SENTINEL LYMPH NODE AUXILIARY CLEARANCE TRIAL
Being launched Monday, 4 February in Auckland

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation says this Australasian trial is an important development in the treatment of breast cancer of women.

"The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy as an indicator of the progression of invasive breast cancer has seen encouraging results in trials of over 9000 women in Europe and the United Kingdom;" says Dr Belinda Scott, chairperson of the Foundation's medical committee.

"It is vitally important that New Zealand surgeons have the same opportunity as their overseas counterparts to assess the safety and accuracy of this exciting surgical advance. The trial will also provide the opportunity for surgeons to develop a standard approach to this procedure throughout the country."

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