BREAST cancer patients at Dorset County Hospital are set to benefit from a new hi-tech piece of equipment.

The portable Faxitron machine means patients will now be able to be x-rayed during surgery to ensure all cancerous tissues have been removed.

The machine will provide medical staff with instant confirmation of a successful biopsy procedure by displaying images on a high resolution monitor.

Breast surgeon Tomasz Graja said that this will be particularly useful in ensuring lesions which cannot be felt are successfully removed.

He said: “Non-palpable cancers, usually found on screening mammograms, are the most difficult to remove.

“The Faxitron machine allows us to x-ray during surgery and confirm that all the cancerous tissue has been removed.

“The hospital already had one Faxitron machine shared between radiology, theatres and histopathology.

“This additional machine means that our patients will not experience any delays if one machine is out of action for upgrades or repairs.

“We are really pleased to have received this equipment for the benefit of our patients and are very grateful to the Trust for this investment.”