more than ever, it is imperative that our community return to regular screenings to help patients detect issues earlier, often times leading to better survival rates.”
In an effort to help overcome a major obstacle to screenings, Erlanger, in partnership with Tennessee Breast and Cervical Program, is a screening provider offering free yearly breast and cervical screenings and diagnostic services for low-income and uninsured women. The screening exams are offered to qualifying women ages 40 to 64 for a mammogram, and ages 25 to 64 for a PAP test. To learn if you qualify for this valuable program, call 423 778-8999 or 423 778-6357.
To schedule an appointment, call 423 778-PINK (5800), or to learn more about services available at Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital or Sequatchie Valley ED, visit www.erlanger.org/Bledsoe.