Grandview Medical Center

This year in America, more than 184,450 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This week, Grandview Medical Center advanced the fight against this pervasive disease by installing a new cutting edge digital mammography system for its patients.

This system, a GE Healthcare Senographe Digital Mammography system, provides physicians with clear and precise all-digital images, rather than images on X-ray film. What’s more, the system provides the largest field of view currently available, which can be extremely helpful for precision imaging of patients with diverse shapes and sizes.

“This is new and powerful technology for the detection and fight against breast cancer,” says Hospital CEO Bruce Baldwin. “Digital systems such as this allow us to offer our patients state-of-the-art mammograms that are fast and easy. And it gives our referring physicians accurate images to use in diagnosis.”

According to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, breast cancer will affect more than 4,400 women in Tennessee.  Of the total affected nationally, breast cancer will result in over 40,000 deaths, making it the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54.   Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

“This new digital technology will provide both accuracy and increased ease of use for our patients,” Baldwin said. “Providing outstanding diagnostic equipment for patients is a vital step to good preventive health, and one we take very seriously.”  

There are many advantages to a digital system. The images are clear and easy to read, and it offers an excellent view of the breast, especially near the skin line, chest wall and in women with diverse breast tissue types.

The digital image is ready to read within 10 seconds – there is no longer a wait for films to be developed to be sure the images are usable. Digital mammograms take as little as half the time of film. And if a second opinion is needed, the image can be sent electronically to a consulting physician virtually instantaneously.

Baldwin also added that now almost every woman in the Sequatchie Valley has an opportunity for an affordable screening.  For women who are not insured, Grandview is offering the new technology for $99 if an appointment is made during the month of October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  For those with insurance, the screenings are normally only a nominal co-pay, depending upon the individual’s policy.

“We’re serious about breast cancer detection in this area,” Baldwin said. “We want all local physicians to know that we now have among the most modern screening equipment in the area and are willing to work with them in the care of their patients.

To schedule an appointment for a screening using the new digital mammography technology, patients may call 423-837-9449.