What excites me most as a general surgeon is the privilege of performing life-saving surgeries every day at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals— surgeries that help patients live longer and better lives. But the reality is, the level of care surgeons can provide is dependent on the equipment we have available. Thanks to the It’s Time for Surgical Innovation campaign being led by the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, and the incredible support we are witnessing from our community, we have the best tools on the Island to provide the highest quality care for our patients.
One of the revolutionary pieces of equipment being funded through the campaign is MOLLI technology. MOLLI represents a game-changing shift in the way we treat breast cancer on Vancouver Island. It is nothing short of incredible. Not only does it enable surgeons to locate and remove tumours with unparalleled precision and accuracy, but it also significantly enhances patient comfort.
Before MOLLI, our breast cancer patients would travel a much different journey. A radiologist would insert a metal wire into their breast to mark the location of a tumour. The procedure, which has been described by some patients as traumatic and painful, was previously done on the day of surgery. Patients had to carry on while they waited for surgery with a wire sticking out of their breast. While it helped surgeons, by isolating the area where the tumour was located, the wire localization was not perfect. It was not always accurate or user friendly, which added complexity to the surgery.
This is where MOLLI technology makes a world of difference. The treatment begins with a radiologist inserting a tiny magnetic seed, about the size of a sesame seed, into the tumour or suspicious tissue. During surgery, surgeons use a wand to detect the seed, providing real-time guidance and a 3D image of the tumour and surrounding areas. This allows surgeons to pinpoint the tumour’s exact location and remove it with unmatched precision, while also preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
The benefits of MOLLI are profound. There is no painful wire to deal with, and the seed can be inserted up to 30 days before surgery, making the entire experience much more comfortable for patients. It’s also helping us perform more surgeries each day, since the seed can be placed ahead of time, and we no longer have to rely on scheduling wires to be inserted on the day of surgery. It’s efficient, accurate, and ultimately better for everyone involved.
What MOLLI does best is help us identify the smallest tumours—the ones we can’t feel or see with the naked eye. These are the types of cases I encounter most often and they emphasize how critical early detection is. We know that identifying cancer in its earliest stages leads to better outcomes. The fact that we’re finding these tumours early shows that our mammography screening programs in B.C. are working.
MOLLI truly represents the new standard of care for breast cancer patients, and we are fortunate to have this innovative, made-in-Canada technology here in Victoria. Victoria General Hospital is only the second hospital in the province to offer MOLLI— a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to provide the best care possible—all thanks to the It’s Time for Surgical Innovation campaign.
Breast cancer has been a significant focus of my work since I arrived in Victoria in 2015. While I perform a wide range of surgeries, my involvement in women’s health began with oncology, and treating women with breast cancer has been part of my practice from the very beginning. It’s a cause that’s close to my heart. One in eight women will face breast cancer in their lifetime, and here in B.C., approximately 4,000 women are diagnosed each year. It’s essential that we provide them not only with the highest standard of care, but also with access to the most advanced technologies available.
In 2022, my colleague Dr. Heather Emmerton-Coughlin and I created the South Island Integrated Breast Cancer Program. It’s a centralized referral system that helps patients access surgery faster. Rather than waiting for a specific surgeon, patients are matched with whoever is available the soonest, reducing wait times and promoting greater equity within the system. The program also tracks referrals and outcomes, ensuring our surgeons work as a collaborative, multidisciplinary team. Ultimately, this program puts patient care first, which is always our top priority.
So much of this progress we’re seeing is transforming the landscape of surgery in Victoria, and it’s made possible because of donor support through the Foundation. Whether it’s MOLLI, the surgical robotics program, the laparoscopic towers, or the SPY-PHY, each piece of equipment represents a leading-edge advancement that enhances precision, improves outcomes, and elevates the standard of care we can provide.
As a surgeon, I can’t overstate how grateful I am for that—thank you donors, you are truly making a difference.
