The Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer has adopted new technology for breast cancer surgery.
The Royal Victoria Regional health centre has put the MOLLI device into service. Hospital officials say the technology allows greater precision, allows flexibility and efficiency in scheduling surgery, and is easy for surgeons to learn.
RVH is the first Canadian regional health centre to implement the new technology.
According to Dr. Renee Hanrahan, a Canadian leader in oncologic and oncoplastic/reconstructive breast surgery at RVH, MOLLI has many benefits that make it an excellent choice for operating rooms anywhere – from academic centres in large cities to community hospitals in smaller regions.
“First, we know that about 80 per cent of breast cancer surgeries are performed outside of academic centres and take place mainly in health centres like ours. Having a technology that is easy to implement and inherently easy to learn makes it simpler and faster for surgeons to incorporate it into practice,” said Dr. Hanrahan.
“This is a great benefit for women as it allows for convenient timing of marker placement when it best suits our patients,” says Dr. Drew Schemmer, Medical Director/Chief of Medical Imaging at RVH. “The surgeons are able to determine the most aesthetically pleasing approach to remove the target within 30 days of their surgery.”
MOLLI gives surgeons more flexibility to make incisions where they want to reduce visible scars. Being wire-free without radioactive technology also means hospitals avoid expensive equipment and extensive safety regulations around radiation and disposal protocols, making MOLLI accessible to smaller regional health centres as well as large urban ones.