St. John Hospital & Medical Center: Detroit
Oncology (cancer), Women's Health
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Media Contact: Wende Berry, (313) 343-7458
St. John Hospital and Medical Center (SJHMC) now offers enhanced breast cancer detection capabilities with breast magnetic resonance imaging (B-MRI). Mammography, the standard for breast cancer screenings, is highly effective for detecting most breast cancers. Research has proven that properly done, mammography can reduce breast cancer mortality by at least 32% among women ages 40-69 years. Despite this, not all cancers are detected by mammography. Used as an adjunct to mammography, especially for women identified as high-risk for breast cancer, B-MRI provides unparalleled accuracy in breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
"We know that among women having a 25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, breast MRI will detect more cancers than mammography,” said Dr. Christine Watt, SJHMC Chief of Imaging Services. “ It can also detect more occult, or ‘hidden’ cancers. The addition of this diagnostic tool will allow us to detect more cancers in high-risk populations. This will help us save more lives.”
B-MRI is invaluable to women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, and is used to determine the local extent of disease, more accurately tumor location, identify residual cancer after lumpectomy, assess tumor response to chemotherapy and detect suspected cancer recurrence. It is also used as a highly sensitive diagnostic tool, able to distinguish between scarring and recurrent cancer, to assess patients who have had abnormal mammogram results and to identify women with possible breast implant rupture.
In some women, a genetic mutation puts them at much higher risk of developing breast cancer. Detected by a blood test, BRCA I and II can carry an 80% lifetime risk of breast cancer, with tumors that often develop these malignancies at an early age.
“Every woman should perform monthly breast self-examinations; every lump should be investigated immediately,” said Dr. Watt. “We recommend that all women have a baseline mammogram at age 40. But we know that in certain populations, mammography should be done much earlier. For these women, a breast MRI used with a mammogram provides the most advanced cancer detection available. Early detection is crucial in breast cancer, and we’re glad to provide it.”
For more information on breast cancer screenings, please call the SJHMC Breast Center at (313) 647-3300.
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