New treatment designed to improve breast cancer care for Burlington patients

New equipment at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) in Burlington means patients will now receive enhanced breast care and improved cancer detection treatment.

This week JBH introduced its new state-of-the-art mammography equipment and along with that a designation as an Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) assessment site.

The advancements with the new mammography technology will provide improved image quality that will allow doctors and healthcare professionals to quickly pinpoint areas that require further examination and take tissue samples if necessary.

“This new equipment is a great addition to our imaging centre, which was designed to make breast screening as stress-free as possible,” said Jessy Samuel, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Infection Prevention and Control at JBH.

The stress-free atmosphere includes a private registration and waiting area and a sensory suite where soothing sounds are used to reduce anxieties associated with breast screening.

The OBSP offers free, high-quality mammograms for eligible women, trans and non-binary people as part of their routine medical care. Regular breast screening is important because it can find cancer early, when it may be smaller and easier to treat, medical experts say.

“We coordinate follow-up for those patients who require additional testing after their breast screening, which expedites care and reduces the need for duplicating tests and transferring images between sites,” said Dr. Mariam Ghali Eskander, Breast Imaging Radiologist Lead. “Additional investigations with ultrasound and MRI are then more accessible.”

Those who meet OBSP eligibility criteria can call and book their screening appointment directly without a referral, either at JBH by calling 905-681-4915, or another OBSP location closer to home at 905-389-0101.

Details about OBSP eligibility can be found on the Cancer Care Ontario website. More information about breast screening and assessment services in the region can be found at hnhbscreenforlife.ca