Breast Cancer Awareness: Technologies Help Doctors Find Cancer Earlier

Early Detection is the key to curing cancer.

And technology makes it possible for doctors to find breast cancer years before it can be felt.

As we continue our series on breast cancer awareness we examine some of the devices helping to save lives.

Marilyn Taylor, Cancer Survivor, "I just never thought I'd be sick. Never had been."

Just a year after being diagnosed with breast cancer, 57 year old Marilyn Taylor can stop and smell the flowers.

Dr. John Nelson, Radiologist, "The wonderful news about Marilyn's case is that her cancer was caught so early, really before it had a chance to spread."

Dr. John Nelson found the cancer during a routine mammogram.

Marilyn has gotten one every year since age 40.

Marilyn, "Just because I'm told to. I really never thought I had a risk. I never really, every time I come I just come thinking well that's one more thing I have to do."

Digital mammography gets the credit for the early detection.

Doctors say the technology might just have saved Marilyn's life.

Marilyn, "If I'd had this when they had the analog equipment it might not have been found until much later."

Digital mammography has several advantages over the analog technique.

It's faster.

You can do a full exam in a little over a minute.

Safer since it exposes the patient to less radiation.

And doctors can see the breast much more clearly.

Dr. Nelson, "The ability to detect the difference between the grayness and the fat in the breast and the whiteness of a tumor is greater on the digital."

And getting a detailed look is just a mouse click away.

Dr. Nelson, "We can simply apply an electronic magnifying glass. We can go around look for real subtle changes in the breast. "Dr. Brooke Daniel, Oncologist, "As we screen down this is kind of going from the head to the chest down you can see she starts developing a mass right here."

MRIs provide another more sensitive tool for finding breast cancer.

Dr. Brooke Daniel, "For women who're at higher risk for developing breast cancer, MRIs may be the best approach to catch things early."

Ultrasound also gives doctors a closer look.

And Doctors say that's the key to curing or controlling cancer.

Dr. Daniel, "Sometimes people feel if I don't look, I'll never find it but it's important to find something early because you can save yourself. You can cure yourself and make sure you never have to develop a late stage breast cancer."

Marilyn's glad she looked.

It gave her a second chance for the important things in life.

After detection comes treatment.

We'll have more on that part of the fight as our series continues.