Free mammograms available at Phoebe in November

ALBANY — During November, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is offering 100 free 3-D mammogram screenings to women who are uninsured or are overdue for their annual screening.

The mammograms will be provided to the first 100 eligible women who make appointments at the Carlton Breast Health Center. To be considered for one of the free breast tomosynthesis screenings, each applicant must not had a mammogram in the last 12 months, be over the age of 40, not experiencing any breast problems, have no insurance, not be pregnant and live in the counties of Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell or Worth.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. The American Cancer Society estimates nearly 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.

Officials at Phoebe say the procedure and experience is nearly identical to a routine mammogram, except that with tomosynthesis it moves around the breast. Multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. The 3-D view of the breast tissue helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue.

Officials say tomosynthesis technology has a 40 percent higher invasive cancer detection rate than conventional 2-D mammography alone and provides up to a 40 percent reduction in false positive recalls, and has sharp images and ergonomic design for patient comfort.

“We’re excited to continue advancing the services available at the Carlton Breast Health Center. This new technology gives us an additional tool to detect breast cancer early and begin treatment. The breast tomosynthesis will benefit all patients, especially those who have dense breast tissue or a personal history of breast cancer,” said Linda Van der Merwe, vice president of oncology services at Phoebe.

Scheduling for the free mammograms began Monday. To schedule an appointment, call the Carlton Breast Health Center at (229) 312-4800.