Mercy Cassville offers early detection for breast cancer
October 16, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time to stop and reflect on the struggles of the people affected by the deadly disease and raise awareness of its symptoms and treatment options.
According to statistics from breastcancer.org, a non-profit, patient-focused resource for breast cancer sufferers, one in eight women in the United States are either suffering from invasive breast cancer or will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. The site postulates that 268,800 women will be diagnosed with the disease by the end of 2019. For men, whom the disease also affects albeit at a lower rate, that number is 2,670.
With so many cases cropping up every year, one can be forgiven for the ensuing sense of panic in wondering if they might be suffering from the disease. Thankfully, for citizens in Barry County, there are local resources capable of detecting the disease as well as assembling a plan of action for further treatment.
Bethany Schone, RT (R) (M), a mammographer with Mercy Cassville, says that the hospital is well equipped to handle breast cancer detection. According to her, women noticing signs and symptoms can get all of their detection taken care of at Mercy Cassville.
“If they have any signs or symptoms, such as a lump, breast pain or nipple discharge, then their primary care physicians order what we call a diagnostic mammogram,” explained Schone. “We also order an ultrasound of the breast at that time.”
Other early symptoms of breast cancer include: skin changes, such as redness, swelling or size change in one or both breasts; a change in appearance of one or both nipples; and general pain.
Symptoms of invasive, later stage breast cancer include: irritation or itchiness; change in breast color; changes in touch, such as hardness or higher than average tenderness; peeling or flaking of nipple skin; and redness and/or pitting of the skin, such as that of an orange.
From the diagnostic phase, physicians and technicians will take photos of areas of interest on both mammograms and ultrasounds. According to Schone, the technicians will then consult with on-site experts on the case.
“We take very specific pictures and show them to the radiologist that is on-site that day,” continued Schone. “They’ll look at them and decide whether he needs more pictures or another ultrasound. From there, they’ll meet with the patient about the results that day, after their appointment.”
Schone continued, explaining Mercy Cassville’s role beyond the diagnostic phase.
“If everything looks okay, then we tell them to come back in a year for an annual screening,” said Schone. “If they need a biopsy or more testing, they’ll advise them of that and refer them to the breast cancer centers in either Springfield, Joplin or in the Rogers area.”
According to Schone, Mercy Cassville is currently only equipped to do mammograms and ultrasounds, two of the most accurate detection methods for breast cancer. As the hospital is only equipped for detection, they refer patients who receive a breast cancer diagnosis to better-equipped facilities in the surrounding area.
According to the official site for the Susan G. Komen foundation, https://ww5.komen.org/, the survival rate for patients able to detect breast cancer early, i.e. before it becomes metastatic or spreads to the lymph nodes, is 98-100 percent. This rate applies to sufferers of stage I breast cancer and below.
If you or anyone you know maybe suffering from breast cancer-related symptoms, contact Mercy Cassville at (417) 847-6000 to schedule an appointment with a physician.
Vinnie Roberts
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time to stop and reflect on the struggles of the people affected by the deadly disease and raise awareness of its symptoms and treatment options.
According to statistics from breastcancer.org, a non-profit, patient-focused resource for breast cancer sufferers, one in eight women in the United States are either suffering from invasive breast cancer or will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. The site postulates that 268,800 women will be diagnosed with the disease by the end of 2019. For men, whom the disease also affects albeit at a lower rate, that number is 2,670.
With so many cases cropping up every year, one can be forgiven for the ensuing sense of panic in wondering if they might be suffering from the disease. Thankfully, for citizens in Barry County, there are local resources capable of detecting the disease as well as assembling a plan of action for further treatment.
Bethany Schone, RT (R) (M), a mammographer with Mercy Cassville, says that the hospital is well equipped to handle breast cancer detection. According to her, women noticing signs and symptoms can get all of their detection taken care of at Mercy Cassville.
“If they have any signs or symptoms, such as a lump, breast pain or nipple discharge, then their primary care physicians order what we call a diagnostic mammogram,” explained Schone. “We also order an ultrasound of the breast at that time.”
Other early symptoms of breast cancer include: skin changes, such as redness, swelling or size change in one or both breasts; a change in appearance of one or both nipples; and general pain.
Symptoms of invasive, later stage breast cancer include: irritation or itchiness; change in breast color; changes in touch, such as hardness or higher than average tenderness; peeling or flaking of nipple skin; and redness and/or pitting of the skin, such as that of an orange.
From the diagnostic phase, physicians and technicians will take photos of areas of interest on both mammograms and ultrasounds. According to Schone, the technicians will then consult with on-site experts on the case.
“We take very specific pictures and show them to the radiologist that is on-site that day,” continued Schone. “They’ll look at them and decide whether he needs more pictures or another ultrasound. From there, they’ll meet with the patient about the results that day, after their appointment.”
Schone continued, explaining Mercy Cassville’s role beyond the diagnostic phase.
“If everything looks okay, then we tell them to come back in a year for an annual screening,” said Schone. “If they need a biopsy or more testing, they’ll advise them of that and refer them to the breast cancer centers in either Springfield, Joplin or in the Rogers area.”
According to Schone, Mercy Cassville is currently only equipped to do mammograms and ultrasounds, two of the most accurate detection methods for breast cancer. As the hospital is only equipped for detection, they refer patients who receive a breast cancer diagnosis to better-equipped facilities in the surrounding area.
According to the official site for the Susan G. Komen foundation, https://ww5.komen.org/, the survival rate for patients able to detect breast cancer early, i.e. before it becomes metastatic or spreads to the lymph nodes, is 98-100 percent. This rate applies to sufferers of stage I breast cancer and below.
If you or anyone you know maybe suffering from breast cancer-related symptoms, contact Mercy Cassville at (417) 847-6000 to schedule an appointment with a physician.
