FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2023
Summerside, PE In 2022 the Prince County Hospital welcomed a new, state of the art, Digital Mammography Unit in the Diagnostic Imaging Department. At an overall cost of $600,000, the new and improved technology was the key focus of the Foundation’s campaign and the advancements it offered would be a boon for patients seeking this critical service. The previous Mammography Unit was the first of its kind on PEI, having been put into service at PCH in 2009. Over the course of its lifespan, it provided breast images for over 60,000 patients.
Part way into the 2021 fundraising year, and with Digital Mammography the centre of attention, Ms. Mary-Jean Irving and the team at Master Packaging came forward with a significant gift of $500,000 fulfilling the balance of funding needed to purchase the new unit. “We certainly benefit from the generosity of many people during our annual campaigns, but to receive such a gift all at one is a rare occurrence,” said Heather Matheson, Foundation’s Managing Director. “Ms. Irving has been a longtime friend of the Foundation and notably a generous advocate for ensuring essential breast health equipment is readily available on PEI, giving patients their very best chance at fighting cancer.”
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women. It doesn’t only impact their lives, it also affects the lives of their spouses and children,” said
Mary-Jean Irving, CEO of Master Packaging. “I am a breast cancer survivor, and many of our employees know someone who is dealing with or has survived this disease. We all want to ensure the women of Prince Edward Island have access to the best breast care possible and this new technology will greatly assist with earlier detection. The Master Packaging team is very proud to assist families in our community through this important donation.”
The new machine, now in place and serving patients at PCH, features an advancement called Tomosynthesis or “3D” mammography. This process is best explained as 2D and 3D-like images of the breast thus improving the ability for early detection of breast cancers and decreasing the number of women “called back” for additional scans. “The new Mammography unit gives us better quality images,” say PCH Medical Radiation TechnoIogists (Mammography) Amy Hansen and Sherry Ringuette. “The machine is more ergonomically friendly for both patients and staff, with rounded edges and more tools to help accommodate every body type. We have received a lot of positive feedback from patients!”
“We wish to extend our deepest thanks to Ms. Irving and the team at Master Packaging for giving hope to so many patients from across Prince Edward Island,” adds Matheson. “We are extremely grateful for this leadership gift and for her steadfast commitment of PCH through the years including her faithful support through Warren Ellis and the Grass Roots & Cowboy Boots fundraising event.”
Photo: CEO Mary-Jean Irving, centre, is joined by employees from the Master Packaging plant in Borden where the donation was formally presented. From left are Harleen Kaur, Noelle Gallant, Darlene DeMerchant, Karley Bernard and Executive Assistant, Linda Nowlan.
