Recently, world-renowned scientist Dr. Canan Dağdeviren, together with her team, made an invention that could revolutionize breast cancer diagnosis.
The wearable ultrasound scanning device, which can be worn in a bra, allows women to easily and frequently scan themselves, enabling early detection of potential cancer cases. After six years of research and development, the device has been tested on humans and patented in the United States.
According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer, with 2.3 million women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 alone, resulting in 685,000 deaths.
Dr. Dağdeviren, who continues his work in the United States, gained worldwide recognition for his invention of a wearable pacemaker before the age of 30.
How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Breast cancer is usually diagnosed using a series of medical tests and imaging methods. Here are some commonly used methods for diagnosing breast cancer:
- Breast Examination: The doctor palpates the breast and surrounding lymph nodes for signs of breast cancer.
- Mammography: The most commonly used method for early detection of breast cancer. X-ray images of breast tissue can be taken to detect abnormal masses or calcifications.
- Ultrasonography: Detailed images of breast tissue are obtained using sound waves. This method can be used to better evaluate suspicious conditions from mammography results.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Magnetic fields and radio waves are used to provide a more detailed image for breast cancer diagnosis. MRI can be more sensitive than other imaging methods.
- Biopsy: When a suspicious mass or lesion is detected, doctors usually perform a biopsy. In this procedure, samples of abnormal cells are taken and examined for laboratory tests. The biopsy results are used to confirm the presence and type of cancer.
The electronic bra is now expected to be added to the above list. If the studies are successful, it is possible that many diagnostic tools will be shelved.
What Will the Electronic Bra Do?
The electronic bra project is based on a wearable ultrasound system developed by Canan Dağdeviren, a faculty member at the MIT Media Lab, and her team. The team has prepared the first prototype and patented it. The current work is being done to reduce the cost and make it more affordable and more useful.
If this system is realized, 11 million women a year will be able to be diagnosed early, reducing treatment costs and increasing life expectancy.
Canan Dağdeviren talked about their important discoveries in the field of breast cancer in the following words:
“Now we are continuing other studies at full speed. As a result of our work, we will make the device smaller and more useful.”
After wearing the ultrasound on your breast, it will record your daily activities and compare them with previous images. If any changes or suspicious images are detected during the comparison of these records, they will be detected and the necessary actions will be taken quickly and safely. Of course, for this to happen, a lot of data and a certain infrastructure work is required.
Since wearable ultrasound works with sound waves, there will be no radiation exposure. Also, since it is on you, it will not reduce your life like mammography.
When technological inventions are first found, prices can be expensive, but it is estimated that this will decrease over time. It is estimated that the price will be around 1000 dollars and its daily use will be around 3 dollars.
I hope that this is a start and I look forward to the days when faster and more reliable technological devices will be available and personalized oncological treatments will be available.
