Hundreds of WA women are taking part in a trial of radioactive seeds that guide surgeons to “silent” breast cancers.
Doctors believe the seeds — rice grain-sized pellets — could more accurately pinpoint small cancers that surgeons cannot feel, compared with standard hook-wire guides.
It could spare women having cancer left behind and needing several operations. Known as the ROLLIS trial, the surgical technique uses tiny low-dose radioactive seeds to locate and remove breast cancer, while ensuring enough margin is left.
In the trial at Royal Perth, Fiona Stanley and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals, 650 women are having either the conventional hook-wire technique or the new radioactive-guided procedure.
The final stage of the trial is being funded by the Ladybird Foundation, a new WA group supporting WA-based breast and gynaecological cancer research.
Read more at WA trial to find silent cancers – The West Australian
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