KEENE, NH – Cheshire Medical Center has gotten a second three-dimensional mammography system and upgraded its existing mammography machine with the 3D technology.

According to a news release, the new device, which was deployed back in March, enhances the hospital’s ability to detect breast cancer early, reduce false positives, improve patient experience, provide a critical redundancy for more streamlined scheduling, and enables the Breast Care Center to increase the number of mammograms it performs annually.

The center currently performs about 8,000 mammograms annually, the addition of the new 3D system will allow the center to perform more than 2,000 additional exams each year.

Three-dimensional mammograms produce sharper images with finer details, detects 20% to 65% more invasive breast cancer compared to 2D imaging technology, and reduces the need for recall appointments by about 40%.

“The earlier we are able to detect signs of cancer, the more treatment options are available for patients,” said Cheshire Mammography/Breast Care Coordinator Supervisor Meloney A. Hayward, RT(R), (M)ARRT. “Having access to this advanced 3D breast imaging systems is a significant benefit for our community. Not only are we able to have fewer false positives, we are able to detect cancers much earlier with better outcomes.”

The new device and upgrades were paid for by significant fundraising by the Cheshire Health Foundation, which raised more than $788,000 in 2023.

“Cheshire is committed to ensuring everyone in the rural Monadnock region has access to routine breast cancer screenings. These technological upgrades will increase our ability to detect signs of cancer earlier, improving patient prognosis, and serve more patients each year,” said Cheshire CEO and president Joseph L. Perras, MD. “I would like to thank the Cheshire Health Foundation, generous donors and the volunteers who worked hard to fundraise for this critical equipment. This new mammography system and the excellent care provided in Cheshire’s Breast Care Center enables world class care close to home.”