Troy's Larson Lumber kicks off the Final Fifty Push to bring digital mammography to our area. Pictured (l-r) are Bill Patten, SJLH CEO; Florence Larson, Bonnie Larson, Ove Larson and KC Hoyer, SJLH Foundation Executive Director.
|
|
Digital Mammography Campaign kicks off the Final Fifty push
April 1 is the goal for the last $50,000
by Kate Bartz, St. John's Lutheran Hospital
February 15, 2008
Libby,Montana - It looks like Digital Mammography is going to become a reality for the residents of Lincoln County.
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation is kicking off the final leg of a fundraising campaign to complete its goal of $250,000 in an effort to bring a higher quality of medical technology to the residents of Lincoln County. “We are within $50,000 of reaching our April 1 goal,” said Gene Chappell, President of the Foundation. “The community response has been outstanding.”
Ove, Florence and Bonnie Larson, of Larson Lumber in Troy, helped the final fifty push by providing $2,500 to kick off the campaign. “I have a special place in my heart for St. John’s Lutheran Hospital and its excellent team of medical experts,” noted Bonnie Larson. “My husband, Daniel Larson, received the finest medical care at St. John’s. We appreciate the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ by helping the Foundation meet their financial goal to bring digital mammography to our area.”
Ove and Florence Larson, long-time hospital supporters, believe in local quality healthcare. “All of the Larson family is pleased to be able to participate in the Digital Mammogram Fundraiser,” said Ove Larson. “St. John’s is an excellent medical facility with well educated, capable, cordial workers and the newest of technology. We lost two sons to cancer and other relatives have, and are battling, cancer — mammograms helped to identify some of those cancers. We are proud and happy to help the hospital purchase newer mammography equipment.”
With a little less than two months to raise the final $50,000, the Foundation Directors remain confident. “We have always been able to count on our community to help us meet our goals,” commented Amy Bennett, Treasurer for St. John’s Foundation. “The community sees how hard our volunteer board and hospital staff work to bring them the best medical care possible, and they show their appreciation through their tremendous support. The overall health benefits of this campaign have been its driving force, and the campaign has been nothing short of amazing.”
It is no secret that mammograms are the key to the early detection of breast cancer. Early detection, along with advanced technology and improved treatment, is credited with the steady decline in breast cancer related deaths since 1990.
The statistics are eye opening. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this year in America alone, more than 212,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. One woman in eight either has, or will develop, breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. If detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%.
Betty Textor, RT, (R,M,CT), Mammography Technologist at St. John’s, reinforces the need for a technology upgrade. “In 2006, we performed nearly 1500 mammograms, 200 of which required additional work-ups,” said Textor. “Digital mammography provides a higher resolution, and the ability to manipulate, magnify, and change contrast to digital images which allows us to better interpret them. This is important for two reasons. First, the Radiologist can better diagnose cancers that they may not have detected with basic mammography. Second, in some cases, the technology can be used to identify questionable films without requiring the patient to come back in and have additional work-ups. This will be a great saving to our patients financially and emotionally.”
For more information about the Digital Mammography Campaign and/or the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation, please call KC Hoyer at 293-0106.
Related Link:
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, www.sjlh.com
|
