Typically, the removal of small breast cancer tumors requires a procedure known as breast needle localization, whereby a radiologist puts a fine-wire needle into the patient's breast in order to map the location of the tumor. The wire stays there for several hours and is used by surgeons to guide them during a later biopsy or lumpectomy.
However, a new procedure being implemented at cancer centers such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering is removing this uncomfortable step from the process of removing those small tumors and improving patient experiences along the way.
The procedure is called radioactive seed localization. Breast radiologists inject small, sealed radioactive sources or seeds into the breast to mark the precise location of the tumor.
A surgeon can then use handheld radiation detectors to find the seed and therefore the tumor, allowing for a quicker process. After the tumor is removed, the seed is removed as well, meaning no radioactivity stays in the body.
The seed can be injected a week or more before the surgical procedure, whereas the wire must be inserted and remain in place sometimes for several hours, and the surgery must be performed on the same day.
Says Monica Morrow of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, "Seed localization has improved our patients’ experience by allowing them to go directly to the operating room – bypassing the need for breast needle localization – on the day of their lumpectomy. It is more convenient because it avoids the need for a wire in the breast for several hours, which many patients find uncomfortable.”
Source: MSKCC
The information provided on CancerTreatment.net is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational purposes and does not constitute the practice of medicine. We encourage all visitors to see a licensed physician or nutritionist if they have any concerns regarding health issues related to diet, personal image and any other topics discussed on this site. Neither the owners or employees of CancerTreatment.net nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
