Breast Cushion Helps Ease Discomfort
This article originally appeared in Community Caregiver, a health
information newsletter published by Wing Memorial Hospital for members of the
Greater Palmer community.
Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers announces that its Radiology
Department now provides the latest in "high tech, soft touch" mammography. The
Wing Memorial Hospital digital mammography service combines full-field digital
mammography equipment with MammoPad®, a new breast cushion that dramatically
eases the discomfort many women feel when they get a mammogram.
The FDA-cleared MammoPad creates a softer, warmer mammogram and has been
clinically demonstrated to reduce discomfort for most women.
"The discomfort many women feel during mammography compression is widely
known to be a reason that many don't get regular screenings," said Sanford
Smoot, MD, radiologist at Wing Memorial Hospital. In addition to compression,
the cold surfaces and hard edges of the mammography device make the experience
uncomfortable for some patients.
"We hope that area women do not delay their mammogram due to discomfort since
we now provide comfort technology," said Susan Lavoie, Director of Radiology at
Wing Memorial Hospital. "The MammoPad counters these complaints by providing a
soft warm cushion for the breast during mammography. Because women are more
relaxed during the exam, it makes it even easier for our technologists to obtain
the best possible image."
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports women can greatly reduce their risk
of death from breast cancer if they receive regular mammograms. For this reason,
ACS recommends that women 40 and older receive a yearly mammogram. Yet despite
the urgency of this message, nearly 40 percent of American women do not schedule
their annual recommended mammogram.
Wing Memorial Hospital strives to reduce this percentage in the Quaboag Hills
region by offering the latest in imaging quality and comfort innovation. Wing
Memorial Hospital can often accommodate same or next day appointments and
provides evening hours for working women. For more information, call the Wing
Memorial Hospital Radiology Department at 413-284-5241 or visit us online at www.winghealth.org.