Savi Scout: Making Lumpectomies Easier For Women With Breast Cancer
Savi Scout: Making Lumpectomies Easier For Women With Breast Cancer
One in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer at some point in their life. Most women with breast cancer will undergo surgery to remove cancerous tumors.
Facing breast cancer surgery can feel scary and overwhelming. A technology called SAVI SCOUT is making lumpectomies (or partial removal of the breast) easier for patients and surgeons by:
- Decreasing time in the hospital
- Increasing lumpectomies' success rates
It may also help protect the natural shape of the breast by allowing surgeons to remove less healthy tissue.
No Wires = Less Time in the Hospital
During a traditional lumpectomy, surgeons place a thin wire inside the breast to mark a tumor's location. During wire localization, surgeons work with radiologists to insert this wire on the morning of a surgery, which often means patients wait for long periods while schedules are coordinated—leaving them anxious and hungry.
SAVI SCOUT replaces this wire. Instead of a wire, a small, one-centimeter reflector is used to help surgeons find tumors. This can be done up to 30 days before surgery, which means no early-morning procedure and no added waiting on the day of surgery.
How SAVI SCOUT Works
Surgeons use a handheld device that sends out a tiny radar signal to find the reflector inside your breast. This tells the surgeon the exact tumor site.
“SAVI SCOUT is safe and FDA-approved for use in surgery,” says Kshama Jaiswal, MD, FACS, a surgical breast oncologist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor of surgery at University of Utah Health. “The system uses non-radioactive wave technology similar to radar.”
Finding the precise location of cancer cells is essential. During traditional wire locational, the wire can slip and travel away from the tumor. When this happens, surgeons may have difficulty removing all cancerous tissue—and some patients may need a second surgery.
“The SAVI SCOUT localization procedure allows the surgeon to precisely find the target tissue in the breast for removal,” Jaiswal says. This allows surgeons to find and remove cancerous cells instead of healthy breast tissue.
This accuracy helps surgeons:
- Remove cancerous tissue instead of healthy breast tissue
- Reduce the chance of needing another surgery
- Keep important treatments like chemotherapy and radiation on schedule
- Preserve more of the breast’s natural shape
Recovery and Follow-Up Care
Recovery from a lumpectomy using SAVI SCOUT is usually quick. Most patients can go home the same day and feel ready to return to their normal routines within a few days.
It’s common to have some soreness or bruising in the breast. Many people find relief with over-the-counter pain medications and ice packs.
A few simple steps can help support healing:
- Take short walks, but avoid strenuous exercise
- Keep the incision clean and dry
- Watch for signs of infection, such as redness or increasing pain
Your care team will schedule a follow‑up visit to check how your incision is healing and review your pathology results. These results confirm whether all cancerous tissue was removed and help determine if additional treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, are needed.
Throughout recovery, your care team is there to guide, answer questions, and help you understand what comes next.