System is Crucial in Fight Against Breast Cancer

During her lifetime, a woman stands a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer. It is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States, claiming more than 40,000 lives last year.

As early detection is key to defeating breast cancer, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County has installed a new, state-of-the-art digital mammography system. Mammography screening is the best tool to detect breast cancer at an early, treatable stage in women age 40 and older, and Lourdes' new GE Healthcare Senographe Digital Mammography System provides physicians with clear, easy-to-read images of the breast compared to traditional X-ray film.

"Digital mammography will afford us the potential and opportunity to identify more patients at risk for the development of breast cancer, hopefully putting us in a position to prevent the process," said Arnold Baskies, MD, chief of the section of general, oncologic and breast surgery at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County. "It will also help us with treatment planning, allowing us to offer more options to the patient, and predicting who has multiple breast cancers."

There are many advantages to a digital system. Clear, precise images offer a better view of the breast, especially near the skin line, chest wall and in women with diverse breast tissue types. The GE Senographe system has the largest field of view available, which can be extremely helpful for precision imaging of patients of different shapes and sizes.

In addition, the digital image is ready to read within 10 seconds--no more waiting for films to be developed to ensure the images are usable.

The system also allows physicians to pull up previous images for historical comparison or comparison against ultrasound and MRI, resulting in a more comprehensive exam. Referring or consulting physicians can view the images virtually instantaneously electronically.

About Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County

Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County is a 249-bed community hospital in Willingboro. For more than four decades, the hospital has been committed to providing technologically advanced diagnostic and treatment options close to home, particularly to those most in need. Specialty services include: cancer care; bariatric surgery; orthopedics; maternity; wound care; sleep diagnostics; behavioral health; and long-term acute-care.

Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County is part of the Lourdes Health System, and is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, N.Y.

Reporters and Editors: Interviews with Dr. Baskies and other members of the Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County staff are available.