Tracing and locating lymph nodes for removal

What’s the project?

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. 

NICE are setting up a committee to review a lymphatic tracing and locating system used to determine where lymph nodes are for removal for surgery, called Magtrace and Sentimag. The committee will be making recommendations for the use of this system in the wider NHS.

You can read more about the project on the NICE website.

Why do you want me to be involved?

NICE is seeking a patient expert to join the committee because it’s vital that patient experience of using this system is heard alongside clinical opinion and the published evidence. 

One of our committee members said: “The patients give a human perspective to the use and experience of having a device. They often have very useful anecdotal information about their experiences. In addition, it helps the committee to consider more health inequalities related considerations. Overall, having a patient expert means that we get to hear about the full circle of implementation and adoption potential in the NHS.”

What will you ask me to do?

We invite you to apply for this patient expert role on the committee by completing the form below.
As part of the role, the selected patient expert will be invited to:

• submit a written personal statement
• be supported by and liaise with the public involvement lead (Helen Crosbie) leading up to the committee meeting (along with technical support if necessary)
• participate in the Lead Team pre-committee meeting teleconference
• attend the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee meeting (via Zoom) on 22 April 2022 to provide their experience of having the Magtrace and Sentimag for locating sentinel lymph nodes and answer any questions the committee may ask
• claim expenses back for their time contributing at the committee meeting in line with NICE's expenses policy
• comment on any consultation documents produced. 

Who can take part?

People applying to be a patient expert should:

• have knowledge or experience of invasive breast cancer and/or of Magtrace and Sentimag (either personal experience or an in-depth understanding of the views of a range of patients or carers) 
• be confident about speaking at a public committee meeting (to be done virtually, via Zoom)
• agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of NICE’s confidentiality agreement 
• be willing for their name(s) and their personal statement to be published on the NICE website in relation to this evaluation