New Breast Cancer Screening is first-of-its-kind in San Luis Obispo County

ABUS is a test that can improve breast cancer detection in women with dense breast tissue by 55 percent over mammography alone.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – August 1, 2017 – French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), part of the Dignity Health Central Coast network of hospitals that includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), is pleased to announce its San Luis Diagnostic Center now offers the first and only Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) services in San Luis Obispo County. ABUS is a test that can improve breast cancer detection in women with dense breast tissue by 55 percent over mammography alone. 

ABUS is a sophisticated, high resolution technology that generates more than 2000, 3D images quickly and with extreme clarity. What’s exciting is that this new technology gives radiologists the ability to see abnormalities in dense breast tissue that often can’t be seen on a mammogram. ABUS does not replace mammography. It is an additional imaging test that can be done in the same appointment as a mammogram.

Four out of 10 American women have dense breast tissue and statistics show women with high breast density are 4-5 times more likely to get breast cancer. ABUS makes it possible to detect cancer sooner in these women. 

Fred Vernacchia, M.D., Medical Director of San Luis Diagnostic Center, says “ABUS is fast. It takes about 30 minutes or less. It’s also comfortable because the imaging device is shaped specifically for a woman’s breast curvature. We now have a way to create peace of mind in women with dense breasts.”  

The ABUS system is the latest piece of advanced screening technology added to French Hospital’s San Luis Diagnostic Center arsenal of Breast Imaging services which include: 3D Digital Breast Tomosynthesis, Breast MRI/MRI guided Biopsy, Digital Mammography and Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. 

Dignity Health is committed to staying at the forefront of the newest advances and equipment in prevention and early detection of breast cancer. 

To make an appointment please call (805) 595-1535. 

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About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation and one of the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters.  The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provides the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology on the Central Coast. The hospital’s current modernization and redesign project is an example of the commitment to meet the growing needs of the community with lifesaving advancements in medicine coupled with excellent, compassionate care.

The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families.  French is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service.  Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.