CAMC surgeons are the first in West Virginia to offer groundbreaking techniques that could spare breast cancer patients unnecessary surgeries.
For patients with early-stage cancer, the likelihood of cancer having spread to other parts of the body can be low.
Delayed sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure that allows surgeons to more accurately diagnose when patients with early-stage cancer undergoing mastectomy need their lymph nodes removed. CAMC is the first hospital in West Virginia to offer the procedure.
Delayed sentinel node biopsy provides an opportunity for up to 80% of early-stage cancer patients to protect lymph nodes that do not need to be removed.
The innovative procedure can only be performed with Magtrace® lymphatic tracer, a non-radioactive, single-injection liquid that helps determine if cancer has spread. After injecting the liquid in the breast, it moves to the sentinel lymph nodes (located in the armpit, the most common location for cancer that has spread), and remains there for up to 30 days, allowing surgeons enough time for pathology results to return before deciding whether additional surgery is necessary. If no invasive cancer is detected, there’s no need to undergo additional surgery, thereby decreasing time spent in the hospital and the patient’s anxiety.
For breast conservation surgeries, CAMC has introduced the Magseed® marker to advance the standard of care for lesion localizations. Magseed replaces the need for a traditional wire to be placed in the breast noting where the tumor is located. By implanting a seed weeks or even months ahead of surgery, patients don’t have to undergo an additional procedure on the day of surgery as was the case with the older wire technology.
Magseed is a tiny magnetic seed measuring smaller than a grain of rice. Magseed can be injected into the tumor and gives off a signal, without any side effects, to pinpoint the location of the cancer. The tumor is removed through minimally invasive surgery, resulting in a small incision and quicker recovery.
“Magseed helps surgeons avoid needle localizations, which can be burdensome,” said Jade Gallimore, DO. “Magtrace is a dual tracer, so it meets standard of care with only one injection.”
Gallimore and Yancy Short, MD, both offer Magtrace and Magseed.
CAMC is proud to offer patients access to these innovative techniques that are improving the standard of breast cancer care in West Virginia.