SERENDIPITY AND SENTIMAG Learning about a pilot project changed the trajectory of a woman’s breast cancer journey. By Kimberley McNeil When Mona Hunter’s husband, Derrick, came home from work one day in the spring of 2024, he was abuzz with excitement. “Hey, look at this!” he exclaimed. “Have you heard of this?” Derrick showed her an article about Sentimag, a new pilot project that uses rice-sized devices to mark cancer tumours. The Calgary-based pilot showed how tiny markers called Magseeds, along with Sentimag, the system used to implant them, promised to offer breast cancer patients a better surgery experience. “I need that,” Hunter said after reading the piece. She had been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer only the month prior, and would require surgery. Traditional breast cancer surgery involves having an uncomfortable hook wire implanted at the tumour site. After insertion of the wire, the patient must then drive to a surgery centre that same day to have the tumour removed. Patients have to be careful not to move or dislodge the wire while in transit. Hook wires protrude obtrusively from the breast, making them vulnerable to displacement. If moved, the wire’s position may need to be reset and the surgery rescheduled, creating added stress for the patient and delays in the medical system. The news of the pilot was serendipitous. Hunter advocated to be included in Sentimag. It worked. She was among the first women to undergo Magseed implantation in Calgary. Hunter considers herself immensely fortunate. Already a Calgary Health Foundation donor and patron of health initiatives in the city, she suddenly found herself in the unique position of patient. She could speak to the need for improved women’s healthcare from a deeply personal place. “Sentimag is better for the patient,” asserts Hunter. “When you’re going
Mona Hunter
through breast cancer, you don’t realize the emotional toll it takes on you. I can’t imagine having an invasive wire hanging out of me all the while trying to drive myself to a different location to undergo stressful surgery. Then to manage the nerves around the surgery results. Anything that makes the patient more comfortable and is more effective through that process is invaluable.”
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Breakthroughs [ Fall 2025 ]
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