Dorset County Hospital breast cancer surgeons pioneer new technique (From Thisisdorset)

Dorset County Hospital breast cancer surgeons pioneer new technique

10:00am Sunday 2nd December 2012 in Latest By Rachel Stretton

WOMEN undergoing treatment for breast cancer at Dorset County Hospital are to benefit from a cutting-edge technique.

Consultant breast surgeon Tomasz Graja and his team, pictured, have introduced the sentinel lymph biopsy procedure at the hospital in Dorchester, which will help them to choose the most suitable treatment for their patients.

Mr Graja said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our patients this advanced technique.

“The dual method gives us a much higher detection rate than the traditional method, which allows us to tailor the treatment for each patient, and avoid unnecessary procedures.

“It would not have been possible to introduce this method without the efforts of many people working in various hospital departments.

“It has been a real team effort and I would like to thank everyone involved.”

Using the technique, doctors are able to detect, with 96 per cent accuracy, whether the cancer has spread to a sufferer’s lymph nodes.

At the same time as the main breast surgery, doctors can perform the biopsy, which involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material and a blue dye into the breast to identify the first node to receive lymph fluid from the cancer.

This node can then be removed and examined.

“If no cancer cells are present, other nodes are likely to be clear as well, meaning no more have to be removed.

The technique replaces a procedure where blue dye was used on its own, and doctors say the mild radioactive fluid used in the new biopsy will give significantly higher accuracy.