A diagnosis of cancer brings fear. With younger and younger women told they have breast cancer, it's happening more often. But the good news is cancer is being caught earlier and treatment is starting sooner.

Dr. Jeffrey Allard is a radiologist at Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer. It's his job to catch breast cancer.

Dr. Allard says, "Breast cancer is fairly common unfortunately. Just in the past week, I've seen 3 cases and we're a small hospital."

Common but doctors are finding it earlier by using technology to catch cancer before it grows.

Dr. Allard says, "This is 1.7 cm which is about half an inch. Which is still fairly early for a breat diagnosis. In the past, most cancers were over an inch."

Finding it before you can feel it, means a better outcome for patients. About 3 years ago, Wing Memorial went digital allowing doctors to find abnormalities on mammograms easier. And letting a team of doctors have a clear view of what they're tackling with the patient.

Dr. Daniyal Siddiqui says, "They're obviously frightened. They're scared."

Dr. Siddiqui is an oncologist and works down the hall from Dr. Allard. Both are part of team who helps plan a patient's treatment.

Dr. Siddiqui says, "There's not a cookbook approach anymore."

Rather the recipe for treatment is individual and can include many ingredients.

Dr. Siddiqui says it can be overwhelming for patients. He says, "That's why we in the first couple of meetings ease their worries and questions and concerns. We go over in detail."

The doctor says it takes a week or two to come up with plan. With one in place and early diagnosis, helped by these digital mammograms, doctors are helping women survive.

Dr. Siddiqui says, "When we are talking about early stage cancer, we're basically curing them. The long term survival rate is 90 to 95 percent"