New Mammogram Machine At Hillcrest Helping Detect Cancerous Cells Earlier

Hillcrest Medical Center said more women are now getting mammograms because they skipped their appointments last year. Hillcrest South now offers 3-D mammograms that show even greater detail.

In just three weeks, the 3-D machine has already helped more than 360 women. This is the second 3-D imaging machine the hospital network has.

Doctors said the scans from the 3-D machines offer layers of images. Jennifer Powers with Utica Park Clinic said mammogram screenings can be like trying to find a snowflake in a snowstorm.

She said the 3-D machines help them detect tumors very early.

"Well it was five millimeters. Which is teeny tiny. So they’re so relieved that they’ve been getting their screenings and that they were on top of it and that they’re going to have a good outcome. So I think that’s the difference we’re catching them earlier and probably at younger ages because our imaging is so much better," said Powers.

If your family has a history of breast cancer Powers recommends getting an annual screening 10 years earlier from when that person was diagnosed in your family.