According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death in men and
women, accounting for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. Surgery remains
the best option for patients presenting with operable Stage I or II cancers, however the five
year survival rate for these candidates remains at a dismally low. The high rates of
recurrence suggest that surgeons are unable to completely detect and remove primary tumor
nodules in a satisfactory manner as well as lingering metastases in sentinel lymph nodes. By
ensuring a negative margin through near-infrared imagery it would be possible for us to
improve the rates of recurrence from patients and thus overall survival.