Even though fully aware of the importance of the mammogram for early detection of any problems, many women put off the mammogram because they are fearful of what might be found or dread the physical discomfort. The mammogram is not usually thought of as a pleasant event.
However, walking into the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial Hospital is a peaceful experience. From the covered parking garage, with direct access into the Center, to the quiet, serene environment inside, patients have the feeling of being sheltered and cared for.
Soft music, soothing, cool-toned pastel colors and comfortable, stylish furnishings welcome patients and visitors into an almost spa-like atmosphere. Lovely artwork on the walls and vases of flowers throughout the space create a mood of comfort and softness. Smiling faces at the reception desk exemplify the spirit of the helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable staff that will assist the patient throughout their visit.
At the Breast Center, the emphasis is on making the patient’s visit as convenient, as free from anxiety, and as comfortable as possible. The entire facility is fully dedicated to breast care with specialized technology and expertise. This gives mammogram patients confidence that if anything should be found, everything is available in the same beautiful protective place to take care of it.
The Center’s namesake – MaryEllen Locher – shared Memorial’s vision of what a breast center should offer. MaryEllen, who lost her battle with cancer in 2005, and other patients, pointed out the importance of providing privacy, respect, and comfort, along with guidance and timely communication.
The waiting rooms, the dressing rooms, and the treatment rooms all reflect this attention to women’s needs. Patients have soft, comfortable robes to wear, a softer mammogram, and even a candy treat.
A Cushioned Mammogram
For several years Memorial has been using the FDA-approved MammoPad® which contributes to a softer mammogram experience. This disposable, soft, thin foam pad sticks to the metal platform of the mammography machine. It provides the patient with a warmer, cushioned alternative to the metal itself.
The pad does not negatively affect the quality of the mammogram images. In fact, it increases the area that technologists are able to capture. Kathy Dittmar, the director of the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, says the MammoPad® was originally intended for use solely for the comfort of the patient. Only later did specialists in imaging realize that this foam pad also assisted them in achieving better coverage in their images. The grip-like surface of the MammoPad® helps to hold the breast in place during the mammogram procedure. This results in more of the tissue being clearly imaged.
Dr. Tona Munday, a radiologist at the Breast Center, points out another reason for achieving better images using the MammoPad®. Dr. Munday says the level of relaxation a patient experiences during a mammogram has an effect on the quality of the image produced. The more tense a woman is during a mammogram, the more likely that breast tissue will slip. When the breast is held more comfortably in place, the image includes more of the tissue, and it is easier to see and identify potential problems. “Discomfort is a big deal for a patient,” Dr. Munday says. “MammoPad® improves the quality of the mammogram as well as the patient experience.”
Barbara Guider, a mammography technologist and quality coordinator for the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, appreciates being able to use the MammoPad®. "The pad makes it easier to achieve a high quality image of the breast, and it significantly cuts down on the discomfort experienced by patients," Barbara says. "We want the patient to be as comfortable as possible, but we also need to have good compression, and the cushion helps us do both.”
Barbara is glad that the comfort of patients is a high priority at Memorial. “The hospital does not charge patients for the MammoPad®, even though the cost is $6 per pad,” Barbara says. Considering the fact that each pad is disposed after one use, the cost adds up after just one day of mammogram appointments at the Center. “This is something that Memorial decided to do for mammogram patients in all of our imaging facilities.*”
Patient Testimonials
Ellen consistently schedules her annual mammogram. Though it isn't something she dreads, she doesn't look forward to it either. A friend told her about the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center and about the MammoPad®, and this year the mammogram was a different experience.
"I was surprised that a thin pad could make such a big difference. It was soft, and it wasn’t cold,” Ellen says. “It was much more comfortable than the old way. It made getting a mammogram a lot easier for me, and I'm glad I listened to the advice of a friend."
Carole is a breast cancer survivor who has an implant in her right breast because of a mastectomy. This has made her bi-annual mammograms a very painful process for her. More images are required of a patient with implants, including several of the entire breast, and others of the original breast tissue with the implant pushed aside. This can cause substantial discomfort for the patient. "The MammoPad® made the entire process much more comfortable - nothing like it used to be," Carole says. “I won’t dread coming like I did before."
The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center* is committed to providing patients the best possible quality care in a safe, restful environment, and the MammoPad® fits that concept perfectly. It provides a softer mammogram and adds to the softer atmosphere of breast care.
*The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at Memorial North Park and Memorial Atrium Imaging and Memorial’s Mobile Health Coach all provide mammography services that are softened by use of the MammoPad®.
Jodi Herod, a Chattanooga resident, recently graduated from Southern Adventist University with a degree in public relations.