St. Lukes awarded digital upgrade grant

RONAN — In 2009, the National Cancer Institute estimates there will be nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in both men and women. Statistically, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives.

A common screening technique for breast cancer is a mammogram. The American Cancer Society recommends women over the age of 40 get a mammogram every year.

In Ronan, St. Luke Community Hospital has just received an $185,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to use toward a digital mammography machine.

“The machine we have now is state-of-the-art and does a good job,” Steve Sivak, head of the radiology department at St. Luke, said. “Digital is much better at detecting what is called microcalcifications in people with dense breast tissue.”

Microcalcifications are tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that cannot be felt but can be detected on a mammogram. A cluster of these very small specks of calcium may indicate that cancer is present, according to the NCI.

“It is very difficult to see these microcalcifications on a traditional mammogram,” Sivak said.

Digital is also safer because instead of taking multiple pictures and exposing the patient to multiple doses of radiation, digital only needs one picture and the radiologist can manipulate it at will, he said.

Gayle Wilhelm, director of the St. Luke Foundation, said the Murdock grant covers about half the cost of the machine. The hospital must raise an additional $150,000 in order to be able to purchase the refurbished piece of equipment.

“The employees at St. Luke have been very generous in donating to this cause and have raised over $3,000 so far,” Wilhelm said.

The St. Luke Foundation will continue to solicit donations for the machine and hope to have raised the necessary funds by the end of 2009, she said.

“So many people have been touched by breast cancer, we expect that a lot of people will want to be involved in this,” Wilhelm said.

St. Luke offers free mammograms to qualifying people across the Mission Valley.

Breast cancer affects men as well, and they too need screenings, Sivak said.

If you would like more information or would like to donate towards the new machine, contact Gayle Wilhelm at the St. Luke Foundation.

Naming opportunities are available, Wilhelm said.