Medical device allows breast cancer patients to avoid painful injections

A medical device is allowing breast cancer patients to take an active part in their own reconstructive procedure, whilst also avoiding painful saline injections.

The device, called AeroForm, is a remote-controlled tissue expander that patients can use to stretch the breast tissue to prepare for an implant. The device is powered by CO2 and patients can use it up to three times a day to help prepare for reconstructive surgery. When used, AeroForm releases carbon dioxide in a microvalve in the device, which then expands the breast.

One of the benefits of the technology is that patients can avoid taking weekly trips to the doctors to receive painful saline injections.

Rhonda Bayrami is a breast cancer patient who has been using the device. Newsday reports that Bayrami spoke about the AeroFor device, saying: “I’m so grateful that finally in 2017 we have technology that has finally caught up to the 21st century. Using this device has freed me from having to have horrible needles injected into my breasts.”

Dr. Neil Tanna, the reconstructive surgeon who placed Bayrami’s AeroForm device said: “It really empowers women to actively be involved in their care. I think that sense of autonomy really helps them get back on their two feet after having had a mastectomy.”