Advanced Technology Enhances Early Breast Cancer Detection

While October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women should be thinking about their breast health throughout the year. Monthly self-breast exams and annual mammograms can help detect breast cancer in its early stages when it is more treatable and has positive outcomes.

At Breast Care Services, located in the State College Medical Office Building, expert radiologists and skilled technologists use patient management software called Volpara Patient Hub to enhance early detection. The software is designed to streamline and improve patient and physician communications to help ensure that every patient receives regular breast screening, as well as any follow-up care they may require.

Patient Hub replaces manual paper tracking with customizable mammography reporting and patient communication options. The software also provides an integrated cancer risk assessment capability to help personalize patient care. Risk assessment is streamlined with an accessible patient questionnaire that collects and stores key patient information.

Also in an effort to enhance early detection of breast cancer, Penn Highlands State College uses robust breast density assessment technology that overcomes the limitations of mammography to detect cancer in women with dense breasts. The use of Volpara Scorecard enables the radiologist to objectively measure breast density and assess a woman’s individual risk of breast cancer. By using this technology, radiologists can objectively estimate a woman’s amount of breast density and help identify those who might benefit from additional screening.

Approximately 50% of women of screening age have dense breasts. High breast density is an important independent risk factor for developing breast cancer, and cancer can hide in dense breasts. Both dense breast tissue and cancer appear white on a mammogram, making it harder to identify cancer in dense breasts. These well documented facts contribute to a hindrance to early detection for these women.

“This technology is a great resource for women in the Centre County region,” said Suzanne Iorfido, DO, Chief of Breast Imaging at Penn Highlands Healthcare. “Our software ultimately gives patients more information regarding their breast health and how to best undergo optimal annual screening, which may include annual ultrasound and MRI in addition to mammography.”

To learn more about the importance of mammograms, visit www.phhealthcare.org/pink.

Breast Care Services is located on the first floor of the State College Medical Office Building. For an appointment, call 814-375-4636 or 1-888-920-4636.