"Tomosynthesis", or "slice" imaging, is the latest technology that complements the benefits of existing digital mammography. Tomosynthesis allow radiologists to view digital images in much greater detail, including three dimensional images," said Dr. Richard Lee, a radiologist at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.

Digital tomosynthesis mammography, due to arrive at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in the New Year, is destined to make great strides in detecting cancer in women with high-density breast tissue, especially Asian women -- including Lanuza who is Filipino. Asian women comprise approximately 70 per cent of the diagnostic mammograms performed annually at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.

Lanuza’s high density breast tissue made a cancerous lump she felt by hand harder to detect with conventional screening mammograms. Lanuza had to undergo four mammograms, an ultrasound and a core biopsy before receiving a final diagnosis. Ouida’s fast-growing, invasive grade 3 cancer may have been detected more easily with this new life-saving technology.

“In recognition of Breast Cancer Month, Tapestry Foundation for Health Care is pleased to announce the success of a year-long campaign to raise funds for a life-saving digital tomosynthesis mammography for Mount Saint Joseph Hospital,” said Ann Corrigan, CEO of Tapestry Foundation for Health Care. “We are in the process of ordering the equipment and software and expect to have everything in place in early spring of 2009 – when FDA and Health Canada approval of tomosynthesis is expected.”

Digital tomosynthesis mammography of the breast is different from a standard mammogram in the same way a CAT scan of the chest is different from a standard chest X-ray. It addresses three big issues: discomfort with compression; cancer hiding within overlapping tissue; and a limited number of views.

Women with breasts that are 75 per cent dense have a 400-to-600 per cent greater risk of developing cancer than women with fatty breasts. Dense breasts hide up to one-third of invasive cancer.

“Digital mammography, especially with tomosynthesis, makes it easier to distinguish benign from malignant lesions, and results in a lower recall rate for biopsy. Tomosynthesis offers -- through revolutionary computer-engineering -- a speedier, comfortable and more revealing examination than current mammography machines,” said Dr. Lee.

A breast cancer survivor who had a mastectomy, Lanuza recognizes her situation was unique to women with high-density breast tissue and remains a firm believer in the value of screening mammograms for all women.

“Any family member, friend, co-worker – I encourage them to get screening mammograms and check themselves regularly,” said Lanuza.

Every year, more than 7,500 screening mammograms and 5,000 diagnostic mammograms are conducted at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. More surgeries resulting from breast cancer diagnoses are performed annually at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital than at any other BC hospital. The arrival of the digital tomosynthesis mammography will revolutionize its breast care program.

Currently, digital mammography without tomosynthesis is only available in Metro Vancouver through the BC Cancer Agency.

The fund raising campaign to raise $750,000 for the digital tomosynthesis mammography was originally launched during Tapestry Foundation’s Angel Campaign last Christmas.

To find out how you can make a donation to support breast care programs at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, please call 604.877.8335, or visit www.tapestryfoundation.ca.

Tapestry Foundation for Health Care was established in 2007 as an umbrella fundraising organization to serve and support seven of eight Providence Health Care facilities including Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital Langara, St. Vincent’s Campus of Care, Brock Fahrni Pavilion, Marion Hospice and Youville Residence. The Foundation supports these sites by raising funds for medical equipment, programs, services, education, and research in the field of elder care.

Contact:

Michele Penz
Calico Communications for Tapestry Foundation for Health Care
Telephone: 778.888.2249
Email: calicocomm@telus.net