Regional-first for breast cancer care

For the first time in regional Australia, breast cancer patients can access the benefits of a leading radar technology that improves treatment outcomes.

Baringa Private Hospital in Coffs Harbour on New South Wales' mid-north coast is the first healthcare facility outside a major city to offer the SCOUT system for tumour location and removal.

"This system reduces the number of procedures a patient will go through on the day of their surgery," Baringa Private Hospital CEO Jo Brown said.

"I'm so pleased to be able to offer the local community access to this technology, which was previously only available in large metropolitan cities."

The SCOUT system, first used in Australia in Melbourne in 2021, helps a surgeon precisely locate tumours during surgery by using a tiny reflector device – the size of a grain of rice – which replaces a traditional, wired approach.

Dr Shehnarz Salindera, who provides outpatient consultations from Coffs Harbour Breast Clinic, said it was "very exciting" to offer the regional community the latest technology in breast cancer care at Baringa Private Hospital.

"The SCOUT system is designed to make breast cancer surgery more accurate and result in less unnecessary tissue loss during lumpectomy," she said.

Read more: New radar reduces breast cancer patients' stress

Read more: Early diagnosis for breast cancer complication

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