Special to The T&D

The Regional Medical Center's Breast Health Center staff is waging war on breast cancer.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and mammography is still the gold standard for early detection of breast cancer. Equipped with state-of-the-art digital mammography units, RMC has invested in its community's health by providing the best equipment coupled with skilled, compassionate staff.

Throughout the year, the Breast Health Center's staff shares the message about breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

Breast cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, and one out of every eight women will develop the disease in her lifetime. Still, if caught early, most breast cancers are treatable and have a low incidence of recurrence.

"Regional Medical Center has provided women, and in some cases, men, a comprehensive Breast Health Center right in their community to receive the quality care they deserve," said Dr. Dallas Lovelace, the center's medical director. "The digital equipment at our facility is state-of-the-art. Three key factors in contributing to women's breast health are monthly self-breast exams, yearly clinical exams by a physician and mammography. A baseline mammogram is recommended at age 35, and yearly mammograms beginning at age 40; however, if someone has a family history of breast cancer or is considered a high risk, the guidelines may vary. Monthly self-exams are very important so that women really know their breasts and will notice any changes immediately."

One of the Breast Health Center's biggest advantages is digital mammography; lead mammographer Becky Hejl says mammography is still the gold standard for diagnosing breast cancer.

"It's a documented fact that mammography saves lives," Hejl said. "According to the New England Journal of Medicine, digital mammography provides better images, particularly for women who have dense breasts. When comparing the analog images of the previous generation of mammography units with today's state-of-the-art digital images, it is truly amazing how much sharper and more precise the images are. Digital is the only way to go.

"We are proud to have been the first area hospital to feature digital mammography several years ago and have added a second digital unit -- quite an investment in our community's health."

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Visiting the Breast Health Center

To jump-start this fall's awareness campaign, members of the Junior Service League of Orangeburg recently visited the Regional Medical Center's Breast Health Center to learn about the latest statistics on breast cancer and the importance of early detection and to tour the facility. Focusing on the digital mammography equipment and viewing digital images, the group also had the option to schedule and have a digital mammogram that evening, and several did.

Some months before, Junior Service League's Social Committee was brainstorming ideas, and it discovered that some league members had a fear of getting a mammogram. The league decided to pursue a partnership with the RMC to help encourage their members to learn about the importance of early detection through mammography and what to expect when having a mammogram.

Nikki Hughes, immediate past president, spearheaded the effort, as she was already representing the league on the RMC Foundation's Pink Ribbon Committee and was aware of the capabilities of the Breast Health Center.

"Serving on the committee with Becky (Hejl) was a great opportunity to follow up on this idea," Hughes said. "Becky and I discussed it, the plan evolved, and with assistance from Emily Dyches, our Social Committee chairman, we scheduled a program and a tour of the Breast Health Center. A few weeks after planning began, the league's current president, Rebekkah Brailsford, was diagnosed with breast cancer. That reinforced our interest in sharing with our members about the importance of early detection, and a partnership with RMC's Breast Heath Center seemed like a perfect fit since the league also is the presenting sponsor for the Pink Ribbon event for the fourth consecutive year."

Brailsford, only 29 when diagnosed with breast cancer, has become a voice for advocating the importance of early detection.

"I know first-hand that women must protect themselves by having regular check ups and age-appropriate mammograms," she said. "In fact, we support a change in guidelines to lower the recommended age for a baseline. Wi

th more and more younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer, maybe it's time that the guidelines need to be re-evaluated.

"Breast cancer knows no age. If we can make a difference for one woman -- that will be a proud moment for us."

Rosie Poston, interim director of RMC's Breast Health Center, said the center's environment puts patients at ease.

"Having a mammogram can be a stressful experience, especially if it is her first one; many women procrastinate in making an appointment due to fear of the unknown. So we try to do everything possible to make our patients as comfortable as possible," she said.

Located in RMC's annex building, the 6,200-square-foot Breast Health Center has an entrance

with private parking and features soothingly colored walls, original artwork and a philosophy of caring for a patient's mind, body and soul.

