Regional Imaging officially launched its $400,000 machine yesterday to coincide with the final week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Women’s imaging specialist Dr Nalini Bhola said the Fujifilm Amulet Innovality mammography unit reduced the number of false positives and helped doctors pick up hidden cancers.

“We have seen a few cases where women have had concerning lesions that have not been picked up on the 2D machines,” she said.

“We find it easier using the 3D technology and we are picking up those cancers that we wouldn’t otherwise.”

Dr Bhola said being able to detect smaller cancers meant the disease was caught earlier.

“Therefore we can improve survival for everyone,” she said.

Dr Bhola said although the 3D technology took more images and radiation was a concern for many patients, the radiation was lower than that given by the 2D machine.

She said the new technology worked much the same as the 2D machine but instead took an arc of photos from slices through the breast rather than just capturing images from the top, bottom and sides.

“It is a fantastic technology that is being embraced around the world and women in this region are well served having it available,” she said.

To support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, $10 from every mammogram will go to the McGrath Foundation.