This Traveling Pink Tree Carries a Powerful Message

WARE — In the main lobby of Baystate Mary Lane Hospital sits a brightly lit pink tree. Its sister tree is traveling around the community.

These trees, decorated with cards, all for the taking, have a serious goal and deliver a powerful message. Each card reminds women to take charge of their own breast health by practicing regular self-breast exams, scheduling their annual mammograms, and following up with their health care provider for a clinical breast exam.

Since the inception of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month program in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older, and breast cancer deaths have declined. “While this is exciting progress,” said Dr. Edward Ostrowski, a board-certified radiologist, “the key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely — once is not enough. There are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

“At Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, we offer digital mammography, which produces exceptionally sharp images,” Ostrowski added. “It is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is viewed and, more importantly, how the image is manipulated. With digital mammography, a radiologist can magnify images and increase or decrease contrast while reading the images. These features allow the radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern. Since this technology does not use film, images are available for immediate viewing.”

Baystate Mary Lane Hospital complements digital mammography with computer-aided detection (CAD). Digital CAD highlights characteristics commonly associated with breast cancer and flags abnormalities to help a radiologist detect early breast cancer.

“Our five licensed mammography technologists offer more than 125 years of combined experience in providing superior quality screening and diagnostic mammography testing,” noted Ostrowski. “These outstanding employees are truly committed to providing quality health care to all women that come here, not only for mammography screening, but also for any other breast diagnostic testing, including ultrasounds, and biopsies.

“There are ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer,” he added, “which include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, knowing family history of breast cancer, understanding the risks and benefits of hormone-replacement therapy, limiting alcohol intake, and getting regular breast cancer screenings.”

The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening mammography beginning at the age of 40 with no upper age limit, an annual clinical breast exam performed yearly starting at age 30, and breast self-exams.

Women are welcome to make their appointment for their annual mammogram at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital by calling (866) 531-8378 or the Radiology department at (413) 967-2272.