GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — What looks like a small spiral of plastic has become a valuable tool for radiologists, oncologists and surgeons in the fight against breast cancer.
Barbara Harvey has had an incredibly optimistic outlook when it comes to her fight with breast cancer.
"When we all hear the 'c' word, we kind of panic, and I'm a firm believer of one day at a time," she said.
In June 2017, she went for her annual mammogram — something she says she has done religiously.
"By the time I got home, they were calling me saying I needed to get in for another appointment for another mammogram," Harvey said.
Within a month, she was under the knife of surgeon Dr. Jamie Caughran at Mercy Health Lacks Cancer Center in Grand Rapids. Caughran used a device called a BioZorb, which was designed to help maintain the natural shape of the breast by taking the place of the tissue removed during a lumpectomy.
"For breast surgeons like myself and my partner, it's been really exciting to have an alternative to offer women to help fill the space of tissue when we remove a specimen," Caughran said.