Detecting breast cancer is set to become more effective in the Fraser Health region thanks to the integration of advanced diagnostic technology at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre (ARHCC).
For the past year, ARHCC has employed 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, a technique used to identify subtle early changes in breast tissue density. Corlea Smit, the mammography supervisor at ARHCC, noted that while this technology isn’t exclusive to the region, it remains a crucial tool in early detection.
“This technology has detected cancers in recent months that would have otherwise gone unnoticed until they progressed further,” Smit stated.
The hospital’s cancer-detection capabilities were further enhanced with the introduction of contrast-enhanced diagnostic mammography. This technique enables physicians to more easily diagnose cancer by distinguishing between healthy and cancerous tissues, reducing overlapping images.
According to Smit, the Abbotsford hospital is the initial facility within the Fraser Health region to combine 3-D tomosynthesis with contrast-enhanced diagnostic mammography. This places ARHCC among only two other hospitals in British Columbia that offer the same comprehensive approach.
This new diagnostic strategy, coupled with the acquisition of two breast ultrasound rooms and other ultrasound equipment, is designed to improve the cancer diagnosis experience for the more than 22,000 patients who undergo breast imaging exams at ARHCC each year.
Charmaine Bergen, a breast sonographer at ARHCC, emphasized the crucial role of the cancer center’s dedicated team in delivering high-quality care.
“We are honoured and humbled to offer these exciting and hugely impactful services to the residents of the Fraser Valley,” Bergen said.
