Mammograms are important health screenings that the American Cancer Society recommends all women over the age of 44 should undergo once a year. But despite their ability to identify signs of breast cancer, many women are still reluctant to receive regular mammograms. This is due in large part to the fact that the compression phase of a mammogram is often uncomfortable, and even quite painful in some cases.
Now, however, thanks to an all-female design team at GE Healthcare, women have access to a more comfortable alternative to traditional mammograms.
The Senographe Pristina mammography system was designed to improve the patient experience associated with breast cancer screenings. A key component of GE’s mammography system is a remote control called the Dueta. This innovative tool allows patients to take direct control of the compression phase of the mammogram, making it more comfortable and less alienating than other mammography systems.
“Patients who used the remote control said the exam was more comfortable and they were visibly more relaxed,” said Dr. Kathy Schilling in her review of the Dueta remote. “Any breast radiologist knows that when patients are relaxed, we are able to get better images and better images lead to a more confident diagnosis.”
Dr. Schilling hopes that GE’s mammography system will ultimately improve patient outcomes by making the breast exams more comfortable, and less unpleasant. This, in turn, could make it easier for radiologists to detect breast cancer in its early stages when it’s most treatable. Hopefully, this more comfortable mammogram procedure will become the new standard of care in the near future.