I tell people that I am going to have a tracker inserted into my breast to let the surgeon locate the tumour (which is very small) and everyone nods knowingly. As do I when the surgeon explains - because there's a whole page my Green File dedicated to explaining what it is and I assume that it's common practice. Apparently not. The QE in Gateshead was the first NHS trust to introduce this technique in 2019 and it replaces the 'guide wire' - which, I gather I am lucky to escape. The appointment I get is with a radiologist - once again at the local centre which is easy to get to, easy and free to park and very efficient. It involves an ultra sound, some numbing gel and a pen thing that clicks three times followed by another mammogram to check it's in the right place. It takes less than 30 minutes and doesn't really hurt at all. I can't believe it when they tell me that it is done. Will I set off alarms, I ask? There are no stupid questions, of course, but this does make the radiologist smile...No, is the answer.
It's only later that I think to do some more research and discover how new and innovative this all is. It's all a bit X Files, in fact. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips are all around us - principally on credit and debit cards and anything that you 'tap' - or possibly just wave about. Who knew that that's what they were called? And they are, of course, totally harmless unless you are wasted on a Friday night and keep on buying the next round. But their use in cancer treatment is really new. So new that there isn't much information out there except to say that both medical staff and patients like them. I have nothing to compare but my experience added to my trust and willingness to participate in the process - which is surely what it's all about.
