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t4= vveunesoay, Jury t), zu i I Bulletin, Record, Progressive, Reporter
JUST FOR THE
Be Healthier. Live Longer and Look Better!
15ruee H. Lee, D.D.S.
Family Dentistry
All phases of General Dentistry
including
Orthodontics Crowns & Bridges Partials/Dentures Ex-
tractions Cosmetic Dentistry Bleaching
Periodontics Root Canals Dental implants
to anchor loose dentures or replace missingteeth
Now Accepting NewPatients
181S. Gulling St., Portola
530-832-4461 * Fax 530-832-4409
T°da00LTH,
Quincy Drug Store and
Portola Village Pharmacy
are always striving to give their customers the best
low-cost, quality, over-the-counter medications.
Today's Health is now available at both locations.
Soda Fountain and Gift Shop
157 Commercial St., Portola
Family Dentistry
Periodontics
Oral Implantology
Periodontal Prosthesis
Michael W Herndon, DDS
Amsterdam Fellow
431 W. Main Street * Quincy CA 95971
530-283-1119
FAX: 530-283-2319
800 Declaration Drive, Suite 102 * Chico CA 95973
530-893-8327
Portola Medical &
Dental Clinic
480 First Avenue
Portola
(530) 832-6600
Graeagle Medical Clinic
7597 Hwy 89
Graeagle
(530) 836-1122
Loyalton Medical Clinic
725 Third Street
Loyalton
(530) 993-1231
Indian Valley
Medical Clinic
176 Hot Springs Rd
Greenville
(530) 284-6116
Skillled Nursing Care
Loyalton
(530) 993-1225
Portola
(530) 832-6546
Las t..rn .Plumas
Health Cave
"P(;op.le He.lldng I:Peol)le."
Main Hospital Campus
500 First Avenue
Portola, CA 96122
(530) 832-6500 or
(800) 571-EPHC
Comprehensive In & Outpatient Services -
Including Furl Service Lab, X-ray, Mammog-
raphy, Ultrasound, CT, Respiratory Therapy
and Outpatient Procedures
24-Hour Emergency Room
ACLS Ambulance (carl 911)
O Feather River Fitness
66 99
Better than ever
Full schedule of group exercise'classes
Sauna * Free Weights Jacuzzi
Challenge Courts Tuesday & Thursday
2 Racquetball Courts Pool Now Open !
336 Crescent St., Quincy
283-9401
Mon-Thurs 5am-9pm
Fri 5am-7pm Weekends 8am-Noon
..... q.
':. :!i{{ ] .....
]I I I /
[i i i Seneca Healthcare District
L[| , ij Lake Almanor Clinic
Reynolds Road "258-4256
The New Digital Mammography
"Mammograms save lives, period, end of story. But it takes decades to
appreciate just how many," announced ABC News Medical Unit correspon-
dent Courtney Hutchison, reporting June 28, 2011 on a 29 year long
mammogram study in Sweden. "The researchers found that seven years of
mammograms made for 30 percent fewer breast cancer deaths years down
the road, when compared with women who didn't receive mammograms."
According to Dr. Laurie Margolies, chief of breast imaging at Mount Sinai
Medical Center in New York, the longer follow-up period is essential, because
a number of breast cancers are very slow growing, and they take many years
to become lethal.
Therefore, the shorter term studies that have been done previously, can
only account for breast cancer deaths due to the more aggressive, fast
growing cancers. This study is a wake up call for those who have claimed that
mammograms don't have enough benefit to warrant starting them at age
forty, or having yearly exams. ".Overall, breast cancer experts believe this
study out of Sweden supports the message they've been sending all along:
Regular mammograms save lives. Period," concludes Hutchinson.
Mammograms aren't a prevention tool, however, they're a detection tool.
When it comes to breast cancer, of course, both are extremely important. Dr.
Colin Kopes.Kerr has recently written in these pages of the essential nature
of diet, exercise, relaxation, not smoking, and holding to a healthy weight.
According to Kopes-Kerr, this "Healthy Lifestyle" plan has been proven in
repeated studies by top researchers to reduce the rate of "all cancers by 36
to 64 percent."
So, if women combine a healthy lifestyle (prevention) with yearly mammo-
grams after the age of 40, beginning earlier if they have certain risk factors
(early detection), they should be able to reduce their risk of breast cancer by
a very significant amount.
Breast cancer detection has taken a leap forward with the advent of digital
mammography. "Digital is the state of the art modality for early detection of
breast cancer used in mammography screening," according to iichie Russ,
mammographer and x-i'ay technician for the past fifteen years, who works in
the imaging department at Eastern Plumas Health Care.
Russ has spent most of her time as a mammographer utilizing film equip-
ment. She describes the film cassettes that had to be loaded and unloaded.
Then, the film had to be processed, including the developer, fixer, and wash.
After that, film cassettes had to be cleaned. A small spot of dust could cause
what she called an "artifact," which meant further images would be required.
Still, it was a fairly quick process considering all that was involved-2 -3
minutes per image as opposed to the approximately 5 seconds per image
with digital. Though that may not seem like a lot of time saved, "the extra
time not spent focusing on the mechanics of film," said Russ, allows her to
"spend that time with the patient, answering her questions," helping her to
understand and feel comfortable with the process.
