Mammography, returns to the Ridge at Feather River Health Center
by Ken Smith
Hanging on one wall of the new Women’s Imaging center at Adventist Health’s Feather River Health Center is a framed quilt featuring colorful flowers blooming over layers of intricate, black-and-white floral patterns. For Valerie Cleary, the center’s lead mammography technologist, the quilt is a reminder of the Ridge’s resilience following 2018’s devastating Camp Fire.
“Before the fire there was a store in Paradise called Morning Star Quilts,” she said. “Every October, the owner would donate hand-made quilts to us for breast cancer awareness month … patients would enter a drawing and could win a gift basket and a nice quilt.
“This one was hanging on the wall in our old mammography room on Clark Road, and it survived the fire. We cleaned it and framed it, because it felt fitting to hang it here in the new space. It’s come full circle with us.”
“For the last few years, patients have had to go to Chico, Oroville or even further. Women tend to hate having mammograms done, so any kind of excuse or barrier makes it even harder.”
Valerie Cleary, Lead mammography technologist at Feather River Health Center
Cleary worked at the Clark Road location since 2003. When it was shuttered following the fire, she spent a few years working at other Adventist Health locations. Now, she has returned to Paradise to oversee mammography and DEXA exams (the latter are used to measure bone density and detect osteoporosis) at the new Women’s Imaging center.
“This has been in the works for a while to bring mammograms back to the community,” she said. “For the last few years, patients have had to go to Chico, Oroville or even further to get them. Women tend to hate having mammograms done, so any kind of excuse or barrier makes it even harder.
“I’ve talked to several people, even fellow employees, that have gone without their exams since the fire.”
Cleary said it’s critically important for women to get regular mammograms: “It’s essential for women—and even men, as some do get breast cancer—to be aware of their breast health,” she explained. “The main reason is to catch breast cancer early. People need to keep up on their monthly self-exams, regular check-ups and annual mammograms.
“The breast cancer survival rate with early detection is in the high 90s, percentage-wise,” Cleary said. “But, statistically, by the time most people feel a lump in their breast it’s been there for eight years.”
As a veteran mammographer, Cleary has seen the techniques evolve, and said the Paradise center uses top-of-the-line tech: “First we went digital, and then we went to 3D, which is called tomosynthesis,” she explained.
“It was much more difficult with 2D imaging,” she continued, “but with tomosynthesis we’re able to take images of 1-millimeter slices of the breast, so the doctor can look at all the layers. We’re able to see things that we previously wouldn’t have been able to find.”
“These exams are so important, and we’re glad to be able to provide this service to the community once again,” Cleary said.
Mammograms can be scheduled by contacting the scheduling center at 530-332-1901. An open house will be held to celebrate the opening of the new Women’s Imaging center at Adventist Health’s Feather River Health Center (5125 Skyway) on Oct. 17 from 4-6 p.m. For more info about all of the services offered at Adventist Health Feather River, go to https://www.adventisthealth.org/feather-river.
