Diagnosed in one out of every nine women, breast cancer is one of today's major health concerns. With an emphasis on prevention and early detection, Thomas Hospital offers women in south Alabama an integrated program of breast care education, technology and treatment—all with respect for your privacy and dignity.

Mammography
Mammography, one of medicine's most powerful diagnostic procedures, is available at both the main hospital campus in Fairhope and at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Our mammography units are accredited by the American College of Radiology, and our Mammography Department earned the Food and Drug Administration's highest recommendation for meeting federal standards.

Stereotactic Needle Biopsy
Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy is a minimally invasive, highly accurate alternative to surgical biopsy for the detection of breast cancer. The benefits of needle biopsy over surgery include less scarring, faster recovery time, and the opportunity to evaluate and plan options for further treatment. Thomas Hospital is the only site in Baldwin County to offer women this surgical alternative, accredited by the American College of Radiology and the Food and Drug Administration.

Breast Cancer Support Services
Thomas Hospital offers a variety of classes, seminars and support groups designed to meet the physical and emotional needs of breast cancer patients, including "Reach to Recovery," an in-hospital visitation program for lumpectomy and mastectomy patients and "Stretch," a low-impact aerobic exercise program for post-mastectomy patients.

Breast Self Exam Education
With early detection and proper treatment, breast cancer has a very high recovery rate. At Thomas Hospital, we realize the importance of early detection. That's why we offer free educational information, and conduct an ongoing educational program instructing women in the correct procedure for a self-exam.

For more information on our breast care services, call (251) 279-1632.

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Digital Mammography now Available at Thomas Hospital and Thomas Medical Center

Digital Mammography, one of medicine’s most powerful diagnostic procedures, is now available at both Thomas Hospital and at Thomas Medical Center. The machines, primarily funded by the Thomas Hospital Foundation, allow for a higher resolution than the standard machines. The state-of-the-art technology increases image quality resulting in more accurate diagnoses.

“The digital machines are more accurate resulting in better detection of abnormalities in patients,” says Dr. Michael Quinn, a radiologist with Bay Radiology. “We no longer have to run the films through a processor which means a quicker turnaround for patient results,” Quinn continues. “It is great for the radiologists and for the patients.”

The mammography machines are American College of Radiology [ACR] accredited and offer full-field digital mammography. In digital mammography, x-ray beams are captured on specially designed digital detectors. The digital detectors convert the x-ray beams into electronic signals, which are then sent to a computer. The radiologist can review the digital mammograms on a high-resolution computer monitor.

“We are thankful to the Thomas Hospital Foundation for their tireless fundraising efforts which helped us obtain the digital mammography machines,” says Kathy Linam, director of radiology at Thomas Hospital. “We have two units at the hospital in Fairhope and one at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. We are blessed to have state-of-the-art mammography equipment to offer to the people in this community.”

For more information, or to schedule a digital mammography appointment at Thomas Hospital or Thomas Medical Center, call 990-1042.