Oak Ridge Today

3D mammography offered at Oak Ridge Breast Center, to be discussed at Health Night lecture Oct. 25

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Thomas Lemond

Thomas Lemond

The Oak Ridge Breast Center now offers 3D mammography or digital breast tomosynthesis, the newest advancement in breast screening technology. It allows radiologists to see around and between breast tissues with greater clarity than ever before, a press release said. These more defined images may help detect cancer earlier and the x-ray exposure and screening procedure is performed like a traditional 2D mammogram.

Learn more about 3D mammography with Dr. Thomas Lemond, a board-certified radiologist and medical director of the Oak Ridge Breast Center, during Health Night on the Town on Tuesday, October 25, at 7 p.m. in the Ridge Conference Room of Methodist Medical Center, 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The program is free and open to the public. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Breast Center earns perfect FDA score for 20th year

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The Oak Ridge Breast Center received a perfect FDA score during a recent evaluation. This is the 20th year in a row that the Breast Center received a perfect score. (Photo by Covenant Health)

 

Once again, Oak Ridge Breast Center has earned a perfect score as the result of an annual inspection by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. It marks the 20th consecutive year the center has achieved a perfect score and follows its elite designation as a Breast Center of Excellence, a press release said.

FDA inspections are an important component in enforcement of the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992, according to breast center manager Shari Blattner. The law was passed in response to concerns that mammography didn’t meet uniformly high standards throughout the United States.

Breast cancer centers must meet stringent guidelines. Standards cover quality assurance and quality control; radiology equipment; qualifications of technicians, physicians, and medical physicists; and medical record keeping. Inspections and certifications check everything from the mammography facility to the films for final images and the image quality.

“The FDA found that Oak Ridge Breast Center is in complete compliance with national mammography quality standards, and it had no recommendations for improvements,” Blattner said. [Read more…]

Methodist’s Survivor Sundae proves just how sweet victory can be

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Crystal, Kim, and Shari

Photos courtesy Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge

 

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National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual, worldwide celebration of life where cancer survivors unite to show the world what life after cancer looks like. On Sunday, June 1, life after cancer looked like a warm summer day resplendent in sunshine. It sounded like old-fashioned mountain music being carried on a gentle Tennessee breeze. It tasted like a bowl full of ice cream topped with chocolate and cookies and sprinkles…and a bit of whipped cream for good measure. On Sunday, June 1, life after cancer looked beautiful whether it was still a little weak, still healing a scar, still re-growing hair, or whether it was an old friend that had come many years before, but never looses its sweetness.

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge honored these cancer survivors, their family, and friends by holding Survivor Sundae, an ice cream social celebrating National Cancer Survivor Day on Sunday, June 1. Nearly 100 people gathered to enjoy the free event, make ice cream sundaes, connect with other survivors and cancer support organizations, and listen to music by the Mt. LeConte Jug Band, which was sponsored by the Cooperative Agreement of Labor and Management, also known as CALM.

“Sometimes people have a negative idea of what life after cancer looks like,” said Kim Maes, coordinator of the Hospitality Houses at Methodist and event organizer. “But the reality is that more people are living longer and having better quality lives after cancer than ever before. Survivors are showing us that life after cancer can be meaningful, exciting, and filled with joy.” [Read more…]