Thousands of women could be spared second operation to make sure they are cancer-free thanks to glow-in-the dark dye that lights up tumour cells

  • Breakthrough procedure involves commonly-used radioactive 'dye' injected into the body
  • Helps surgeons spot whether they have missed microscopic cancer cells
  • Doctors remove some healthy tissue around lumps but it is difficult to distinguish what is cancerous
  • The new move could save thousands of women the trauma of a second operation 

By MARTYN HALLE FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Published: | Updated:

Thousands of women could be spared the trauma of needing a second operation to ensure they are clear of breast cancer thanks to a new technique that lights up tumour cells.

The procedure involves a commonly used radioactive 'dye' being injected into the body, which makes cancer cells glow orange under a special light. 

This helps surgeons spot if they have missed microscopic cancer cells after they have taken out a lump.

Thousands of women could be spared the trauma of needing a second operation to ensure they are clear of breast cancer thanks to a new technique that lights up tumour cells

Thousands of women could be spared the trauma of needing a second operation to ensure they are clear of breast cancer thanks to a new technique that lights up tumour cells

Although doctors remove a margin of healthy tissue around lumps, it can often be difficult to distinguish between what is cancerous and what is not. 

There can also be tiny cancerous 'outliers'. British doctors testing the LightPath system hope it will reduce the number of women needing a second operation by at least 50 per cent.

At the moment, around a quarter of the 50,000 women undergoing lumpectomies in Britain annually have to go under the knife for a second time. 

Professor Arnie Purushotham, a consultant breast cancer surgeon at Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals in London, is now conducting a trial on 30 women.

Professor Kefah Mokbel, of the London Breast Institute and St George's Hospital, said: 'This is encouraging research. We have been looking for years for ways of saving second operations.'

The procedure involves a commonly used radioactive 'dye' being injected into the body, which makes cancer cells glow orange under a special light

The procedure involves a commonly used radioactive 'dye' being injected into the body, which makes cancer cells glow orange under a special light

 

Cancer

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