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R-2 Checker Can Find Cancer In Earlier Stages
POSTED: 4:25 p.m. EDT September 5, 2003
CLEVELAND -- It's the fifth of the month -- time to remind someone you love to do a breast self-exam.
Also, women should consider getting a second opinion on their next mammogram.
NewsChannel5's Alicia Booth reported that women can get that second opinion built in because of a breakthrough in medical technology.
Dr. Melissa Frankel, of University Hospitals, looks at mammograms all day long. She searches for the tiniest hint of cancer in any one of the pictures. She has a lot of experience, but she is human and can make mistakes. Her backup cannot.
The R-2 checker looks similar to a price checker at the grocery store, but it does much more than that.
"It's a second opinion, it's a second pair of eyes and I think everybody needs that," Frankel said.
Michele Medves would agree. The computer wasn't around yet when Medves was diagnosed, but Frankel is using it on the patient's follow-up mammograms as she finishes her treatment.
On Friday, Medves got the chance to see for herself if her breast cancer has come back.
"I'm not seeing anything else that looks like a cancer -- no calcifications, no mass -- so we got it all... wonderful," Frankel said.
If there had been a suspicious area on Medves' mammogram, there would be an X right over the breast. Hers is now clear.
Studies show that the R-2 checker can find cancer in earlier stages than a radiologist about 20 percent of the time.
It's a good day for Medves -- not just because she has seen for herself she is cancer-free, but because she believes her radiologist is better equipped now than when she was first diagnosed.
"I just think it's great," Medves said. "It's another step in mammography for all of us."
Medicare and most insurance companies now cover the R-2 checker, also known as "computer-aided detection." The checker not better than a radiologist, but it can find things he or she can't.
Anyone who has questions about breast cancer or who wants some more information about mammograms or self-exams can call University Hospitals at (800) 641-2422 for a free mailer.
Also, women should consider getting a second opinion on their next mammogram.
NewsChannel5's Alicia Booth reported that women can get that second opinion built in because of a breakthrough in medical technology.
Dr. Melissa Frankel, of University Hospitals, looks at mammograms all day long. She searches for the tiniest hint of cancer in any one of the pictures. She has a lot of experience, but she is human and can make mistakes. Her backup cannot.
The R-2 checker looks similar to a price checker at the grocery store, but it does much more than that.
"It's a second opinion, it's a second pair of eyes and I think everybody needs that," Frankel said.
Michele Medves would agree. The computer wasn't around yet when Medves was diagnosed, but Frankel is using it on the patient's follow-up mammograms as she finishes her treatment.
On Friday, Medves got the chance to see for herself if her breast cancer has come back.
"I'm not seeing anything else that looks like a cancer -- no calcifications, no mass -- so we got it all... wonderful," Frankel said.
If there had been a suspicious area on Medves' mammogram, there would be an X right over the breast. Hers is now clear.
Studies show that the R-2 checker can find cancer in earlier stages than a radiologist about 20 percent of the time.
It's a good day for Medves -- not just because she has seen for herself she is cancer-free, but because she believes her radiologist is better equipped now than when she was first diagnosed.
"I just think it's great," Medves said. "It's another step in mammography for all of us."
Medicare and most insurance companies now cover the R-2 checker, also known as "computer-aided detection." The checker not better than a radiologist, but it can find things he or she can't.
Anyone who has questions about breast cancer or who wants some more information about mammograms or self-exams can call University Hospitals at (800) 641-2422 for a free mailer.
Previous Stories:
- September 2, 2003: Alicia Booth Tells Story Of Breast Cancer
- August 5, 2003: Women Needed For Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Trial
- August 5, 2003: Do Breast Self-Exam Every 5th Of Month
- June 24, 2003: Study: Hormone Therapy Can Cause Breast Cancer
- June 5, 2003: New Drug Could Help Younger Breast Cancer Patients
- May 3, 2003: Woman Tests New Drug To Fight Breast Cancer
- April 7, 2003: Cancer Survivor Urges Women To Perform Self-Exams
- February 5, 2003: Breast Cancer Helps Woman Discover Other Problems
- December 5, 2002: Ignoring Health Problems May Mean Facing Death
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