Women in southwest Las Vegas no longer have to travel to another part of the city to obtain mammography screenings. Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center now offers these potentially life-saving screenings close to home.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for women to have these important screening tests because early detection of breast cancer can save their lives," says Becky Christensen, a certified mammography technologist at Spring Valley Hospital. "We also perform ultrasound screenings that can give doctors additional information to help them diagnose breast cancer."

Mammography and ultrasound screenings are now performed in the hospital's Radiology Department.

A new center for women
In the near future, the hospital will expand screening services for women where women can obtain a variety of health screenings and services in one convenient, welcoming location within the hospital.

The center will offer mammography and breast ultrasound screenings, less invasive stereotactic breast biopsies to evaluate suspicious breast tissue and bone density screenings to look for signs of osteoporosis. But instead of undergoing these tests in a bland hospital environment, women will be evaluated in a warm, spa-like area.

"Women who visit the center will find a tropical décor, comfortable chairs, relaxing music and soothing artwork," Christensen says. "We hope that if women are reminded of how they feel when they're lying on the beach or sticking their feet in the sand, they'll relax and feel less anxious during their screenings."

To find out more about the mammography services available at Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, call 853-3148.

The Valley Health System c/o Valley Hospital Medical Center 620 Shadow Lane Las Vegas, NV 89106