HOSPITAL patients are benefiting from a new £33,000 machine which helps to diagnose breast cancer.

The mammotome machine has been bought by the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, and has been installed in the x-ray department.

Doctors say the machine is a vital piece of equipment that improves the quality of healthcare in Northallerton and the surrounding area, and will help to prevent unnecessary operations.

They have also paid tribute to local people who helped raise the £33,000 needed to pay for it.

Breast cancer affects one woman in nine and is the most common cancer in women in the UK. It is the second biggest cause of death from cancer in women and every year more than 40,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 290 in men.

The machine helps doctors discover if breast abnormalities are cancerous by performing a biopsy, which can give a 98 per cent accurate diagnosis and causes minimal or no scarring.

The hospital bought the equipment following a fundraising campaign by specialist breast nurses, department staff and the local branch of the Breast Cancer Support Group, which organised a series of money-making events.

Consultant breast practitioner Rosalind Tetlow, who is using the new machine, said: "We are delighted to be able to enhance and develop the service we provide for our patients with the addition of this new machine.

"It will help us to biopsy and more easily examine all kinds of breast abnormalities.

"Its prime function is to prevent unnecessary operations and to allow the surgeon to plan more appropriate treatments with individual patients. It can also be used to remove benign lumps under local anaesthetic with the patient staying in as a day case.

"This is a wonderful effort and we are very grateful to everyone who helped make the new machine a reality.

"We would like to thank everyone involved, our staff, local people and our patients for supporting us."