Ripon, WI— To advance the fight against breast cancer, the Ripon Medical Center (RMC) Board of Directors has approved the purchase of digital mammogram technology to be installed and in use by August 3, 2009. Digital mammography has been shown to be more effective than traditional film mammography at detecting cancer in younger women and women with dense breast tissue.

“Ripon Medical Center is the first provider in Ripon to offer digital mammography,” said RMC CEO Jim Tavary. “Women can feel confident that the equipment we are using is as advanced here as in any major city. Our pledge to staying current with new technology reflects our commitment to our patients.”

The main difference between digital mammography and film mammography is in how the images are recorded and stored. A digital mammogram converts x-rays into electrical signals that are sent to a computer. Images can then be enhanced, magnified or manipulated on a computer screen, which can help the radiologists see specific areas of the breast more clearly. The new technology also includes integrated computer-aided detection. The computer provides a second check by highlighting suspicious areas for the radiologist to review to determine if additional diagnostic testing is required. RMC partners with Radiology Associates of the Fox Valley, a group of 36 radiologists that provides service throughout the Fox Valley.

Additionally, the new digital mammography system at RMC will usher in same day results for patients, reducing the stress of waiting and worrying. “A significant advantage for our patients is that long distance travel for digital diagnostics is over. Patients can stay home for state of the art mammography,” says Sue Ahonen, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at RMC.

Women will notice little difference in the mammogram procedure with digital mammography. 

“While tissue still has to be compressed,” says Jennifer Kloostra, Mammography Coordinator at RMC, “this new system has the very largest detector surface, which can better accommodate patients of diverse shapes and sizes.”

Ahonen says with the installation of the digital mammogram technology, RMC will begin to offer evening and weekend scheduling options as well. 

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, second only to lung cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), digital mammography is better than film mammography at finding cancers in:

·         Women with dense breasts. About 40 percent of women who undergo screening mammography have dense breast tissue, reports the NCI.

·         Women younger than 50, regardless of breast density.

·         Women who had their final menstrual periods within 12 months of their mammograms.

Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet approximately 13 million women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

The American Cancer Society recommends that most women get a mammogram once a year beginning at age 40. Those who are at high risk of breast cancer due to family history of the disease or other factors may need to be tested more often and at an earlier age.

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