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on 9/30/2025
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BLOGS from St. Anthony
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, accounting for approximately 30% of all new female cancers each year. Roughly 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. But even with a diagnosis, there is hope. When detected in its earliest, most localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 99%.
“Advances in detection and treatment [of breast cancer] have significantly increased survival rates,” says Madison Haberl, R.T.(R), director of imaging services for St. Anthony Regional Hospital. “Today, there are more than four million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. At St. Anthony, we want patients to feel safe and supported throughout their journey. We pride ourselves on building long-term relationships with patients so that when they return for their [breast cancer screenings] each year, they’ll see familiar, caring faces.”
That commitment to ongoing care is what encourages early detection. When patients feel supported and comfortable in returning for routine screenings each year, it increases the chances of catching breast cancer in its earliest stages. For those seeking this type of compassionate care during their annual breast cancer screenings, St. Anthony has you covered. Just ask Carroll native and Arcadia resident Kristin Vonnahme.
Compassionate Care Close To Home
Finding out that St. Anthony now offers advanced breast cancer screening in her own community was a pleasant surprise for Kristin Vonnahme. She joined the St. Anthony team as a payroll coordinator in 2019, years before breast MRIs became available at the hospital in 2024. It wasn’t until a gentle nudge from a colleague that she learned she could now schedule her annual breast screening just a few floors down from her office.
“I found out that St. Anthony started offering breast MRIs when I went to my boss to ask her for the day off to go to Ames to have this done,” says Vonnahme. “She informed me that we offered this here at St. Anthony, so I reached out to my doctor and asked them to switch my appointment to St. Anthony, which they happily did. I was so happy I didn’t have to make that drive and wouldn’t have to miss that much work.”
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| Kristin Vonnahme, payroll coordinator for St. Anthony |
Typically, Vonnahme would be directed to schedule screenings at a hospital in Ames. She found it time-consuming to take off work and get to and from Ames once a year, but it was an important health care decision she made after her two sisters and mother were all diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I will never forget my first day working at St. Anthony. It was Monday, April 22, 2019, the day my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and her 42nd birthday,” says Vonnahme. “We had been anxiously awaiting the biopsy results all weekend and all day Monday. I started my day, went through orientation, got settled into my new office and then got the text message confirming our worst fear. … Then, in 2020, my sister Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer after having her first mammogram at the age of 40. … In 2021, Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In three years, three of my favorite people were diagnosed with breast cancer, and each one had their own path and treatment, and none of them carry the BRCA gene.”
Because of her family history, Vonnahme began screening earlier than most women, starting at age 35. During her first mammogram, she also discovered she had Category D dense breast tissue. That meant she would need two screenings each year: a breast MRI, followed by a mammogram six months later.
Fortunately, since 2024, both services are now available at St. Anthony’s main hospital in Carroll. Since transitioning her care, Vonnahme has saved time, money and stress. With flexible appointment times, she’s able to schedule screenings early in the morning, allowing her to head straight to the office after so she misses minimal time at work. As for wait times, Vonnahme notes she didn’t even have to wait a week before getting in for an appointment.
Going The Extra Mile
Beyond MRIs and mammograms for early detection, St. Anthony offers a full range of imaging services, including ultrasounds, DEXA, nuclear medicine, CT, general X-rays and — coming in 2026 — PET/CT scans. The hospital prioritizes using the latest imaging technology to deliver fast and accurate results. Just as important, patients benefit from the expertise of St. Anthony’s skilled imaging professionals, who are dedicated to making every visit as seamless and stress-free as possible.
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| Madison Haberl, R.T.(R), director of imaging services for St. Anthony |
“Our mission is to provide quality care across every imaging modality we offer,” says Haberl. “We pride ourselves on making sure each patient feels comfortable and receives the best possible imaging experience.”
As director of imaging services, Haberl ensures exemplary care for patients and that the hospital’s technologists have the tools and support they need. And the St. Anthony imaging services team is nothing short of compassionate.
“The care I received was amazing,” says Vonnahme. “Leisha [Grindle] and Jenna [Thelen] helped me during my MRI. They both made me feel very comfortable, at ease, and everything went so smooth. We are so lucky to have this available at St. Anthony along with an amazing staff!”
Grindle and Thelen are both MRI techs for St. Anthony. The full breast imaging team includes:
- Madison Haberl, R.T.(R), director of imaging services
- Leisha Grindle, R.T.(R)(MR), MRI tech
- Jenna Thelen, R.T.(R)(MR)(CT), MRI tech
- Emma Pitt, R.T.(R), MRI tech
- Amber Schwarte, R.T.(R)(M), mammo tech
- Sydney Klein, R.T.(R)(M)(CT), mammo tech
- Renee Hackfort, R.T.(R)(CMNT), mammo tech, nuclear medicine tech
- Mindi Nees, R.T.(R)(M), mammo tech
- Eliza Cadwell, (ARDMS)(RVT), ultrasound tech
- Amber Nieland, R.T.(R)(ARDMS)(RVT), ultrasound tech
- Jessica Vu, (ARDMS), ultrasound tech
- Katelyn Simmons, (ARDMS)(RVT), ultrasound tech
Pictured left to right: Sydney Klein RT(R)(M)(CT); Renee Hackfort RT(R), CNMT; and Amber Schwarte RT(R)(M).
For many patients, personalized care makes all the difference. Having a hospital close to home offers not only the convenience of proximity but also the reassurance of being cared for by a familiar team. At every St. Anthony facility, compassionate care is a top priority, and the imaging services team is dedicated to ensuring patients feel comfortable and supported throughout the breast cancer screening process.
“Each year, I feel nervous about my mammogram and breast MRI because of my family history,” says Vonnahme. “But thanks to the supportive staff at St. Anthony, I feel more at ease. I know that early detection is the best defense, and their care helps me face each screening with confidence. Always check with St. Anthony to see if it’s something you can have done here before reaching out to other hospitals.”
Don’t Hesitate — Schedule Your Screening Today!
Throughout October, St. Anthony is offering mammograms five days a week, with extended hours Wednesdays until 6 p.m. for patients who are unable to come during normal business hours. Those who come to St. Anthony for their screenings will receive a little gift for their commitment to early screening.
“Each year, we provide small tokens of appreciation for patients following their screening,” says Haberl. “This year, we’ll be giving out pink pizza cutters and pocket calendars.”
She reminds patients who are on the fence about their annual screenings that early detection saves lives.
“Please schedule your annual mammogram and be mindful of your family history of breast cancer. The sooner it’s detected, the better the chances for successful treatment and survival,” she stresses.
And for those who receive the unimaginable news following their screening, they’re never alone. Patients can lean on the St. Anthony Regional Cancer Center for the next step in their journey, with the same expert, compassionate care across all service lines — from radiation and chemotherapy to surgery oncology treatment, support resources and more.
No matter your story or journey, St. Anthony is here for you. Schedule your breast cancer screening today by calling 712-792-5202. To connect with St. Anthony Cancer Center, call 712-794-5265.