McLaren Northern Michigan Adds 3D Mammogram Unit, First in Cheboygan

McLaren Northern Michigan, the leading health care provider of the northern region of Michigan’s lower peninsula, has enhanced its ability to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages with the addition of a 3D mammography unit at the McLaren Northern Michigan – Cheboygan health care campus.

This is the first 3D mammography unit accessible within Cheboygan. While it has traditionally posed a challenge for patients to access advanced health care technology in rural communities, the addition of this unit creates nearby, more convenient access to potentially lifesaving screenings.

“Adding 3D technology to our campus provides Cheboygan and the surrounding communities with the best possible breast screening tool,” said Adriane Corlew, McLaren Northern Michigan Director of Imaging Services, “and we believe that our patients will see the benefits of this technology and the advantages it can provide.”

An advanced technology when compared to traditional digital mammography, 3D mammograms allow radiologists to view and analyze breast tissue in 1mm slices, providing greater clarity for a more accurate diagnosis and to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. It also decreases the occurrence of false positives, eliminating the anxiety of follow-up mammograms.

“We always consider it our privilege to serve Cheboygan patients in their community and close to their homes,” said Dr. John Kennedy, McLaren Northern Michigan Chief Medical Officer. “Through the addition of 3D mammography, we are in the position to enhance our services for women’s health and take a significant step forward in detecting breast cancer, starting treatment, and helping to pave the way for a healthier future for our community.”

3D mammogram technology is particularly beneficial for women with dense breast tissue. Very common among women, dense breast tissue can potentially hide tumors within its fibro-glandular structure.

To schedule a mammogram at the McLaren Northern Michigan – Cheboygan imaging office, call (800) 625-2736. Learn more about all of the services offered at McLaren Northern Michigan – Cheboygan campus, visit mclaren.org/cheboygan.

About McLaren Northern Michigan
McLaren Northern Michigan is a 202-bed regional referral center located in Petoskey, serving residents in 22 counties across northern Lower Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. More than 230 physicians represent nearly all medical and surgical specialties, enabling full-service care with an emphasis on cardiology, cancer, orthopedics and neurosciences. McLaren Northern Michigan is a certified Primary Stroke Center, as designated by the Joint Commission. The hospital has a network of primary care providers and specialty care clinics throughout the region, and an outpatient surgery center in Cheboygan. Learn more at mclaren.org/northernmichigan.

About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $6.6 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 13 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 640-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 732,838 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 113,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.