Breast cancer is becoming increasingly more treatable thanks to 3D mammograms offered at locations like Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, KY. Cindy Hagan, survivor and Women’s Imaging Manager, knows firsthand the impact of this new technology.
“Being in the business for a while, I kind of, when I saw the images, I kind of knew what was coming up,” Cindy recalls.
Cindy has seen many images, but this was the first of her own that revealed a small lump and other early signs of breast cancer. Early detection is key to effective treatment, and 3D mammograms help detect things 2D mammograms cannot. This includes a small lump that Cindy could not have felt on her own.
The 3D images can be analyzed as a whole or looked at in smaller slices. The American Cancer Society says this could be especially helpful for women with denser breast tissue and possibly reduce the need for additional tests.
“We do breast cancer screenings so we can find things early… When you put it off and don’t do it, that’s when you get the later stage breast cancer,” shares Alice Higdon, D.O., a general surgeon in Paducah.
Throughout treatment, Cindy only had to miss 16 days of work before returning to more normalcy and stability in her day-to-day life. She is now, of course, an even greater ambassador for this 3D imaging.
Cindy says, “I tell my mother, I tell my sister: go somewhere that does 3D mammography.”
Learn about preventative breast care services offered by Mercy Health near you.
