A new breast cancer screening machine is one step closer to reality for the Cowichan District Hospital thanks to an ambitious fundraising campaign and a $25,000 contribution from the Auxiliary to Cowichan District Hospital.
“The Auxiliary recognizes that this new Tomosynthesis equipment — first of its kind on Vancouver Island — will provide faster, more accurate and more comfortable screening for symptoms of breast cancer,” said a press release from the Auxiliary. “Tomosynthesis uses low-dose x-rays to capture images of the breast tissue as it rotates in an arc to capture multiple images from many different angles. This produces a much more detailed picture than the standard mammography, which takes only two images. While it will initially be installed at our current hospital, this equipment will be moved to our new hospital when it opens and will continue to serve well into the future.”
It’s been a long two years with the pandemic affecting the Auxiliary’s ability to operate but the group continued to run the hospital gift shop and HATS thrift store on Station Street in Duncan, all to raise funds for care and comfort of hospital patients, residents of Cairnsmore Place and in support of other community health services.
“The Cowichan District Hospital Foundation appreciates our longstanding collaboration with the Auxiliary and their support on our big projects,” said Tracey Brown, the Foundation’s interim executive director. “Together we’re working towards better healthcare for Cowichan.”
Those wishing to volunteer with the Auxiliary to Cowichan District Hospital can ask for a membership application at the hospital’s gift shop, the HATS thrift store or through the group’s website at: cowichanhospitalauxiliary.com