For many women, the thought of having to undergo an annual mammogram can cause feelings of dread. Though they know a regular screening is important in detecting breast cancer, they cringe at the thought of the cold surfaces and hard edges of the mammography device — not to mention the pain of the compressions.
Community Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health Center now provides a new product that dramatically eases the discomfort many women feel when they get a mammogram. The FDA-approved foam cushion, called MammoPad®, wraps around the edge of the mammography device to create a softer, warmer mammogram. It will be provided free of charge to all patients.
“The Women’s Health Center has made the MammoPad® a standard of care for all patients because we believe in the product,” said Patricia Petry, RN, director of the Women’s Health Center. “Our patients deserve the most comfortable mammogram possible.”
A mammogram is an x-ray exam of the breast. It is used to detect and evaluate breast abnormalities, both in women who have no breast complaints or symptoms and in women who have breast symptoms (problems such as a lump, pain, or nipple discharge). During the screening, a woman’s breast is pressed between two plates to flatten and spread the tissue. The procedure produces a black and white image of the breast tissue on a large sheet of film that is interpreted by a radiologist.
“For the longest time, patients have always had the problem of having a very cold plate,” said Sue Ranchau, lead mammography technologist in the Women’s Health Center. “With the MammoPad®, women feel more comfortable getting up closer to the machine so we can get more breast tissue. And the pad doesn’t interfere at all with obtaining the image.”
Linda Beyer-Dziedzic of Milwaukee said she used to dread going in for her annual mammogram. In fact, she would often skip a year, because the friction of the plate caused skin tears under her breast. When she got a mammogram earlier this year using the MammoPad®, however, she was surprised at how much easier it was.
“That was probably the first pain-free mammogram I’ve ever had,” she said. “With the pad, there’s no pulling on the breast tissue. It just kind of stays there.”
To schedule a mammogram in the Women’s Health Center, call 414.777.1900 or 1.866.257.1600. If you come in before December 31, 2006, you will receive a certificate for a relaxing therapeutic massage at half-price.
For more information about healthcare for women, check out our Women's Health section as well as our Wellness Library.
Sue Ranchau, lead mammography technologist in the Women’s Health Center (pictured above on the right), says she hopes offering the MammoPad® will encourage women to get their annual mammogram.
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