NEW technology to improve the outcome and experience for breast cancer patients has been introduced at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, thanks to a £70,000 grant.

The bursary is from West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, a range of organisations involved in caring for and supporting those affected by cancer, and the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network, an NHSE body set up to meet the healthcare challenges of local populations.

‘Magseed’ is a tiny, magnetic marker which is designed to accurately mark the tumour site to enable more precise surgery.

Mohamed Salhab, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and Clinical Lead, said: “While some breast tumours are easy to feel, many are not, especially the ones detected through breast screening as they can be tiny or hidden deep inside the breast tissue and when operating are not visible to the human eye.

“Traditionally, as preparation for surgery, the standard surgical treatment over the years for patients with screen-detected cancer that cannot be felt by hand, has been dependant on a wire localisation.”

The insertion of the wire is not straightforward as the wire is placed into the patient at St Luke’s Hospital, where the equipment is based, on the morning of the operation.

The surgery is carried out in the afternoon at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, or latterly the Yorkshire Clinic because of the Covid-19 pandemic, where the operating theatres are based.

The wire can be uncomfortable for patients and during transfer of patients between hospitals, it can become dislodged, meaning that surgery can be less accurate, resulting in some facing a second operation and further anxiety.

But ‘Magseed’ will revolutionise this process. The wire-free alternative sees a small non-radioactive seed, smaller than a grain of rice, placed into the patient’s breast up to a month ahead of surgery.

The procedure takes just 5-10 minutes and more accurately marks the site of a tumour compared to the wire localisation.

Mr Salhab said it will “transform” the hospital experience for those who have to have lumpectomies.

He said: “’Magseed’ leads to greater accuracy in pinpointing the tumour and less of the breast tissue needs to be removed during surgery which leads a better cosmetic outcome for the patient.”

During the operation, another procedure to inject a non-radioactive tracer, known as ‘Magtrace’ is also used to further pinpoint accurately the first draining lymph nodes most likely to contain cancer to help the surgeon determine if it has spread.

Chief Medical Officer, Ray Smith, said the Trust was “absolutely delighted” to get the bursary.