Celebrating Women’s Health through an Investment in Mammography

Photo of leaders at STEGH mammography suite opening
Monday, April 8, 2019

On April 3, St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) celebrated the opening of their second mammography suite, with a public celebration and ribbon cutting.

STEGH’s current Mammography Unit has made an impact on patients, with more than 6,700 mammograms performed in 2018. The unit has high-quality 2D & 3D imaging capabilities, allowing clinicians to capture multiple images for increased diagnostic accuracy. 

Photo: (LT - RT) Sharon Keenan (Breast Cancer Survivor), Robert Biron (President & CEO), Yolanda Mundt (Manager, Diagnostic Imaging), Cathy Crane (Chair - STEGH Board of Directors), Brenda Fleming (Director, South West Regional Cancer Program), Kathy Cook Noble (President - STEGH Foundation Board of Directors).

“The impact of STEGH’s mammography program has been instrumental in the early detection of breast cancer. The imaging technology has improved substantially over the years, giving women more confidence, faster results and the care they need to overcome a positive diagnosis.” explains Yolanda Mundt, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, “With the acquisition of a second mammography unit, STEGH will be able to accommodate an increase in patient visits for many years. This is our promise to the women (and men) of Elgin County and St. Thomas.”

With anticipated growth in patient volumes for this life-saving screening, this second mammography unit has a new tool - contrast mammography - which will allow clinicians to accurately diagnose the extent of the cancer. The impact for patients is significant, as it is a tool to help make sure that dense tissue is not hiding a tumour.

Approximately one in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. With the improvements with screening, and advances in Diagnostic Imaging, especially Mammography, mortality rates have been cut by 42% since 1986.

STEGH one of many Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) sites in the South West region. The goal of the OBSP program is to find breast cancers when they are small, less likely to have spread and more likely to be treated successfully.

Click here to learn more about Mammography and the Ontario Breast Screening Program.