MANATEE — Call it a fluke, good timing or the fortunate arrival of new medical technology.
Diane Thompson would just call it the “luck of the Irish.”
Thompson, a Parrish resident who works in admitting as a registrar at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, volunteered as a subject Sept. 11 to help techs learn to use a new MRI breast program.
During the procedure, the MRI captured images of a bright spot in her breast.
Thompson, 56, was surprised because she has gotten annual breast exams since she was 35, and was three months away from her next regular exam.
The radiologist, Dr. Jeffrey Wasserman, didn’t like what he saw on the MRI, and ordered a deeper mammogram test. The test confirmed the initial findings and a surgeon took a sample of the area which found cancer cells.
A lumpectomy was done to her right breast by Dr. Gary Bunch of the Bradenton Surgical Group.
“It was a miracle that they found it in the early stage of stage zero,” Thompson said, adding that she believes the new technology is responsible for finding her cancer so early.
“I had good doctors. This hospital is wonderful. God is looking over me,” she said.
She is completing daily radiation treatments over a six-week period and must return for checkups every six months.
Thompson was aware that a government panel, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, this week said that most women don’t need a mammogram in their 40s, and should wait until their 50s to get one every two years.
The panel concluded that the early tests produce too many false alarms and unneeded biopsies.
That advice conflicts with a recommendation from the American Cancer Society, which has traditionally recommended women start getting mammograms in their 40s.
Given her experience, Thompson said she thought it wise to follow the American Cancer Society recommendation, particularly if there is a family history of the disease.
Wasserman said he cannot support the federal panel’s recommendation.
“I have seen far too many young patients come down with breast cancer to agree with the panel’s finding. Any radiologist who reads anything more than a small number of mammograms knows there are many patients in their 30s and 40s with breast cancer,” Wasserman said.
In Thompson’s case, the cancer was detected before it had a chance to spread.
“She made her own good luck by offering to help. We never expected anything to show up,” Wasserman said.
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee Editor, can be contacted at 745-7021.
Disclaimer: Story comments are intended to provide a place for constructive dialog about issues and events in our community. Your input is encouraged and can make a positive difference. To achieve this, no obscenity, personal attacks, or racial slurs are tolerated. Users brought to our attention for violating our terms of use will be blocked from commenting permanently and without notice. Please help keep the comments on topic by flagging objectionable material and remember that children and young adults may be reading your comments. With freedom of speech comes the responsibility to be respectful of others.
Email Story
Printer Friendly 
Quick Job Search
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@