Houston Methodist Breast Care Center in The Woodlands receives $50,000 donation; funds used for purchase of high-tech system

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- FAITH “Fighting Cancer” in Montgomery County presented a check for $50,000 to Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at The Woodlands for the purchase of a SAVI SCOUT ® radar localization system.

An alternative to wire localization, SCOUT is a wire-free, FDA- cleared device used by surgeons and radiologists to precisely locate and direct the removal of a tumor during a lumpectomy or surgical biopsy procedure.

SCOUT uses non-radioactive, micro impulse radar technology to provide real-time surgical guidance during breast surgery. Rather than placing a wire immediately before surgery, a SCOUT reflector is placed in the target tissue up to 30 days prior to surgery. During surgery, the SCOUT hand piece accurately pinpoints the location of the reflector and the tumor.

“A number of our board members and members of their families have gone through what some would describe as a ‘barbaric’ procedure with the insertion of a wire into the breast, prior to a lumpectomy. When we learned that SAVI SCOUT would allow doctors to locate and remove breast cancer without a wire, we wanted to do our part to ensure women in Montgomery County would have access to this advanced treatment,” said Maggie Marmack, FAITH Board member.

FAITH “Fighting Cancer” in Montgomery County formed in 2010 when a group of women wanted to assist the community by providing cancer-related educational services and preventative testing for men, women and children. FAITH is supported by nearly 20 volunteers and has no paid employees; every dime raised goes back into the community. The non-profit organization has raised more than $500,000 to help area cancer patients and their families.

“We always look for ways to help, and when we learned we could purchase a tangible item that could be used every day to help women in Montgomery County, we knew we wanted to do it,” added Marmack.

Dr. Loren Rourke, breast surgical oncologist and Houston Methodist regional breast program director, quickly confirmed SAVI SCOUT will be used often and provides a far superior experience for breast cancer patients.

“The ability to precisely locate and direct the removal of a tumor during a lumpectomy or surgical biopsy enables surgeons to increase the probability of complete cancer removal and reduces the likelihood of needing follow-up surgeries. In addition, the ability to strategically plan the incision may result in less tissue being removed during surgery, resulting in better cosmetic outcomes,” said Rourke.

Thanks to FAITH “Fighting Cancer” Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at The Woodlands is the first facility in The Woodlands and the northern region to have and utilize SAVI SCOUT.

“I am honored for FAITH to support our breast center and vision of leading medicine with this significant donation, which will change lives,” said Debbie Sukin, chief executive officer, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital and regional senior vice president, Houston Methodist.