CMC First in SC to Offer New, More Comfortable Mammogram
Conway Medical Center (CMC) is the first hospital in South Carolina to offer the Hologic SmartCurve™ breast stabilization system, which is clinically proven to deliver a more comfortable mammogram without compromising image quality, workflow or dose. This latest innovation is part of CMC’s ongoing commitment to superior breast cancer detection and has the potential to increase screening volume and compliance for the countless women who have reported avoiding regular mammograms due in large part to the fear of discomfort associated with breast compression.
“We’re excited to provide this first-of-its-kind technology to our patients and remain committed to offering the women of our community the best women’s care possible,” said Bret Barr, CMC President and CEO.
The SmartCurve system features a proprietary curved surface that mirrors the shape of a woman’s breast to reduce pinching and allow better distribution of force over the entire breast. In a recent clinical study comparing the SmartCurve breast stabilization system to traditional flat paddle compression, the SmartCurve system improved comfort in 93 percent of women who reported moderate to severe discomfort with standard compression.
“In the past, I viewed my annual screening mammogram as an unpleasant necessity for my overall health,” said Debbie Tompkins. “This year my exam was done utilizing the comfort paddles and it was a much more comfortable experience. I think it’s great that this technology is available to our community. Women shouldn’t have the fear of pain as a barrier between getting screened and this helps minimize it.”
The SmartCurve system is available exclusively at CMC with their 3D mammography technology and detects more invasive cancers, reduces false positives, and is FDA approved as superior to conventional 2D mammography for all women, including those with dense breasts.
“With this new technology, we are not only able to provide a more comfortable mammogram, but can do so while maintaining clinical accuracy, which is key,” said Barr. “Mammograms play such a critical role in the early detection of breast cancer and we’re hopeful that with the addition of the SmartCurve system, we’ll be able to lessen the pain and anxiety associated with mammograms and, as a result, increase screening compliance.”
CMC has consistently been recognized as an imaging leader in our area. The CMC Center for Breast Health was the first facility in Horry County to offer 3D mammography and they were also one of the first hospitals in the region to offer screening mammograms without a doctor’s order. They are the only facility in Horry county with FDA approval to use Hologic C-View radiation dose reducing technology which minimizes the amount of radiation used during a mammogram. With the addition of the SmartCurve system, CMC continues to prove their commitment to bringing state of the art technology to the area while putting the comfort and health of their patients first.
