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Deer River HealthCare Center offers new
breast cancer detection and treatment technique
Deer River HealthCare Center offers women with breast cancer a new surgical technique that can predict whether cancer has spread into the surrounding lymph nodes. The sentinel lymph node biopsy requires the removal of only one to three lymph nodes. Traditional lymph node operations would require nearly complete removal of the axillary lymph nodes (10-30 nodes).
Dr. Daniel Margo, Itasca Surgical Clinic, offers this new technique that greatly reduces the swelling and pain often associated with complete removal of all lymph nodes and provides a highly accurate diagnosis. "This is an exciting breakthrough in surgery," said Margo. "This minimally invasive procedure allows patients a chance to avoid the complications and side effects associated with a traditional axillary lymph node removal."
The sentinel lymph node biopsy is most accurate when a combination of a dye and a tracer are used. This combination technique is now considered the "standard of care" for staging breast cancer at many major cancer centers, including the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. Deer River HealthCare Center is the only Center in Itasca County that uses this combination technique for sentinel node biopsies. Dr. Margo adds that "This dual agent technique is by far the best way to accurately identify the sentinel node. The Deer River HealthCare Center is truly declaring itself as our regional community leader in minimally invasive technologies".
The advantages to the sentinel lymph node procedure are many. There is no need to stay overnight in the hospital. There is no need for a drain or physical therapy exercises. Recuperation from the procedure is much faster. The functioning, healthy lymph nodes can be left intact.
A sentinel node biopsy can lead to a more accurate assessment of whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. In a traditional axillary dissection, the pathologist receives a large number of lymph nodes and there is no way of determining which one is the sentinel node. The pathologist makes one cut in each lymph node and looks for cancer.
When receiving one or a few lymph nodes from a sentinel node procedure, the pathologist can make many cuts through that lymph node to look for cancer. A negative sentinel lymph node biopsy indicates a 98% chance that the remaining lymph nodes are also cancer free. Therefore there is no need to undergo a full axillary lymph node dissection, or to risk the long term complications and side effects from an axillary dissection.
Dr. Margo is a board certified surgeon providing care at the Deer River HealthCare Center. He has a special interest in breast cancer and minimally invasive surgical technologies. Dr. Margo is the only local surgeon trained and privileged to provide this dual agent lymph node technique.
Deer River HealthCare Center offers a comprehensive breast cancer surgical program. If you want more information about some of the latest diagnostic tools and surgical options including the sentinel node biopsy, talk to your doctor or call Deer River HealthCare Center at 218-246-3006.
ABOUT DEER RIVER HEALTHCARE CENTER
Deer River HealthCare Center, Inc. (DRHC) is a non-profit community owned and operated comprehensive health care campus. Located in Deer River, Minnesota, with a service area consisting of a 50-mile radius, the staff of over 200 health care workers offers area residents a wide range of high-quality health care services - in one convenient location. Deer River HealthCare Center is committed to providing quality, compassionate health care for life.
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