Long-awaited state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment is now in use at the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, paving the way for "faster and easier" tests and clearer readings.

The $1.5-million system replaces the analogue machinery formerly in use, its purchase made possible through a massive drive that has so far raised more than $1.2 million.

According to the charity's marketing, fundraising and public relations director Pauline Girling, the switch will benefit the thousands of females who visit the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre for screenings each year.

"Over 7,000 women come in annually for mammograms," she stated.

"And we also do emergency screenings on top of that for people who maybe are doing a self-examination of their breasts and discover something that alerts them there could be something wrong."

The newly-purchased GE Healthcare Senographe Digital Mammography system provides physicians with "clear and precise all-digital images" as compared with the X-ray views relied upon in the past.

According to Ms Girling, this particular equipment was selected "because it provides the largest field of view currently available, which can be extremely helpful for precision imaging of patients with diverse shapes and sizes".

The centre's president, Glen Gibbons, and its chief technologist, Patricia Rowse, explained the new system was essential to providing the requisite care to patients.

"This is new and powerful technology for the detection and fight against breast cancer," said Mr. Gibbons. "Digital systems such as the new Senographe Essential allow us to offer our patients state-of-the-art mammograms that are faster and easier than ever before".

Added Ms Rowse: "Providing the best diagnostic equipment possible to our patients is a vital step to good preventative health, and one we take very seriously."

Digital mammography offers both immediate and long-term benefits, Ms Girling stated.

"The images are clear and easy to read and it offers a better view of the breast, especially near the skin line, chest wall and in women with diverse breast tissue types. The digital image is ready to read within ten seconds ¿ there is no longer a wait for films to be developed to be sure the images are usable."

Options in the future include the ability to "tele-mammogram" information on for a second opinion from overseas-based partners, she added.

"It's something we can do once we have two years under our belt. (In those instances) when we need a second opinion, if we develop a partnership with (Boston-based hospitals) Massachusetts General or Brigham and Women's (Hospital) or (the) Dana-Farber (Cancer Institute), we will have the resources and knowledge of top specialists in the US to feed us back their interpretations of their reading. It's the way technology is going and there's no reason why we don't join in and the end result will be beneficial to the women of Bermuda.

"It's been commented on by oncology specialists that have come here ¿ how diligent women of Bermuda are. They stand head and shoulders above the general consensus of screening in the US. They're diligent with self-screening and diligent with annual screening. The end result is if a suspicious lesion occurs, it's caught earlier and it doesn't become life threatening."

The charity's accomplishments did not go unnoticed by Kevin Hughes, a surgical director and breast oncologist at Massachusetts General. Here every three months to run a Genetic Testing Programme that operates out of the Point Finger Road facility, he was enthusiastic in his praise of its efforts.

"Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre has done a wonderful job making screening mammography available and in promoting its use," he said.

"I highly regard the services provided and I am very proud to work with them. In addition, I am extremely impressed by the screening services offered at this facility. Mammography screening in Bermuda has one of the highest compliance rates in the world. The excellent attendance at yearly screenings, and the quality of the mammography provided, has led to finding most cancers at an early and treatable stage."

According to Ms Girling, women on the island have a clear understanding of why annual mammograms are necessary.

"We see women 40 and over for annual checks but if they have a history of breast cancer in their family it should be alerted to their family physician so they are able to make sure anything that could be detected is detected soon enough. Women are diligent about passing on that information to their doctors - and the doctors here are responsive."

According to the director, women need to be praised more for their efforts.

"Because women are so diligent here, the incidence of early detection (is high). And the doctors out at Brigham and Women's and Dana Farber are responsive ¿ which highlights early conditions earlier (meaning) they're curable. I don't think we praise the female population sufficiently. It's absolutely focused on what to do to maintain good health."

Ms Girling added that the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre is hoping that members of the community will continue with their support.

"Our fundraising efforts are still continuing," she said.

"We must raise the remaining $250,000 before the end of 2008 in order to pay off all the costs associated with the purchase and installation. We are pinning our hopes on the continued support from our loyal community during the various events we are organising during the month of October to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month."

Women should telephone 236-1001 to schedule a mammogram or consult with their doctors.