A generous donation has funded the purchase of a new imaging machine improving the detection and treatment of breast cancer.

San Foundation received a generous donation from one donor to purchase a new Hologic Trident Specimen System, which has revolutionised imaging done with breast biopsies. Dr Andrew Stuart, MRI Supervising Radiologist as the San, describes the difference this machine has made.

"Before we had this machine, if a breast biopsy was being performed in theatre following a hookwire localization in radiology, the breast specimen had to be sent down to radiology for X-ray to confirm the presence of calcifications in the specimen. This machine allows an X-ray to be performed in theatre with an instantaneous answer for the surgeon as to the presence of the micro calcifications in the specimen.

The Trident Specimen System also has benefit for us in radiology when doing a vacuum core biopsy under mammographic guidance as the patient does not have to be disengaged from the biopsy device in order to use the mammogram machine to x-ray the obtained specimens.  This is a big improvement in safety and efficiency."

The donor who made this purchase possible told us that the donation was made in appreciation of the kindness and caring shown over the years to many family members who had received treatment here at the San.

The Foundation would like to thank the generous donor for this amazing gift and acknowledge his kindness which has made a difference to the lives of others.