News
St. Luke’s Individualized Breast Screening Program garners national attention
April 19, 2016
St. Luke’s Women’s Imaging Expert Dr. Joseph Russo speaks at National Breast Conference in Las Vegas
Bethlehem, PA (4/19/2016) Moving away from the belief that mammography is a one-size-fits-all service, radiologist and women’s imaging specialist Joseph Russo, MD, continues to advocate locally, and nationally, for individualized breast screening. This time, the Section Chief of Women’s Imaging for
St. Luke’s University Health Network, spoke to a standing-room only crowd in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Addressing more than 500 health care providers and breast health advocates, Dr. Russo presented “Developing an Individualized Breast Cancer Screening Program” at the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCoBC) annual conference at a special meeting hosted by GE Healthcare.
“It was a great experience,” says Dr. Russo. “We received tremendous feedback about St. Luke’s innovative breast imaging program and how tailoring a breast screening to address each woman’s unique needs make all the sense in the world for patients. We have found that technologies such as Breast MRI, automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) or 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) can serve as an effective supplement to screening mammography. Effectively using breast screening tools can lead to a significant increase in cancer detection rate while reducing the need for a return visit or an unnecessary breast biopsy.”
In addition to advanced technologies and easy access to St. Luke’s Women’s Imaging Centers, St. Luke’s takes breast screening one step further by offering female patients an Individualized Breast Screening Program based on her family history, age and health.
“St. Luke’s uses one of the most comprehensive risk assessment tools available today, the Tyrer-Cuzick model,” says Dr. Russo. “The tool takes genetic and non-genetic risk factors into account to help us determine the most effective and efficient screening protocols for each patient. Personalized screening strategies and state-of-the-art technologies together are powerful weapons in the battle against breast cancer.”
During his trip, Dr. Russo also met privately with Nancy Cappello, PhD, founder of AreYouDense.org and an organizer of the powerful grassroots dense breast movement that has swept the nation, assisting with the passage of dense breast notification legislation in 26 states.
“Over 15 years ago, I attended the NCoBC as a breast imaging fellow and implemented much of what I learned at my first job with St. Luke’s,” says Dr. Russo. “It was so encouraging to see the nation’s breast centers now listening attentively to learn from the success we’ve had at St. Luke’s.”
For more information about St. Luke’s services or to find a physician, call St. Luke’s InfoLink toll-free at
1-866-STLUKES (785-8537) Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or email us anytime at Info.Link@sluhn.org.
Bethlehem, PA (4/19/2016) Moving away from the belief that mammography is a one-size-fits-all service, radiologist and women’s imaging specialist Joseph Russo, MD, continues to advocate locally, and nationally, for individualized breast screening. This time, the Section Chief of Women’s Imaging for
St. Luke’s University Health Network, spoke to a standing-room only crowd in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joseph Russo, MD
“It was a great experience,” says Dr. Russo. “We received tremendous feedback about St. Luke’s innovative breast imaging program and how tailoring a breast screening to address each woman’s unique needs make all the sense in the world for patients. We have found that technologies such as Breast MRI, automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) or 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) can serve as an effective supplement to screening mammography. Effectively using breast screening tools can lead to a significant increase in cancer detection rate while reducing the need for a return visit or an unnecessary breast biopsy.”
In addition to advanced technologies and easy access to St. Luke’s Women’s Imaging Centers, St. Luke’s takes breast screening one step further by offering female patients an Individualized Breast Screening Program based on her family history, age and health.
“St. Luke’s uses one of the most comprehensive risk assessment tools available today, the Tyrer-Cuzick model,” says Dr. Russo. “The tool takes genetic and non-genetic risk factors into account to help us determine the most effective and efficient screening protocols for each patient. Personalized screening strategies and state-of-the-art technologies together are powerful weapons in the battle against breast cancer.”
During his trip, Dr. Russo also met privately with Nancy Cappello, PhD, founder of AreYouDense.org and an organizer of the powerful grassroots dense breast movement that has swept the nation, assisting with the passage of dense breast notification legislation in 26 states.
“Over 15 years ago, I attended the NCoBC as a breast imaging fellow and implemented much of what I learned at my first job with St. Luke’s,” says Dr. Russo. “It was so encouraging to see the nation’s breast centers now listening attentively to learn from the success we’ve had at St. Luke’s.”
About St. Luke’s
St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a non-profit, regional, fully integrated, nationally recognized network providing services at six hospitals and more than 200 sites, primarily in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania and in Warren County, New Jersey.Media Contact:
Mariella B. Miller
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
St. Luke's University Health Network
484-526-4134
Mariella.Miller@sluhn.org
For more information about St. Luke’s services or to find a physician, call St. Luke’s InfoLink toll-free at
1-866-STLUKES (785-8537) Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or email us anytime at Info.Link@sluhn.org.
