"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - New Equipment Helps Cherokee Hospital

***"Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital nurses Callie Freeman and Mary Martin speak with hospital radiology technician Kim Fielden during the hospital’s recent Think Pink Day."***

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - Thanks to a new piece of equipment, Cherokee Nation W. W. Hastings Hospital is helping more area women get earlier detection of breast cancer. A brand new diagnostic mammography screening machine will enable the hospital to catch breast cancer cases earlier by cutting down on the waiting time for screenings.

“Upon assumption of the hospital last year, we had nearly 4,000 women on a waiting list for preventative exams,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “This piece of equipment was one of our top priorities. These women are our mothers, our daughters, our sisters and our neighbors, and now, they can have these health care screenings to improve their lives and the lives of their families.”

Currently, approximately 100 women are screened each month at the hospital for breast cancer, and the numbers are expected to double in the near future.

The hospital itself is accredited through the American College of Radiology, the accreditation body for mammography units. In addition, the hospital has three registered mammography technicians certified through The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, the world’s largest credentialing organization for radiology technicians.

“One of our priorities when we assumed operations of the hospital was to purchase a mammography machine to test the women in our area for breast cancer. While some of our existing health centers could perform these tests, there was still a long wait for those at the hospital. This purchase has already helped thousands of women have peace of mind,” said Melissa Gower, Group Leader for Cherokee Nation Health Services.

In recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, hospital employees recently participated in their third annual Pink Day, which included hospital staff wearing pink and providing information on breast cancer to patients and visitors.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States each year, and approximately 1,910 new cases are expected in men. There is estimated to be 40,610 breast cancer deaths this year alone.

Mammography screening remains the best available method to detect breast cancer early. In 1992, the U.S. Congress passed the Mammography Quality Standards Act to ensure that mammography facilities throughout the country are of high quality and reliable. To lawfully perform mammography, each facility must prominently display a certificate issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which serves as evidence that the facility meets quality standards.