The Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation has awarded a $2.75 million grant to the Carol Milgard Breast Center in Tacoma to provide tomosynthesis, also known as 3-D mammography, to aid in the early detection of breast cancer, officials announced Thursday. Six new tomo units will be phased in later this year, making the center the first in Pierce County to offer this technology.

“We are deeply honored by the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation’s continued commitment to the breast center,” said Khai Tran, M.D., medical director of the Carol Milgard Breast Center. “As a center dedicated solely to breast imaging and the early detection of breast cancer, we are thrilled that the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation’s gift will allow us to become the first in Pierce County to offer patients access to this revolutionary technology. Fewer patients will be called back for additional imaging because tomosynthesis allows the radiologist to see the breast tissue much more clearly.”

According to Dr. Tran, tomosynthesis, or tomo, is one of the most advanced technologies available today for early detection of breast cancer. It detects more cancers and saves lives, and reduces the number of call-backs, sparing patients the anxiety, inconvenience, and expense of coming back for additional exams and procedures.

The Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the breast center. The foundation provided a major gift of $5 million to establish the center, which opened in February 2009 as a leader in breast imaging. The center is named to honor the spirit of Carol Milgard, who formed the foundation in 2000 with her husband Gary and three children. Carol was a long-time Tacoma resident, philanthropist and breast cancer survivor.

More information is available online at carolmilgardbreastcenter.org.