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In conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ProMedica Toledo Hospital last week unveiled an expanded Breast Care Center.
The center became the only hospital in Ohio to offer The LumaGem™ Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) System, an advanced screening tool that can identify tumors in dense or thick breast tissue that may be missed by x-ray based and digital mammography.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 40% of all women have dense or thick breast tissue, with the largest population under age 50. Women will be identified as MBI candidates by the radiologist reading their
mammogram
During the MBI procedure, the patient is given an injection of a short-lived radioactive agent, which accumulates in breast tumor cells more than it does in normal cells. Tumors show up as “hot spots” on the MBI imaging system. Scans can begin within 10 minutes of the initial injection. Images are immediately available for radiologists’ interpretation.
The equipment, developed by researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., cost $450,000. Its acquisition was part of a $300,000, 2,800-square-foot expansion to the Breast Care Center that included the addition of two ultrasound rooms, a new exam room for the MBI equipment and renovations to the waiting room.
Located on the first floor of the Harris McIntosh Tower at Toledo Hospital, the center offers a full range of clinical breast care screening and diagnostic services, including digital mammography, dedicated breast MRI, breast ultrasound, image-guided breast biopsy and the new MBI. Dr. Robert Shermis serves as medical director.
According to the American Cancer Society:
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
• A women’s risk of developing breast cancer goes up with age – about two out of three with invasive breast cancer are 55 years or older when diagnosed.
• About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be linked to inherited changes (mutations) in certain genes.
• Breast cancer risk is higher among women who have close blood relatives with the disease. Having a mother, sister or daughter with the disease doubles the risk.
• Women between the ages of 35-40 should receive a baseline mammogram.
• Women 40 years of age and older should get a mammogram every year.
• High-risk women should talk to their primary doctor about screening recommendations.
For more information about MBI or the Breast Care Center, call 419-291-2131.
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