This is an exciting week at The Princess Grace Hospital as we take delivery of the very latest in CT scanner technology. In fact it is so new that it's the first machine of its type anywhere in London so it really is a first for us, our doctors and of course all of our patients.
Described as the leading edge in CT clarity, the new 64-slice Discovery CT750 HD scanner from GE Healthcare creates high definition 'x-ray' images in a level of detail that has never been seen before. Added to this, it uses significantly less radiation than a conventional CT scanner so you can have a full body scan with 50% less radiation than before.
The most immediate benefit of this new scanner is its ability to provide more detailed internal images than ever before - up to 33% more detail throughout the body and up to 47% greater detail in the heart. The secret lies in a new detector material developed by the GE engineers which allows images to be created 100 times faster. It is the most significant advance in this technology in 20 years and it is at the heart of this revolutionary scanner.
The Discovery CT750 HD scanner complements our already extensive diagnostic imaging facilities at the Princess Grace Hospital and it will be used to help diagnose a wide range of conditions. And there is no doubt that we will be able to do so faster and more accurately than ever before. To find out more about this system follow the link below or contact our imaging department.
discovery ct750 HD
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Monday, 10 May 2010
Breast Screening for the Under 50s
The news that Coronation Street star, Sally Whittaker, had discovered her breast cancer almost by chance is another reminder of the importance of screening in younger women. 46 year old Sally became more aware of breast cancer because in the Corrie story line her own character was undergoing treatment for the disease. This prompted her to check her own breasts and this is when she found a lump which unfortunately turned out to be cancer.
At just 46, Sally would not yet qualify for the national screening programme (50 years), but according to Dr Nick Perry, who heads up The London Breast Institute here at The Princess Grace Hospital, “Screening women between 40 and 50 saves lives and is routine in the USA. Breast Cancer is the commonest cause of death in women aged 35-54, and 40% of all life years lost to breast cancer are attributable to women under 50 who are diagnosed outside of a screening programme. Younger women tend to have more aggressive tumours and therefore can gain the most from early detection. Digital mammograms perform better and find more cancers.”
At the London Breast Institute we run a one-stop breast clinic and anyone can make an appointment for the following day for a mammogram without referral from a GP. There are others centres around London offering a similar service. So if you are between 40 and 50 and haven’t yet had a mammogram, then you should certainly consider having one – there is a cost attached but it is a relatively small price to pay compared with the peace of mind of knowing that you are well, or at the very worst that you can find out while the cancer is likely to be more easily treated.
Contact our breast clinic at:
*http://www.londonbreastinstitute.co.uk/breast-screening-saves-lives.php
At just 46, Sally would not yet qualify for the national screening programme (50 years), but according to Dr Nick Perry, who heads up The London Breast Institute here at The Princess Grace Hospital, “Screening women between 40 and 50 saves lives and is routine in the USA. Breast Cancer is the commonest cause of death in women aged 35-54, and 40% of all life years lost to breast cancer are attributable to women under 50 who are diagnosed outside of a screening programme. Younger women tend to have more aggressive tumours and therefore can gain the most from early detection. Digital mammograms perform better and find more cancers.”
At the London Breast Institute we run a one-stop breast clinic and anyone can make an appointment for the following day for a mammogram without referral from a GP. There are others centres around London offering a similar service. So if you are between 40 and 50 and haven’t yet had a mammogram, then you should certainly consider having one – there is a cost attached but it is a relatively small price to pay compared with the peace of mind of knowing that you are well, or at the very worst that you can find out while the cancer is likely to be more easily treated.
Contact our breast clinic at:
*http://www.londonbreastinstitute.co.uk/breast-screening-saves-lives.php
Sunday, 2 May 2010
New life saving test for bowel cancer
This week the Lancet published the results of a new colon cancer test which promises to save the lives of many thousands of people. The simple 5 minute test involves inserting a scope into the large bowel and removing any polyps that might eventually become cancerous. I talked to Dr Sean Preston a consultant gastroenterologist who heads our Endoscopy Unit here at The Princess Grace Hospital and he confirmed that this is indeed a major breakthrough in the fight against bowel cancer. He said, ‘this momentous study demonstrates that endoscopic screening for bowel cancer in the over 55s dramatically improves survival from this common condition.’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8650330.stm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7109833.ece
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