For Immediate Release

October 14, 2026

Innovation in Breast Health comes to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital

The Medicine Hat Health Foundation is proud to announce that Sentimag and Magseed technology has officially been implemented at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital (MHRH) to advance the quality of care received by breast cancer patients. It is especially meaningful to celebrate this innovation during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Medicine Hat has some of the highest rates of breast cancer in Southern Alberta, second only to cardiac-related health issues. This is why we are choosing to focus on women’s health now – not just breast cancer, but women’s health overall. During our Foundation’s 30^th Anniversary celebration in April, we announced the creation of a comprehensive pilot Breast Health Program at the MHRH made possible by the support of the Yuill Family Foundation. We also began our campaign to purchase Magseed technology to be used with the Breast Health Program in the Women’s Health Clinic.

The Sentimag Magnetic Localization System is a new generation of imaging and surgical technology that will benefit breast cancer patients undergoing surgery in Medicine Hat and the surrounding area. The Sentimag System works with magnetic technologies in the operating room known as Magseed and Magtrace. These diagnostic tools help surgeons treat breast cancer with millimetre precision accuracy, allowing for more targeted surgery, the removal of less tissue and a reduced risk of complications, and less stress for patients. These technologies also reduce the need for follow-up surgeries. At the end of August, the first surgeries of this kind in Medicine Hat were successfully completed at MHRH.  

The Sentimag and Magseed technoloy will pair with the new Trident HD Imaging Unit in Diagnostic Imaging, further enhancing the breast health services available to patients in the region.  

“The Trident HD Imaging Unit can be used to help in the detection of lymph nodes and breast cancer by allowing tissue removed during surgery to be imaged in the operating room (OR). This helps the surgeon quickly confirm during surgery that the cancerous tissue and the Magseed have been successfully removed,” says Lynzee Marsh, General Radiology Supervisor at MHRH.

Our Foundation learned more about the impact of this update from the surgeon who led the charge on implementing Magseed technology, Dr. Alisha Tessier:

“Historically, the localization of non-palpable breast lesions for surgical planning has been done with wire insertion. In some circumstances, localization requirements can create scheduling and workflow challenges for both patients and care teams. Wire localization can limit the number of cases that can be done on any given day as patients must have the wire inserted on the day of surgery. In contrast, Magseeds can be inserted days, or even weeks in advance, providing greater scheduling flexibility for the patient.

We were successfully able to do a localization case with sentinel lymph node biopsy as the first operating room (OR) case on Aug. 28, 2026, which demonstrates the flexibility this technology can provide for patient scheduling and surgical planning. This optimizes timeliness of surgical care for oncology patients, as well as allowing for better OR efficiency. It improves access to General Surgical care for ALL patients, not only oncology patients, and allows more patients to have surgical care in their home environment and with appropriate family and friend support.”

The implementation of Magseed technology at MHRH reflects ongoing efforts across the province to enhance breast health services and expand the tools available to clinical teams. While Magseed offers an additional option for lesion localization, established localization methods remain safe, effective and clinically appropriate.

As similar technologies are introduced at additional sites over time, patients across Alberta will continue to benefit from access to high-quality breast cancer care close to home.

For more information, please contact (403) 528-8133 or info@ourhealthfoundation.ca