Coffs Harbour Health Campus General Manager Lydia Dennett with Pink Silks Trust representatives Tanya Johnson and Nicole Knight, MNCLHD Governing Board member and surgeon Dr Shenarz Salindra, Perioperative Services Nurse Unit Manager Margaret Laidley and Registered Nurse Zoe Collins with the Pink Silks’ $94,000 donation – a Magseed Localiser, the first for a public hospital in northern NSW.

Pink Silks Trust’s $94,000 gift helps breast cancer patients

Nov 15, 2024

For the first time in northern NSW, a public hospital has secured a Magseed Localiser, made possible by a remarkable $94,000 donation from Coffs Harbour’s Pink Silks Perpetual Trust.

Coffs Harbour Health Campus’ specialist breast, melanoma, and general surgeon, Dr Shehnarz Salindera, who is also Mid North Coast Local Health District Governing Board Member, said the innovative piece of equipment is set to revolutionise breast cancer surgery at the hospital.

“This state-of-the-art device helps surgeons accurately locate and remove breast tumours during surgery, offering patients a more precise and less invasive procedure,” Dr Salindera said.

“The Magseed Localiser is a small magnetic seed, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted into the tumour before surgery. During the operation, the surgeon uses a special probe to detect the seed and precisely target the area for removal.

“This technology improves surgical outcomes and reduces the likelihood of needing additional operations, providing patients with a higher standard of care.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Pink Silks Trust and thankful for their ongoing support,” Dr Salindera said.

Pink Silks Perpetual Trust Chair and Co-Founder Tanya Johnson OAM said she and her fellow Pink Silks committee members were delighted to be able to donate such an effective piece of equipment.

“This is a significant show of support for local women and their families and provides confidence that they have the latest equipment available at our local hospital in Coffs Harbour,” Ms Johnson said.

“The community’s involvement in our fundraising initiatives, such as the annual Pink Silks Race Day and Golf Day, both held in January, has made this donation possible, as well as the local organisations and businesses that have held charity events in our honour.

“This year, we’ve been able to support almost $170,000 in donations for equipment at Coffs Harbour Health Campus, which delivers significant health outcomes for women in particular.

“We are proud to donate such an important piece of equipment and thank our Coffs Coast community for helping to make it happen,” Ms Johnson said.

The latest donation brings the total amount donated by the Pink Silks Trust to almost $1.4 million in the past 16 years, much of it directed to Coffs Harbour Health Campus and its services.