Meet the Holzer Mammography Sisters
Meet the Holzer Mammography Sisters!
Holzer is proud to host 3D technology from Hologic Genius, providing enhanced services for our communities. Holzer Athens Mammography techs (and sisters) Valerie Lloyd and Jessica Barnes have shared with us information on the new 3D mammography machine that is now available at Holzer Athens. They were able to provide the following info on the importance of mammograms and the benefits of 3D technology.
Holzer Athens now has the 3D Mammogram available. What are the benefits of having a 3D mammogram over a 2D?
Our Genius 3D mammography system finds up to 65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone. This can mean an earlier diagnosis and a greater variety of treatment options available to patients.
Additional testing and biopsies after a mammogram can be an emotional stress to a patient. Our Genius 3D mammography machine reduces callbacks by up to 40% compared to 2D alone.
Dense breast tissue can hide early signs of cancer in a traditional mammogram. Only our Genius exam is FDA approved as “superior” to 2D mammography for women with dense breast tissue.
With the new machine, is the mammogram procedure more comfortable? Do we offer the mammopad at our Athens site?
Yes, more than 90% of women that were surveyed found their mammogram more comfortable with the SmartCurve system that our Genius 3D mammography system offers. Our system also offers the fastest available scan, limiting the length of time you are under compression.
In addition, Holzer has used the mammogram pad for several years, which many women say makes a big difference in the comfort of the mammogram.
Tell us about the importance of annual mammograms.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Three out of four women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease and are not considered high risk. The American College of Radiology recommends starting annual mammograms at age 40 or sooner if high risk.
Personally, as mammography technologists, we have seen firsthand how quickly things can change in one year’s time on mammograms. Therefore, we want to stress the importance of annual screenings to be able to detect a cancer at an early stage. We are so happy to have this new Genius 3D mammography system so we can detect cancers even sooner.
Some women are scared to have a mammogram done for the fear of it being uncomfortable or awkward. We never want this to prevent someone from getting a mammogram. We strive to make our patients feel comfortable when they arrive for a mammogram. We will treat you like family from the first initial meeting and always greet you with a friendly smile, because that is how we want to be treated as a patient.
How do women schedule mammograms?
Talk to your doctor about scheduling a mammogram. We would love to see you at Holzer in Athens.
Sisters Valerie and Jessica have a long history with the Holzer family. Valerie has been with Holzer Athens radiology for 21 years while Jessica Barnes has been a part of Holzer Athens radiology for 19 years. Holzer Athens Clinic is located at 2131 East State Street, providing a variety of family and preventative care services for our friends and family members of the Athens communities. For more information on services, visit www.holzer.org.
