Sudbury Hospital is using a new, cutting-edge technique that improves the precision and efficiency of breast cancer surgery.

The precise procedure uses new technology at Horizon Santé-Nord in Sudbury.

CIBC has committed half a million dollars to the HSN Foundation to support the acquisition of the MOLLI system. (Photo from video)

“It was a procedure that seemed very simple considering it was a serious procedure because they removed a tumor from my breast,” said Brenda Hong, the first HSN patient to undergo surgery using the MOLLI surgical localization system last December.

“It was very painless, quick and from my point of view it seemed very easy to use.”

A needle is inserted into the breast, then a small magnetic marker is implanted which then helps guide surgeons to the tumor or lesion.

“The marker that was inserted during the biopsy, along with the MOLLI, are removed because they are in the lesion…the cancer,” said Dr. Michele Brule, general surgeon at HSN.

“Everything is deleted together.”

Brule said the MOLLI technique improves the precision and efficiency of breast cancer surgery.

CIBC has committed half a million dollars to the HSN Foundation to support the acquisition of the MOLLI system.

“I have a probe that will tell me when I’m close to it,” she said.

“And he tells me exactly: ‘oh, you’re two centimeters away’ and there’s like a target… So that allows us to make a smaller incision. And there’s nothing sticking out of the patient. That don’t move.”

The marker may be inserted at a different time than surgery, Brule said.

Hong had done both on the same day, which made it easier since she was traveling to Sudbury from her home in Englehart.

She has advice for others.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said.

“It’s very simple, everyone takes very good care of you there. I was very happy.”

CIBC has committed half a million dollars to the HSN Foundation to support the acquisition of the MOLLI system.

The hospital said the technology would lead to better outcomes for more than 120 women who undergo breast biopsies here each year.