HOULTON, Maine — Early detection of cancer can often mean the difference between life and death. For women in particular, the sooner breast cancer is detected and treated, the more the prognosis for a longer life improves.
To facilitate that early detection, the Houlton Regional Hospital is bringing a state-of-the-art piece of technology to southern Aroostook County for the first time.
The Health Services Foundation, along with officials from Houlton Regional Hospital, announced funding for new 3D tomosynthesis mammography equipment for the hospital’s radiology department during the Bridge to Hope Cancer Walk in Houlton Oct. 16.
“For nearly 40 years, the Houlton Regional Health Services Foundation has played an important role in ensuring that our local hospital and nonprofit area clinics and health organizations have the most up-to-date equipment, services and programs available to them as they serve the health care needs of those in our communities,” said Lori Weston, executive director of the foundation.
“The addition of this extraordinary imaging equipment is one of great significance to those patients who have had to travel to other facilities for what is often a stressful appointment. Being able to be close to home, in a familiar setting with skilled and caring professionals who are dedicated to every aspect of your care, is crucial to one’s overall well-being,” Weston said.
Houlton Regional Hospital CEO Shawn Anderson said the new equipment — at a cost of about $300,000 — will revolutionize the way patients receive screenings at the local hospital.
“The acquisition and use of 3D mammography is really the gold standard in mammography breast imaging,” Anderson said. “Conventional 2D mammography creates a two-dimensional image of the breast from two X-ray images. Alternatively, our new three-dimensional mammography creates a 3D picture of the breast using X-rays. Several low-dose images from different angles around the breast are used to create the 3D image, thereby providing much greater detail.”
In addition, Houlton Regional Hospital will renovate its existing Mammography Suite and patients can expect to start using the new unit around Dec. 1, Anderson added.
Sue McLaughlin, radiology manager for HRH, stated the new equipment will provide more detail to physicians for improved visualization, thus reducing the number of times a patient is called back for additional scans.
“This FDA-approved 3D imaging will make it easier to find smaller lesions earlier and with greater accuracy,” she said. “Women in our area can stay here in Houlton to get the best mammography offered. On a personal note, this is wonderful for the community of Houlton as our women deserve the best device out there to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage so they can fight it and win.”
Weston said the purchase could not have been made without the overwhelming support of the local community through various fundraising events. For example, in 2019, the “Festival of Trees” event raised $34,000 by simply selling $1 raffle tickets for various ornately decorated Christmas trees.
“Our community shines with an inordinate number of philanthropists,” she said. “The Health Services Foundation is grateful for your incredible generosity that has resulted in the Foundation reaching the amazing milestone of providing over $3 million in funding to our local hospital, area nonprofit health care organizations, schools and municipal first responders.”
Established as a nonprofit public charity in 1983, the Health Services Foundation’s mission is to support excellence in health care by seeking and administering gifts to assist our nonprofit health and wellness agencies with financial support to ensure the continuity of quality health care, and support educational opportunities throughout the region.
