LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Tribal Health Consortium celebrated the one year anniversary of its pediatrics and obstetrics clinic by giving back to the community.

Tribal Health donated $50,000 to the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation to support the installation of a General Electric SenoClaire 3D Breast Tomosynthesis mammography unit in SLH’s mammography suite.

The GE mammography unit leads the industry in cancer detection by taking 3D images of breast tissue, allowing radiologists to see tissue calcification before it spreads, as well as determine when an image is a false positive.

“Having lost my mother to breast cancer a year ago, I personally know the importance of screening and early detection,” said Ernesto Padilla, executive director, Lake County Tribal Health Consortium. “Tribal Health has made it a priority to screen our female patients for breast cancer since Native American women have a higher cancer mortality rate than women of other ethnicities.

“I am fortunate to work for a progressive and generous Board of Directors who know that Lake County cannot grow as a community without helping our neighbors,” said Padilla. “Our partnership with Sutter Lakeside is an important piece of the puzzle as we strive to build a comprehensive medical home for our patients, providing access to the best primary, specialty, and technologically advanced care without leaving Lake County.”

Cancer rates in Lake County are significantly higher than the state average, while county screening rates are lower.

Breast cancer, which accounts for one in three cancers in women, killed more than 40,000 women in the United States in 2014.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Early diagnosis and immediate treatment are vital to winning the fight against the disease.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital, which began fundraising for a 3D mammography unit in 2015, will begin construction as soon as possible.

The project is part of a match-grant campaign in conjunction with Sutter Health, which will double the funds raised by the community.

“We are so grateful for Tribal Health’s support,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Their incredible generosity allows us to bring 3D mammography to Lake County sooner than planned. It is because of community partners like them that we can fulfill our commitment to excellence in health care.”

In addition, the GE SenoClaire unit will allow for diagnostic biopsy, a service that is currently unavailable.