Digital technology can detect smaller lesions in dense breast tissue that previous systems may have missed, all while exposing the patient to less radiation than was required with conventional mammography. Patients with dense breasts require digital mammography.

With digital mammography, there is no fil

m to develop. Clearer, more precise images are ready to view within seconds. Because the quality of the image can be evaluated immediately, patients are less likely to be called back to have the procedure repeated -- a vast improvement for any woman who has ever spent days waiting for answers.

Digital mammography isn't the only diagnostic tool clinicians at the Breast Health Center have on-site. Committed to a platform of comprehensive women's health, if a breast abnormality is detected in an area that can be difficult to study with a mammogram, patients will receive further examination with ultrasound.

A breast ultrasound is a procedure that uses reflected sound waves to view and produce a picture of the internal structures of the breast. Often, it is used to determine whether the lump is a benign cyst or a more-suspect solid mass. Another new and increasingly useful modality is breast MRI, which may be used in special cases.

If, during these tests, clinicians detect a possible tumor, the Breast Health Center is equipped to perform minimally invasive, stereotactic biopsies on-site. With this procedure, a special computer-guided needle is used to obtain a tissue sample from the area in question.

"The procedure takes only a few minutes under local anesthesia, and the patient can resume normal activities the next day," Lovelace said.

Most importantly, the center's capabilities allow patients to remain in the area, close to their homes and families during what can be a difficult, uncertain time.

"We understand how hard it is to have to wait for test results that have the potential to turn your life upside down," Hejl said. "The last thing you want is for someone to have to drive several hours with that on their mind."

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Boutique offers access

to prostheses and accessories

To help women who are diagnosed with breast cancer adjust to life during and after treatment, the Breast Health Center offers access to a number of accessories that can make the treatment process easier and more comfortable.

The Boutique, facilitated by the RMC Auxiliary through a $100,000 gift to establish it, carries skin care products, wigs and prostheses such as breast forms and mastectomy bras for cancer patients and has a ce.jpgied mastectomy fitter, Jean Browning, to assist with proper fit and balance. The Boutique also offers accessories including hats, scarves, jewelry, toiletries and other gift items.

For the past five years, the Regional Medical Center has been the recipient of a grant from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure -- Lowcountry Affiliate, and Hejl has spearheaded those efforts. Breast cancer was detected in three women who participated in this program. The grant provides screening mammography and information about breast health for women aged 30 to 39 years who

have limited or no insurance and are residents of Orangeburg County. This past year, 148 women participated in the effort. Women aged 40 to 64 who meet these grant criteria would qualify for participation in the Best Chance Network.

Through the Komen grant, funding is provided for "Lunch and Learn" programs to educate the community about early detection of breast cancer. Fourteen educational sessions were conducted during the last fiscal year, and a number of them are scheduled throughout the end of the year.

To learn more about the Breast Health Center, or to request an educational program for your group, call Hejl at 803-395-4700. To schedule an appointment for a mammogram, call the Breast Health Center at 803-395-2841.

RMC Foundation's Pink Ribbon Luncheon begins at 11 a.m.

The Regional Medical Center Foundation's fourth annual Pink Ribbon Luncheon to be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 7, at The Ci

nema in Orangeburg. The event, presented by the Junior Service League of Orangeburg, will feature a gourmet lunch provided by Buckridge Catering.

Featured speaker will be Fredricka Whitfield, television news anchor for CNN/US, based in Atlanta. Since joining CNN in 2002, Whitfield has reported from the Persian Gulf region during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the debates over public displays of the Ten Commandments and arrests in the arson cases involving black churches in Alabama. Before CNN, Whitfield was a correspondent for NBC News and served as an Atlanta-based correspondent for "NBC Nightly News" and other programs for the network, including "The Today Show."

Proceeds from the Pink Ribbon Luncheon provide support to patients at the hospital who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer and those who find themselves in medical and financial need during their fight against the disease.

For more information about the Pink Ribbon Luncheon, call the RMC Foundation office at 803-395-2321.

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