BMP Foundation Invests $1,000,000 for

New Digital Mammography Unit

The BMP Foundation will provide the CSSS La Pommeraie with up to $1,000,000 for the purchase of a digital mammography unit and biopsy table in the coming months, a major investment in the Hospital's arsenal in the ongoing battle against breast cancer across our region. The unit is expected to be operational this fall.

Mammography unit

"This unit will provide sharp image quality and detail on which to base our diagnoses," explains Maryse Lafrance, Co-Director of the BMP Medical Imagery Unit. "With this technology our radiologists will be able to detect cancers earlier, reducing the need for secondary or complementary examinations. The technology also eliminates cassettes and film development, and will enable the unit to perform as many as 500 additional mammographs each year, thereby reducing waiting times as well. It also opens the way for teleradiology capabilities for the efficient transfer of documents to secondary locations, be they medical clinics, secondary treatment centers etc., when that networking capability is available to us."

The acquisition also includes a $300,000 investment for a new biopsy table or tissue acquisition system that will enable radiologists to collect tissue samples (and in some cases, the entire anomaly) in minimally invasive procedures, resulting in larger intact samples for greater confidence in each procedure. Lying on one's side or stomach, the patient is much more comfortable without viewing the procedure. These procedures can be performed on an external patient basis, requiring no hospital stay.

In making the investment, the BMP Foundation acknowledges three major partners in particular. Through the efforts of the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club, the Foundation currently has $180,000 towards this purchase from the results of the last three year's walk, and hopes the 2010 Cancer Walk in October will bring us close to a quarter million. "The community has rallied with us and given this important cause real momentum. We are very proud to have been a driving force in making the digital mammography tool a reality." commented Yamaska Valley President Susan Burbank.

The BMP Hospital Auxiliary, a long time supporter of the Foundation, has also donated $70,000 towards the new mammography unit.

Furthermore, the Biopsy table or acquisition system has been enabled by a generous bequest made by Jonet Gillett of Sutton. Mrs Gillett, who passed away in December 2009 following a battle with Alzheimers Disease and cancer, bequeathed a gift of $321,000 to the BMP Foundation. "Jonet's wish was that the gift be used to help the Hospital and the people in our region in the fight against cancer," explained Mrs Gillett's husband, Mr Roy Gillett. "We are delighted that this gift will make a difference to many, many people." The biopsy table will be located in a dedicated room named in Mrs Gillett's honor.

2008 Cancer Walk		Mrs. Jonet Gillett

The million dollar investment is part of an overall commitment that will see the BMP Foundation invest $10,000,000 in the BMP Hospital and the Brome-Missisquoi health care system over a five year period.

The BMP Hospital is a recognized Screening Centre in Quebec's fight against Breast Cancer.