In fitm mammography, the mammographer chooses a focus point at the most
important part of the breast, which Russ terms "the optimal density."
This can cause the portion of the breast nearest the chest wall to be under-
exposed and nearest the nipple to be over exposed, she said. In digital
imaging, the digital plate is made of a computer grid, and each small square
of that grid receives proper exposure for that particular portion of the breast.
This is particularly important, she explained, at the front skin line, which
often appears "burned out" in a film image.
A clear image of this skin line is essential in the diagnosis of Paget's Disease
of the breast, a very aggressive, very deadly form of breast cancer. Its
characteristic surface swelling of the skin is often misdiagnosed as Mastiffs
said Russ, which is an 'inflammation of the breast. Early diagnosis is
especially important in Paget's Disease because it is so fast growing and so
lethal. In addition, it tends to occur more in younger women.
Digital mammography is especially good at penetrating dense breast tissue
and breasts with implants. Also, the image quality is much higher-"it;s crisp,
clean, beautiful," said Russ-so, problems can be diagnosed more quickly and
precisely. And, it's better able to distinguish between different types of breast
tissue-from fibrous to glandular to fatty tissue.
The detail allowed by digital makes it easier to assess calcifications, as well.
Many of these are benign, but small cluster calcifications can indicate the
earliest stages of the breast cancer Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. This is one of
the most common cancers and it's non-invasive-confined to the milk duct of
the breast. It doesn't form a lump that can be felt, however; 80% of cases are
found by mammograms. Because it's discovered before it has spread, the
prognosis for this form of cancer is excellent. "That's when we want to catch
[it] before it has invaded anything. That's when it really saves lives." Russ
cautioned women that "just because the doctor says it's calcification doesn't
mean it's cancer," however.
She added that EPHC works with radiologists at North Star Imaging in
RenD, who read the image and determine if further images need to be taken.
Digital images can be transferred almost immediately, meaning results can be
relayed to patients much more quickly, as well.
A further advantage of digital mammography is that it reduces the already
small amount of radiation emitted in film mammography by another 30 - 50
percent. It also affords a higher level of comfort. Newly trained digital
mammographer, EPHC's Nicole Sheldon, emphasized that patients need to
understand it's still just as vital to compress the breast to get a quality image.
But, she added that the breast doesn't need to be compressed for as long. As
soon as the button is pressed and the image taken, the compression paddle
automatically lifts away from the patient. The whole process takes about 20
seconds, said Sheldon.
In addition, said Ru, the new paddle design slopes with the breast, which
"allows for overall compression with less pinching at the chest wall." EPHC
is also experimenting with new "mammo pads," which cushion the breast
and make the whole experience more comfortable. "We don't want anyone
to turn away because they had a bad experience in the past," she said.
Plumas County hospitals routinely offer low cost mammography specials
during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Eastern Plumas Health Care
is celebrating the arrival of its new digital mammography system with a
special during the month of July, as well. And, under the Affordable Care Act,
Medicare patients can now have very low or no cost mammograms as part
of their Welcome to Medicare and yearly prevention exams.* Now, there's no
excuse for women not to get their potentially lifesaving breast screenings.
"Your health care provider will help you determine when.you qualify for your
Medicare mammogram during your Welcome or annual exam.
Family Dentistryl
for Plumas County with a
Woman's Touch
Emily S. Herndon, DDS
New patients welcome
including children
General dentistry practice open
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
283-1119 431 W. Main Street, Quincy
Gregory Sawyer, DDS.
Family Denttstry, Orthodont.lCS
& Certified mvisalign Provider
(630) 283-2811
2034 East Main Street
Quincy, CA 95971
(across from Polka Dot, East Quincy)
OPEN MON - FRI 8:30am - 4:30pro
Evening appointments available
0% financing available - O.A.C.
Manual Therapy
Sports Medicine
Neck/Back Care
Portola
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Orthopedics
Most insurances accepted -
including Blue Cross and Blue Shield
832-1701 Quincy 283-0311
, J
Michael W.
Barton,
D.D.S.
General Dentistry
836-2223
Route 89 Graeagle
FAMILY DENTAL CARE
PLUMAS PHYSICAL THERAPY
Kory Felker, M.P.T.
"We Get Results" _
Orthopedic
Manual Therapy
Sports & Aquatic Therapy
Home Health * Cardiac Rehabilitation
Most Insurances Accepted
QUINCY GRAEAGLE
78 Central Ave., #2 8989 Hwy. 89, Bldg. 36 #1
530-283-2202 530-836-1178
530-283-2204 (FAX)
SIERRA FAMILY DENTISTRY, INC.
atients welcomed
STEWART A. GATELY, D.D.S.
FAMILY, GENERAL COSMETIC DENTISTRY TMJ TREATMENT
ADULT & CHILD ORTHODONTICS TEETH WHITENING
ORTHOPEDIC APPLIANCES TO CORRECT BITE PROBLEMS
IMPLANTS TO STABILIZE LOOSE DENTURES & PARTIALS
PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT PROMOTING HEALTHY GUMS
ORAL SURGERY CONSCIOUS SEDATION
Most major insurance plans accepted
Payment plans available
352 Lawrence Street Phone: (530) 283-3947
Quincy, CA 95971 Fax: (530) 283-2126
Serving Plumas County for 21+ years