discovery using bubbles to detect cancer
2009
A new discovery on the technique using tiny bubbles to detect cancer has been developed by clinicians at a hospital in Kent. Fifty-four patients were tested in the “microbubble” study at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
The results, which were published in the British Journal of Surgery, suggested that breast cancer patients could avoid repeat surgery. Dr Ali Sever, consultant radiologist, who led the study, said the tests transform the way they treat patients. He said: “This is a world first. The test only takes a few minutes to perform and has transformed the way we care for patients.”
Basically, while undergoing surgery to remove breast cancer, surgeons routinely recommend that patients also have an operation to remove glands in their armpit to check if they are cancerous. It is found during the operation with the aid of a coloured dye and is removed for testing. If the nodes are found to be cancerous a second operation is required to remove all the remaining glands in the armpit.
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