The Division of Breast Surgery at NYU Langone was the first in New York City to utilize MarginProbe(r) for early stage breast cancer."
According to the post, the medical device uses "non-destructive radio-frequency spectroscopy technology . . . " This technology searches for random cancer cells on the margins of the first specimen removed (or even during removal). So if necessary, the surgeon can excise a bigger sample with clear margins before closing.
I realize that non-destructive is not quite the same as harmless, but I'm impressed by the possibility of avoiding second and third lumpectomy surgery. Surgery is never completely without risk.
To read the post, go to Internet Medicine.com, select category medical devices, type in lumpectomy and hit search.
Since I know more than one person whose first lumpectomy did not have clear margins, I was very interested in this article.
