(Photo supplied by St. Francis Memorial Hospital)
St. Francis Memorial Hospital recently welcomed a familiar face to mark an important milestone for the Barry’s Bay facility.
SFMH’s new state-of-the-art mammography unit officially welcomed former nurse examiner Marie Villeneuve as its first-ever patient in June, the end result of a $336,000 fundraising campaign to replace aging equipment and reduce potential downtime that began in 2024.
Villeneuve herself worked in the hospital’s mammography unit for many years, guiding women through breast health education and performing clinical breast exams.
“We saw up to 20 women a day. Women came from all over because they knew they could receive this service close to home,” Marie recalled. “It wasn’t just about doing the exam. It was about teaching patients, helping them understand their bodies, and making them feel comfortable.”
After retiring in 2017, Villeneuve continued to receive regular mammograms until a routine screening just five months later. Despite catching it early, she still underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Her annual checkup looked much different this year; the hospital says their new machine provides exceptionally clear images, which will help radiologists detect abnormalities more effectively and potentially reduce the need for some patients to travel outside the community for follow-up imaging.
“Since introducing our new mammography system, patients have consistently told us that the experience feels more comfortable and less stressful,” said Amanda Dumas, Charge Technologist, Diagnostic Imaging at St. Francis Memorial Hospital. “The machine’s ergonomic design, soothing environment, and efficient imaging help create a better experience from start to finish.”
For Marie, who spent years encouraging women to prioritize routine screening before becoming a patient herself, seeing this new technology in action is deeply meaningful.
“It saves lives.”
(written by Kasey Egan)
