3D mammography machines coming to Adventist Health Mendocino Coast

As Adventist Health Mendocino Coast improves access to care and diagnostic imaging capabilities for the coast community, the team is incredibly grateful for the generous gift from the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation of a 3D Mammography machine. Mammograms and other breast imaging services are used to detect and diagnose breast cancer or other conditions and can often identify breast abnormalities at their earliest stages. Early detection of breast cancer can reduce treatment time and lead to more successful outcomes.

A 3D mammogram offers significant advantages in detecting breast cancer in those who may have denser breast tissue because the 3D image allows the radiologist to see through those areas of density like they never have before. Studies show that 3D mammography results in a 29% increase in detection of all breast cancers and a 41% increase in detection of invasive breast cancers.

As a result of this improvement to technology, we will be doing construction in the department to prepare for the installation of the new equipment starting the first week of December. Patients needing a mammogram while construction is underway for the next month and a half will have access to services through our team at the Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits at 707-456-3090.

“There are so many types of cancer, with many of them there is no screening process. We are so fortunate that we do have a proven method of screening for breast cancer. I have been performing mammograms for over 18 years. I have seen this imaging modality advance greatly over my career. We have the technology now that is so far beyond anything, we could have imagined a decade ago.

We're so excited to have this technology at the coast now to help provide the latest imaging capabilities for our patients right here in our community.” says Honalee Newman, director of the Medical Imaging department.

It is important to have regular screenings to detect and stop breast cancer in its tracks. Adventist Health recommends the following breast cancer screening exams:

• Monthly breast self-exams beginning at age 20

• Annual clinical breast exams with your physician or other health care practitioner

• Baseline mammogram at age 40 followed by annual screening mammograms — the “gold standard” for breast cancer screening guidelines supported by the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiologists and the American College of Surgeons

To schedule your annual mammogram at Adventist Health Mendocino Coast with the new 3D technology starting late January, please call our team at 707961-4665 to schedule.