Mercy Medical Center North Iowa | Life & Health | Summer 2018

changes the patient’s stance from the traditional mammogram. Traditional mammogram machines have the patient grab handgrips, causing muscles in the arms and chest to tense. This can make it difficult to get high- quality images. It can also cause patient discomfort. The new machines allow a woman to lean on armrests. This relaxes her muscles to simplify positioning and compression and to improve image quality. The image receptor is also thinner, so it doesn’t jab into a woman’s ribs. What are the benefits? There are clear benefits to 3-D mammography over conventional 2-D systems. “3-D mammography provides images of the breast from many angles,” Dr. Gary Swenson says. “This helps us see breast cancers earlier and provide better views through dense breast tissue. Clearer images reduce the chance that a woman has to come back for a repeat test, something that can cause great anxiety. The ability to do this with the same small dose of radiation as 2-D mammography makes 3-D a better choice for most women.” Here is what some of our patients say: “I loved the new procedure on how to stand during my mammogram. Great technician. The new procedure was so much more comfortable!” “Just did mine today. It was easy—pictures are, from all angles, much better.” “I recently had my first mammogram and needed some follow-up. Throughout each of my appointments, the staff at the imaging center were professional, kind, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience pleasant and fun. Thank you so much, everyone!” We put patients in control —Continued from front page Mercy–North Iowa is the first in the state to use mammography machines with a remote control that allows the patient to operate the device while it is compressing her breast. 2 LIFE AND HEALTH Enter to win $75 1 Share your name, address, phone number and email address. 2 List the three article titles where you found each of the three Mercy crosses. 3 Email the items listed in steps 1 and 2 to question@MercyHealth.com or mail them to: Mercy Medical Center–North Iowa Marketing Department Mercy Cross Contest 1000 Fourth St. SW Mason City, IA 50401 Contest rules: One (1) entry per household; participants must be at least age 18 to enter; photo ID is required to claim prize; entry into this contest grants Mercy Medical Center–North Iowa permission to send future communications to contest participants regarding general health updates and information. $75 Visa gift card Winter contest winner! Don’t miss out on this issue’s hidden cross contest—one lucky reader will win. Here’s how to play: Find all three of the Mercy crosses in this issue. The Mercy cross, shown here, is a smaller version of the cross found in the Mercy Medical Center–North Iowa logo. But remember, the one shown here is just a sample. The crosses hidden may be smaller and are placed only within articles. Crosses found in Mercy logos are not eligible for the contest. Readers who correctly name the article titles where all three of the Mercy crosses are placed will be included in a drawing for a $75 prepaid Visa card. To enter, complete these simple steps by July 18, 2018: Congratulations to Brenda Heinz, winner of the winter 2018 hidden cross contest. Randomly selected from the entries received, Brenda was thrilled to win the $75 prepaid Visa card.