“I’m so grateful” – Ruth Riley shares her journey to becoming cancer free
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can change your life. Fortunately, thanks to the advanced technologies being introduced into operating rooms around the world, the chance of a better outcome and overall patient experience has never been better.
We recently heard how one of our technologies – the Magseed® marker – contributed to one inspiring woman’s journey to becoming cancer free.
Ruth Riley is the first patient in South Carolina to be treated with Magseed®, and was recently featured on the ABC Columbia and WIS TV networks.
South Carolina patient treated with Magseed on ABC Columbia TV NetworkRuth’s Story
After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis last year, Ruth braced herself for the worst.
“Sometimes I’d be out walking, and I would think to myself, you know, I might not live as long as I thought I was going to live.”
Apprehensive of what to expect for her treatment, Ruth met with Dr Julian Kim, Senior Medical Director of Oncology Services at Prisma Health Richland, where she was told that she would be the first South Carolinian to receive Magseed® treatment.
He explained that, previously, surgeons would insert a wire into the breast on the day of surgery to locate the cancerous tissue, but that the method had many, many downsides.
“Older techniques involving long wire detectors on the morning of surgery can degrade the patient experience,” explained Dr Kim.
“I believe it is our jobs as physicians to seek innovative ways that can save lives, but also preserve dignity.”Dr Julian Kim - Prisma Health Richland
Ruth remembered how she’d been informed of the option of using a wire and how Dr. Kim’s comments had piqued her interest in trialling alternative techniques.
“The way he described the old way of having to put a long wire in there, and then how the woman has to be really careful right before surgery – it sounded very stressful” Ruth explained.
“So I said I would be happy to try the new technology, especially if it would help other women in the future not have to go through that other procedure.”
Making surgery less invasive
With the Magseed® marker, surgeons can accurately remove cancerous tissue from the breast without a wire, making surgery less invasive. Not only that, unlike other localization technologies it cannot be deactivated and in 89% of cases the cancer is removed in a single surgery, reducing delays in receiving further treatment.
Ruth’s surgery worked “beautifully”, and Dr. Kim was able to completely remove her breast cancer. Now, she’s cancer free and back to doing the things that she loves.
“It makes me feel so happy that I turned a corner, that now I could get back to kind of what I was before, and I just don’t have to deal with it and be through it. I’m so grateful.” said Ruth.
“It makes me feel like I’m kind of victorious over breast cancer.”Ruth Riley - Patient from South Carolina
Game-changing for patients
Our work is far from done, but more and more fantastic stories like Ruth’s are reaching us each day. We are so pleased that Ruth is now cancer free and we wish her all the best for the future.
→ Find out why hundreds of physicians around the world love using Magseed