The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp., a proud partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, announced the successful completion of a Local Share Account grant project on behalf of the St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus.

Funded through a $150,000 grant, women in Carbon County facing breast cancer will now have greater access to advanced, less invasive treatment options. The funding was used to purchase the Savi Scout and Trident Faxitron systems, cutting-edge technologies that will replace older, more painful procedures and dramatically improve patient comfort and outcomes.

At the time of the grant application, St. Luke’s had seen a 27% increase in mammography services and a 57% increase in guided biopsies and only had the option to provide needle localization placement for breast cancer surgery patients, which was an invasive and painful procedure that is less patient-friendly than the advanced technology now in place. The Savi Scout system allows for a marker to be placed in breast tissue and located later during surgery with precision, eliminating the immediate and uncomfortable scheduling constraints of traditional needle localization.

The Trident Faxitron enables instant imaging of surgical samples in the operating room, ensuring accuracy and reducing the risk of infection.

“This investment will have a direct, lifesaving impact on the women of Carbon County,” said Kylie Adams-Weiss, senior vice president of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. “As 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, chances are that we all know of at least one person who has been personally affected by breast cancer.

Access to advanced equipment like the Savi Scout and Faxitron means patients and loved ones can receive world-class care close to home, surrounded by their support systems. It not only improves health outcomes but strengthens our entire community.