Breast care 'revolution' arrives in Shoalhaven

Advanced breast cancer care is now available to patients in Shoalhaven on New South Wales' south coast.

Nowra Private Hospital has invested in the region's first SCOUT Radar Localisation system, designed to improve surgical outcomes and recovery times.

The advanced radar technology helps surgeons precisely locate and remove breast tumours, meaning fewer surgeries for patients and better cosmetic results.

"This technology is revolutionising how we approach breast cancer surgery," said Dr Steven Craig, an endocrine surgeon and surgical oncologist at the Ramsay Health Care facility.

"The SCOUT system was designed to provide surgeons with pinpoint accuracy to locate small and non-palpable tumours, reducing the amount of normal breast tissue removed during the procedure and facilitating a more personalised approach to breast-conserving surgery."

Unlike traditional localisation, which requires a wire to be inserted shortly before surgery, the SCOUT system uses a tiny reflector – about the size of a grain of rice – put into the breast days or weeks in advance.

A probe detects the reflector with millimetre accuracy during the procedure, guiding the surgeon directly to the tumour.

As well as improving the patient's comfort and reducing anxiety, it offers greater flexibility in planning surgery.

Nowra Private Hospital CEO Simon McDermott said he was proud to offer local patients access to technology used in more than half a million procedures worldwide and increasingly considered best practice in modern breast cancer care.

"Providing the Shoalhaven community with access to leading care close to home is at the heart of what we do," Mr McDermott said.

"The SCOUT system is just one example of how we're investing in innovative technology to improve our patients' experience and outcomes."

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