Raising funds for a sophisticated piece of new equipment for the Breast Imaging Program at Victoria General Hospital will be the focus of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s spring campaign for 2015. The equipment, called a mammography and stereotactic biopsy machine, will help medical teams detect and diagnose the smallest cancers in their earliest stages.
“We are asking the community to help raise $420,000 for this new technology that helps doctors diagnose breast cancer as quickly and accurately as possible,” said Gord Macatee, Victoria Hospitals Foundation board chair. “As the quality and capability of medical imaging technology continues to advance, so does the need to keep our medical professionals equipped with the absolute best tools to do their finest work.”
Dr. Brent Lee, a radiologist and clinical section head of the Breast Imaging Program at Victoria General, spoke about how the equipment will help medical teams deliver the highest standard of care.
“The mammography and stereotactic biopsy machine will have a significant impact on outcomes for women with breast cancer in our community,” said Lee. “It offers women two procedures in one: digital mammography to detect cancer and a minimally invasive biopsy in the same appointment to confirm the diagnosis. By pinpointing and biopsying even the smallest of cancers quickly and accurately, we can immediately begin lifesaving treatment and rule out serious problems with confidence.”
As the central hub and only full-service diagnostic breast imaging department on the South Island, the Breast Imaging Program at Victoria General Hospital performs more than 25,000 imaging procedures each year.
A former patient of Dr. Lee, Christine Bowles, shared her story during the announcement. At age 48, Bowles discovered she had breast cancer during a routine screening at Victoria General Hospital. After a successful treatment and recovery, Bowles’ cancer returned two years later. Because of early detection and fast diagnosis by the mammography and stereotactic biopsy machine, Bowles was able to begin her second round of treatments immediately and her life was saved.
The campaign for the mammography and stereotactic biopsy machine is taking place throughout Victoria. Donations can be made by returning the direct mail letter that residents will receive at home, by contacting the Victoria Hospitals Foundation at 250-519-1750 or online at www.victoriahf.ca.