SGCMH Expands Breast Diagnostic Services
10/30/2023
Ste. Genevieve, MO. Métis Brest Center at the Bloomsdale Medical Centre has added new breast diagnostic equipment called the Upright Breast Biopsy system.
Dr. Theresa Cavins, breast surgeon and Chief of Surgery at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital and director of the Métis Breast Center outlined the advantages of this new system.
“When you do a screening test, you want to make sure that if you do find something, you have the capability to biopsy whatever you find,” she explained. “So now that we have 3D mammography, we want to be able to biopsy lesions that are only seen on 3D and we can do that with the upright stereotactic equipment and we can also provide better patient comfort because you’re sitting upright in a chair versus laying prone and we can make it a more efficient procedure and minimize you’re down time.”
She also explained that 80% of all breast biopsies are benign.
“We don’t want to have to do surgery for those biopsies,” she said. “We want a minimally-invasive, convenient technique and that’s what the upright stereotactic biopsy provides us.
Dr. Cavins praised the hospital for bringing on board this technology.
“We’re very fortunate to have an administrator and board that supports state of the art breast care imaging,” she said. “We’re in a good position to provide comprehensive breast care to the community.”
Dr. Cavins has long advocated that prevention is the first line of defense against breast cancer, and prevention and early detection go together.
“There are a lot things we have in our own power that allow us to prevent disease, including breast cancer,” she said. “They sound like common sense, but they aren’t always common. Exercise, eating a predominantly plant-based diet, getting adequate sleep, eliminating smoking, limiting alcohol, and spending time with family and friends, as social engagement is very important. Even small changes can make a big difference.”
As for the importance of mammograms. Dr. Cavins explained that the proof is undeniable.
“Prior to having screening mammography, which came out in the 1960s, most breast cancers were diagnosed at a very late stage,” she said. “Now we can diagnose breast cancer at a very early stage and the mortality rates are cut in half. So we know that mammography saves lives.”
To alleviate anxiety, Dr. Cavins likes to talk percentages.
“If you do a thousand screening mammograms, probably a hundred of those women will get called back to have extra pictures taken. And out of those hundred, only 10 will have to have a biopsy. And only five of those ten will prove to be cancer. So if you get called back for extra pictures, 90% of the time it’s nothing. We’re just being proactive.”
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital performs over 7,000 3D mammograms a year at both Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital and Métis Breast Center located at Bloomsdale Medical Centre.
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit county owned community hospital that works to continue to improve the health and well-being of the community. Our professional staff uses advanced technology and medicine to provide excellent, personalized, and compassionate healthcare. For more information on Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital or Métis Breast Care Center, visit stegenevievehospital.org.
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