Boyd Healthcare Services is pleased to announce that 3D mammography is now available in our Radiology Department! 

 

We’re introducing our patients to a smarter kind of 3D mammogram with improved comfort, more detail, and gentle radiation dose.  It’s a victory in the fight against breast cancer.

 

We understand…no one loves getting a mammogram, but the screening is the smartest way to detect breast cancer earlier.  So it’s important to make your mammography experience the best it can be.  Our new 3D mammography machine offers an exclusive Comfort Paddle that is built with insight to image quality and your comfort.

 

Let us share why our 3D mammography is a smarter kind of mammogram:

 

• It’s more comfortable.  There’s a reason women find mammograms uncomfortable.  Breasts weren’t meant to be compressed flat.  The ASPIRE Cristalle’s patented Comfort Paddle was designed to gently adapt to your curves with four-way pivoting and flexible surfaces.  This delivers more gradual, even compression of your breasts for a noticeably more comfortable exam.

 

•It offers more accurate readings.  3D mammography provides more detail than traditional 2D mammography.  The x-ray system quickly sweeps in an arc over the breast, taking several low-dose images at different angles.  These images can be viewed in thin slices.  This allows doctors to see your breast tissue layer by layer, which can help reveal abnormalities that might otherwise be hidden.

 

•There are fewer callbacks.  Callbacks are a fact of life in mammography.  Callbacks can happen when a woman needs additional screening because the image showed a suspicious area.  In many cases, the exam results turn out to be normal, but getting a false-positive result can be stressful.  ASPIRE Cristalle’s advanced image quality can help reduce the number of callbacks for non-cancer cases.

 

 

Have any questions?  It’s natural to have questions when getting a mammogram, especially if it’s your first time.  The following are responses to frequently asked questions that you may find helpful.

 

Q: Why should I get a mammogram?

A:  Mammograms can often reveal breast cancer before any apparent symptoms or a lump can be felt.  Early detection is critical to catching cancers before advanced stages.

 

Q:  Will the 3D exam with the ASPIRE Cristalle feel different? 

A:  The Comfort Paddle was designed to be more comfortable than traditional machines!  But other than that, it is the same.  Your technologist will help position you at the machine in the same way.

 

Q:  Does it take longer than other mammograms?

A: 3D only adds a few seconds to your exam.

 

Q:  Is there more radiation with a 3D exam?

A:  The radiation dose with a 3D mammography is higher than traditional 2D mammograms because of the additional images captured; however, it is still significantly below the dose limit established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

 

Q:  How do I prepare for a 3D exam?

A:  Prepare the same way you would prepare for a traditional exam.  Do not wear jewelry, deodorant, perfume, or lotion on your underarms or torso.  Deodorants and powders sometimes contain aluminum, which images similarly to calcifications and can interfere with the imaging process.  You will have to undress from your waist up, wear a shirt with pants, and avoid wearing a one-piece dress.  Schedule your mammogram after your menstrual period (instead of before or during) to minimize tenderness and discomfort.  Limit intake of caffeinated drinks during the week before.  Caffeine can make breasts more tender, which can lead to more discomfort during the exam.

 

We look forward to sharing this modern technology with our patients, and doing our part to help detect breast cancer at its earliest stages.  Call Radiology today to schedule your 3D mammogram at (217) 942-6946 ext. 1443.