Routine scan in Barry’s Bay gives local women a fighting chance

Bringing 3-D imaging to St. Francis Memorial Hospital

Submitted by St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation

Sharon Florent of Madawaska is no stranger to cancer. In fact, she’s in remission after conquering it three times, including a breast cancer diagnosis. Above: Sharon Florent has experienced cancer three times in her life, including a diagnosis of breast cancer. She now gets annual mammograms at St. Francis Memorial Hospital and is grateful to have access to local healthcare close to home. Photo submitted.

While many begrudgingly attend their routine mammogram, Florent is grateful she has access to annual scans close to home.

Florent never had a reason to worry about cancer, in fact, she had no family history with the disease.

But in 2004, a biopsy confirmed she had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. After five years of watchful waiting, chemotherapy, and two years of Rituximab (a monoclonal antibody drug), she was declared in remission in 2011. Three years later, she was diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma. She underwent a more aggressive kind of chemotherapy and was back in remission by December 2014.

From those two experiences, Florent  knew how important early detection could be. She had been getting regular mammograms at St. Francis Memorial Hospital once she turned 50. Mammography machines use low-dose x-rays to create images of the breast tissue. There had been a time or two when she was called back for additional scans. However, those test results always came back negative.

When she experienced what she had thought was another false alarm, she figured that would be the case again. It wasn’t.

She underwent a biopsy and learned in December 2016 that she had Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. It’s a stage 1 non-aggressive cancer with a 98 percent survival rate when caught early. So, Florent faced it head-on with a lumpectomy in 2017, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Other than losing her hair during treatment, she counts herself lucky that fatigue was her worst symptom.

Florent won the battle and remains in remission today. She continues her screenings at St. Francis Memorial Hospital annually.

“The mammography staff are all very kind, caring and gentle and do everything to make you  comfortable,” she said.

Sonographer Cathy Amyotte assists a patient with her mammogram. Photo submitted.

The need for a new machine

Amanda Dumas is the Charge Diagnostic Imaging Technologist at St. Francis Memorial Hospital. She says the new machine will bring 3D Digital Mammography to St. Francis – which provides clearer images of abnormalities within dense breast tissue and reduces false alarms by up to 40 oercent.

“New mammography machines on the market today can simultaneously take a 2D image that we are used to taking and then also provide a 3D image – which can provide even more detail for at risk groups,” Dumas said. “This technology is now becoming a standard screening tool for high-risk individuals.”

St. Francis Memorial Hospital is part of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), which offers free scans to anyone who requires it in the community. Throughout the entire OBSP program, St. Francis sees the highest number of women 50 years of age and older. The unit also provides screening and diagnostic mammograms to women who do not meet the OBSP criteria, such as those who have been treated in the past for breast cancer and require annual or bi-annual checkups, like Florent.

The current mammography machine at St. Francis Memorial Hospital continues to be utilized, but a new one is needed as it is reaching its end of life. As technology progresses, older machines are harder and more costly to maintain. This results in more downtime and potentially delayed appointments. When time is of the essence and early detection is key, staff and patients depend on an up-to-date mammography machine.

Sonographers Amanda Dumas, left and Cathy Amyotte, right, are some of the friendly faces you’ll see when you get your mammogram. Photo submitted.

“Our current machine is still meeting all of the very high standards set out by the Mammography Accreditation program as well as the standards that the OBSP requires. However, the older the machine gets, the less likely we can acquire replacement parts to continue operating it as expected,” Dumas said. “By purchasing a new Mammography machine, members of the community can be assured that they are getting the same standard of care as any other individual in a larger centre.”

The new unit also has design enhancements that will provide a more comfortable and ergonomic patient experience. This includes more rounded edges instead of corners, a curved compression paddle and quicker turnaround time for imaging, meaning less time positioned at the machine.

As someone who has used the local hospital since 1995, Florent has seen many new advancements in terms of healthcare equipment and treatment. She hopes more women take advantage of the excellent screening services that staff, and the mammography machine, provide. Florent wants women to be empowered, not reluctant, to get screened.

 “It won’t fix itself,” she said of a cancer diagnosis. “You can’t just ignore it and it will go away.”

The same can be said for the enormous task of replacing a mammography machine. Hospital medical equipment is not covered by the government, and certainly does not come cheap. In fact, a new mammography machine for St. Francis will cost more than $400,000.

St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation’s Executive Director Erin Gienow explained that the mammography machine is incredibly important to St. Francis Memorial Hospital. 

“The mammography machine provides critical scans used for screening or diagnostic purposes,” Gienow said.  “Having reliable medical equipment close to home ensures that our loved ones do not have to travel far to access quality healthcare.”

Tree Lighting and Giving Tuesday

On November 28, the Foundation will be taking part in Giving Tuesday, the world’s largest generosity movement.

This year, thanks to the kindness of local community service groups and anonymous sponsors, the Foundation will be offering a Match-It program on Giving Tuesday. Every donation, up to $15,000, will be matched, dollar for dollar. All proceeds will go toward the Tree of Lights for the new mammography unit. To have your gift matched on Giving Tuesday, visit www.sfvhfoundation, call 613-756-3045 ext. 217 or drop by the office located inside St. Francis Memorial Hospital.

Also, to complement the Tree of Lights Campaign, a Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Friday, December 1 at 6:30 pm at the Barry’s Bay Railway Station. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will feature a visit from Santa and his mini petting zoo, free hot chocolate/coffee and homemade cookies, angels from local elementary schools lighting the tree, and much more. A special thanks goes to event sponsors including the Township of Madawaska Valley, Madawaska Coffee Co. and Simmons Sport Horses.

The Tree of Lights Campaign runs until December 31. Gifts made by the end of the year to the Tree of Lights Campaign will qualify for a 2023 tax receipt.

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