What's the deal with Digital Mammography?

Kanabec Hospital's latest news is the addition of digital mammography to our women's health services. A particularly timely acquisition given the subject of my previous blog entry. Breast cancer is a  insidious form of cancer that affects one in every eight women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Early detection has been proven again and again to be the most effective method of prevention, and when detected early the chance for successful treatment is very high.

Mammography is the baseline screening that allows for early detection of breast cancer in women. Traditional mammography involved the use of screen-film, while digital mammography uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce images that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor. This allows physicians’ greater control over the image and the ability to manipulate the image, which in turn leads to greater accuracy in diagnosing.

Ultimately, an annual mammogram is one of the most important preventative health screenings that a woman can have. Once a woman turns 35, she should consult with her doctor to schedule her baseline mammogram.