Expect Early Detection
Early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. At the Ann L. Baroco Center, our breast health team is dedicated to winning the fight against breast cancer by providing the latest technology for early detection with a compassionate, caring touch.
We utilize several different methods for breast cancer detection, including mammography, breast MRI, ultrasonography, and biopsy.
Mammography
Mammography is the imaging of the breast and has proven to be the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women over the age of 40.
Mammograms allow the doctor to have a closer look for breast lumps and changes in breast tissue. Mammograms can show small lumps or growths that a doctor or woman may not be able to feel when doing a breast exam. When reading a mammogram, doctors look for abnormalities, as well as changes from previous mammograms.
Sacred Heart offers the ImageChecker, a computer-aided detection system that provides an electronic "second opinion" of mammograms. The ImageChecker reads and analyzes the films and marks suspicious areas that may be associated with cancer. This assists radiologists by flagging areas on a mammogram that may warrant additional evaluation.
Breast MRI
Sacred Heart is the only healthcare facility in the Pensacola to offer a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine dedicated specifically for breast studies. Our state-of-the-art imaging system from GE Healthcare delivers highly-detailed images of the breast and its surrounding tissues.
Unlike other MRI machines in the area that have a removable breast imaging coil, this new system is dedicated solely to the imaging of the breast and is the only machine of its kind in the Pensacola area. Because it is designed specifically for a woman’s body, the coils can adjust for all sizes of breasts up to a FF, can image up to 50% more breast tissue including the chest wall, and can offer far superior biopsy access than traditional MRI-guided techniques.
With your comfort in mind, the breast MRI uses a specially designed, removable table that is padded and contoured to fit a woman’s body. For added privacy, patients can be prepared for testing a separate room and then transported to main MRI room. In addition, patients can enter the machine feet-first, which can be very comforting for patients who are claustrophobic.
Stereotactic Needle Biopsy
If an abnormal area shows up on your mammogram, you may need to have a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if cancer is present.
When a woman or her physician discovers a lump in her breast, rather than having to simply watch and wait or have surgery performed, there is another option at Sacred Heart -- the Mammotone. The Mammotone is a stereotactic breast biopsy procedure to obtain a tissue sample to further study the abnormality. A needle is inserted into the breast and a tissue sample is obtained.
The procedure can be done at the Ann L. Baroco Center can be performed while the patient is sitting or lying down. It requires only a local anesthetic and about an hour of the patient's time. Mammotone allows women to have peace of mind and the information they need sooner, without the risk of anesthesia, to make the best health decisions possible. Results are often ready in as little as 48 hours.
Nurse Examinations and Education
The Ann L. Baroco Center for Breast Health is the only mammography facility in the area to provide nurse examination and patient education. A nurse examination involves a thorough physical check-up on your breast to look for any small tumors that the mammogram may potentially miss. Afterwards, your nurse will review the risk factors for breast cancer and offer guidance on what might impact their potential risk.
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