Machine targets breast cancer
Detecting breast cancer has become easier at Broadway Radiology after an almost $200,000 investment in new technology.
The Palmerston North centre bought a machine that takes an advanced look at breasts.
Clinical director Dr Pat Capasso said since the machine was introduced, late last year, it had already detected lesions that were not seen with standard mammography.
There had been two cases where abnormalities were discovered that would otherwise have been hidden, he said.
The breast tomosynthesis machine minimised tissue overlap that could hide cancers or make them difficult to distinguish from normal breast tissue, Capasso said.
The X-ray tube moved in an arc, capturing multiple images of each breast from different angles, he said.
These images are reconstructed as ‘‘slices’’ to create threedimensional images of the breast, similar to a CT scan.
Radiologists are also able to better detect cancer in patients with dense breasts, which have more glandular tissue and are present in at least 40 per cent of the population.
‘‘Women with dense breasts not only are less sensitive to mammography but they are also at increased risk of developing breast cancer,’’ Capasso said.
For women at higher risk, Capasso suggests regular visits.
‘‘Even if you qualify for free two-yearly breast screening, you may wish to consider tomosynthesis on alternate years.
‘‘Women should carry out breast examinations at home monthly and contact their GP immediately if they detect any changes.
‘‘Men, too, should have a mammogram if they feel something abnormal,’’ Capasso said.
The Breast Cancer Foundation NZ says breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer for women in New Zealand.
Three-thousand women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and 20 men are diagnosed each year.
Seventy per cent of people in New Zealand with breast cancer are 50 or older.