As the mammography technician at the Memorial Hospital of Salem County for the last 43 years, she is constantly encouraging women to get their yearly mammogram.
Lisa Bye found herself in the middle of one of those hectic Mondays earlier this week, the kind where you're so busy you barely have a moment to catch your breath.
And that's exactly the way she likes it.
October is always a special time of year for Bye, even though it means an increased workload. As the mammography technician at the Memorial Hospital of Salem County for the last 43 years, she is constantly encouraging women to get their yearly mammogram.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month seems to be when most people heed the advice.
"I love being busy," Bye said. "You want everyone to be aware, because it can save their life. If you get your regular screenings and go to your doctor, you should be good. But there are just so many people who don't do that. They're scared of what they're going to find."
They're scared
Although death rates for breast cancer have been decreasing since 1989, more than 40,000 women in the U.S. are still expected to die from the disease this year, according to BreastCancer.org. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in American women, other than skin cancer.
The alarming numbers have led to much better awareness since the early 1970s, when Bye started working at the hospital. While she still thinks there is work to be done, she is happy to see early detection becoming a priority for many women.
"There's a lot more awareness now, especially with people who have a family history of breast cancer," said the Pennsville resident. "People are getting their mammograms earlier because they're scared about what happened to their mother or aunt.
"People are always doing the walks now. I saw people doing a bike (race) the other day ... and they had these funny pink hats on. I think the whole world is more aware of it now."
Bye knew from a young age that she wanted to be involved in health care. She volunteered at a hospital as a teenager, and after graduating from high school, she decided to enroll in a two-year mammography program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Upon completing the program, she found out about the position at Memorial Hospital from a friend of a friend.
"I went for an interview, I got the job and I never left," Bye said. "I tell everyone, 'Boobs are my business.' People laugh at that."
The best thing since sliced bread
She estimates that she's worked under seven or eight CEOs and six radiology managers during her time at the hospital. She's also worked with three different mammography machines, including the current digital version that was added in 2009.
"This digital machine is the best thing since sliced bread," Bye said. "It's wonderful. It's just like a digital camera; you see the picture instantly.
"I can do a patient now in about five minutes, so when I have a walk-in I can never say no. The people drive all the way here, how can I say no just because they don't have an appointment?"
The latest technology is 3D mammography, also known as breast tomosynthesis. Bye is hopeful of adding a 3D machine to the hospital in the near future.
"It detects more cancers and you can see a series of images," she said. "It allows you to see the layers of fat in the breast, and more insurance (plans) are starting to pay for it."
Regardless of when that happens, Bye will continue to be the same calming presence for women going through a difficult process. Since she's been in the position so long, she's developed meaningful relationships with many local patients.
"Oh yeah, they know me," Bye said. "I hate to say this, but I have patients who only want to see me, because I've seen them year after year. People get used to you. You have to be very kind and patient, because patients are usually pretty scared."
Catch it early
Even though Bye realizes how nervous women can be to get a mammogram, she knows how crucial early detection is. She advises women to conduct a self-exam once a month and see their doctor every year for a breast exam. Between 40 and 50, they should be getting a mammogram every other year, and after 50, it should be done yearly.
She keeps up with her own mammograms, especially since she has a family history of the disease.
"I'm very aware of it since my own mother had breast cancer," Bye said. "I get my mammograms and I bug my sister and my friends to get theirs, and everybody around the hospital.
"One out of eight women get breast cancer, and (many) of them have no family history. Just because you have no family history doesn't mean you can't get breast cancer. The ones who receive their regular screenings, we can get earlier detection. Mammography can pick it up before you feel it, and that's when you want to catch it."
South Jersey Times may be reached at sjnews@njadvancemedia.com. Follow us on Twitter @theSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.