CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - LiveWell

Watch the video of Kelli, Nancy, Echo and Virtue at https://digital.christussetx.org/ mammogram/ and call today to make an appointment. Winter 2017 | christusset x.org WOMEN'S HEALTH 7 Your recommended screening mammogram doesn't have to make you anxious. Did you know a mammogram could be pleasant? It sounds too good to be true, but at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System, it's an everyday occurrence. "From the moment I walked in the door, the experience was very calming," says Kelli Henson, 46, of Hemphill. "They give you a comfortable robe to slip into, and Kim, my mammography technician, had a warm personality that made me feel like I'd known her forever." While Kelli knew what to expect, as she's been in the medical field her entire career, she appreciated that the staff was able to answer any questions she may have had. "They explain everything thoroughly, and the test doesn't take long at all," Kelli says. "I know many women my age remember the old mammography style, which could be painful. This experience wasn't painful at all." A CLEAR ADVANTAGE A 3-D mammogram gives the technician reading it a clearer look inside your breast tissue. Where a conventional mammogram took pictures from two angles, the 3-D mammogram takes pictures in small slices throughout the entire breast, separating the tissue into small layers. This makes it easier to identify small cancers, or those hidden by dense breast tissue. Women are also less likely to be called back for a second, diagnostic mammogram due to a false positive result on their screening mammogram. This doesn't just cut back on unnecessary visits — it reduces patient anxiety about the entire experience. Kelli hopes that the increased benefits, and the calming environment CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System provides for its mammography patients, prompts women to stay on schedule when it comes to screening mammograms. "We know our bodies better than anyone," Kelli says. "Staying proactive with our health, instead of reactive, is important, and regular mammograms are a great way to be proactive." Are you due for a screening mammogram? Call (409) 899-7500 to schedule your appointment. Making Mammograms Convenient Each year, according to the American Cancer Society, more than 250,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, as technology advances, these cancers are being caught earlier — and at more treatable stages — than ever. CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System now offers three-dimensional (3-D) mammography at three locations across the region: CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Outpatient Center Mid County, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth and CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Jasper Memorial. "We all have such busy lifestyles," says Kelli Henson, 46, of Hemphill, who had a 3-D mammogram at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Jasper Memorial. "My mammogram was so easy to schedule, and within five minutes of checking in, my test began." A Beer Mammogram Experience

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