Technology to fight breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common invasive cancers in women. Among the facts, behind skin cancer, it's the second most frequent type of cancer in women. Just like other feminine things, The outlook of breast cancer is changing, and death rates have been decreasing since 1989. All of this has been made possible due to advancements in therapy, early identification through screening, and improved public awareness.?

To detect the onset of breast cancer early, patients may be encouraged to discover some of the new technologies being used by cancer treatment centers. Here are some of the latest technologies to fight against this cancer.

1. Digital Mammography

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Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening that reduces mortality by as much as 30% . Digital mammograms play a critical role in the early screening and diagnosing of breast diseases because of their ability to detect changes in breast tissue even before you or your doctor can feel them. This new technology helps see through breast tissue that has the potential to hide cancers. Breast pictures captured by digital mammography can be enlarged and the resolution can be altered. More digital imaging studies are being conducted, which will aid in the discovery of more benefits; nonetheless, there are two key takeaways from this. For starters, mammograms for women over the age of 40 are important. Secondly, digital mammography is an option worth considering for any woman with thick breast tissue.

2. Computer-Aided Detection Devices (CAD)

Computer-aided detection (CAD) has the potential to significantly improve screening mammography. It can enhance mammography sensitivity by marking cancerous regions that were initially missed by the radiologist. CAD algorithms have been developed to assist radiologists in detecting mammographic lesions. These systems are regarded as a second reader, the final decision is then left to the radiologist. Although CAD algorithms have improved total radiologist accuracy in the diagnosis of malignant tissues, the question of whether a machine can adequately replace a second radiologist in examining test findings continues to be debated.

3. Improved Imaging (5 tech in trial stage)

Many breast cancer screening technologies are still in the early stages of development. Clinical studies of this imaging equipment are frequently used by women at high risk of getting the condition to alleviate their fears. Following are some of the developing technologies to improve the imaging experience.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A PET scanner would detect the activity and provide an image of it in an ideal world. The idea behind this technology is that a tumor has a higher metabolism than normal tissue. When radioactive material is injected into a patient's vein, it travels to malignant cells that are quickly dividing and have higher food requirements.

Ductal lavage and ductoscopy

Fiberoptic ductoscopy and duct lavage are being recently used to evaluate patients at risk for breast cancer. Both techniques examine the nipple and central duct area to identify intraductal lesions.

Electrical impedance spectral imaging (EIS)

Low-frequency electrical currents are applied to the breast, and an image is formed based on the theory that normal tissue and cancerous masses conduct electricity in different ways. The EIS method can assist the clinical diagnosis of breast cancer in its early stages.

Microwave imaging spectroscopy (MIS)

This technology makes use of microwave energy, which is comparable to that used in cell phones (but at a much lower level). Water is particularly sensitive to the technology, and it may detect locations with more of it. Tumors are thought to contain more blood and water than normal tissue.

Near infrared (NIR) spectral imaging

The theory behind this procedure is that infrared light is sensitive to blood and can create an image of hemoglobin inside the breast. The ability to detect early tumor growth and determine its stage is thought to be aided by knowledge of the vascular activity.

4. No more radiation

Radiation exposure does increase breast cancer risk levels, however the risk levels from a ? ? mammogram are miniscule compared to the average woman’s 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her lifetime.?

Researchers have created a novel, low-cost technique for routinely screening women for breast cancer without exposing them to radiation. It is a technology developed by the researchers of the University of Waterloo . It employs non-harmful microwaves and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to detect even microscopic, early-stage cancers in minutes.

Not only that, this would also save healthcare systems enormous amounts of money, thereby increasing access to screening in the developing world.

5. Looking Into a Biological Crystal Ball (at cell level)

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Several studies are currently looking into the possibility of diagnosing breast cancer at the cellular level. There is hope that someday researchers will be able to identify a turning point when biological substances become cancerous, thereby leading to development of methods for detecting warning signals.

Hope for the future

So what lies ahead in the crystal ball? Researchers’ hope include better targeted therapies, better tests to detect breast cancer, better ways to identify aggressive tumors and deliver treatment to the right patients, more funding for research and more women willing to participate in clinical trials.