Wendy DamonteChannel 2 News
In a dark room is a bright spot in the battle against breast cancer. SonoCine is now available at the Renown Breast Health Center. And it's helping women who have dense breasts.
The patient lays on the table face up wearing a mesh camisole. A small machine arm gently glides over each breast, gathering thousands of images. It then creates a movie from the pictures.
It's a completely different view of the breast and is better at seeing through dense tissue. Dr. Susan Ward is a radiologist with Reno Radiological Associates at Renown Breast Health Center. "What we're trying to detect with SonoCine in the women with dense breasts are the masses that don't contain calcification which are hidden in the dense breast tissue."
In a typical mammogram, problem areas can show up as white spots. A major problem for radiologists like Dr. Ward is that dense breast tissue shows up white on a mammogram. So calcifications can easily be disguised. "I'm really excited that we are able to offer this as a supplemental screening tool to try to do a better job in detecting the early cancers in women with dense breasts."
But does the SonoCine really save lives? Heather Reimer had just had a clear mammogram nine months earlier. She only did the SonoCine as part of a wellness program at her work. And what her mammogram didn't see, showed up as six spots on her SonoCine. She was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. "It was such a shock. I'm 41; I'm healthy. I literally go to the doctor every year. Get all my checkups, do my blood work."
Heather had a mastectomy and now has two more rounds of chemotherapy. She should be done with her treatment by Memorial Day. "It's new. It's awesome. Awesome that we have this technology here. I really believe it saved my life."
Renown Breast Health Center is offering a Mother's Day Special for SonoCine from May 14 through June 30. The whole breast ultrasound will only cost $150, a savings of $40.
For those women who've already had a SonoCine ultrasound, it's recommended to reschedule it annually. For your convenience, Renown can schedule your SonoCine on the same day as your mammogram.
To schedule a screening mammogram or SonoCine screening breast ultrasound, call 775-982-8100. Additional information can be found at renown.org/sonocine
Dr. Ward says SonoCine is also really good for women with implants.
