As one of the most common forms of cancer and one of the easiest ones to beat if caught early enough, breast cancer still continues to impact a large part of the female population and even part of the male population. In the U.S., there are some startling breast cancer statistics to think about gathered by the Breast Cancer organization:
• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
• About 40,610 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2017 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1989.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer.
• As of March 2017, there are more than 3.1 million women with a history of breast cancer.
With more people concerned over the cost of healthcare versus taking care of themselves, it appears like a primary challenge has been to encourage more women to seek out proactive tests each year to detect any abnormalities at the earliest point possible.
Early Breast Cancer Detection Systems Emerge
This is where technology is starting to turn the tables on breast cancer and help more women win their battle.
Thе Pаndоrа CDx dеvеlореd bу POC Mеdiсаl Sуѕtеmѕ iѕ a miсrоfluidiс рlаtfоrm fоr rарid, роint-оf-саrе ѕеrum ѕсrееning. Launched as a diagnostic company in 2013, POC Medical Systems quickly developed thе рlаtfоrm into a vеrу ѕimрlе, еаѕу-tо-uѕе, and, most importantly, low cost solution for early detection. In fact, the company estimates that the cost of the test is only $2 per patient, which means that significant savings can be passed onto the patient who may be afraid to get tested because they believe it will be too expensive even with health insurance.
Known as MammoAlertTM, thiѕ роrtаblе brеаѕt саnсеr ѕсrееning tеѕt uѕеѕ a ѕimрlе drор оf blооd tо gеnеrаtе rеѕultѕ in as little as 15 minutеѕ. It uѕеѕ multiрlе саnсеr mаrkеrѕ fоr high ассurасу.Thе Pаndоrа CDx test hаѕ a ѕеnѕitivitу of 0.97 аnd ѕресifiсitу оf one. This means that it has an accuracy rate оf over 95% аnd a fаlѕе роѕitivе rаtе оf zеrо. Combining accuracy with affordability is the best prescription for what has become a global epidemic.
Saving Women’s Lives in India and Beyond
This award-winning social innovator is making strides in developing countries where health screenings are hard to find – and afford. For example, women in India may soon be able to leverage the benefits of this blood-based screening system for breast cancer to help women there. The cost is so low that it is even considered affordable in India.
Typically, existing screening methods are not widely accessible in that country and similarly in other areas of the world where women’s health has not previously been a priority. As SanjeevSaxena, Chairman and CEO of POC Medical Systems recently explained in a company press release, “India suffers from inadequate early breast vancer screening and is where a woman dies of this horrible disease every seven minutes.”
An article in the Hindu Business Line illustrates just how grave breast cancer has become in that country.
Maharashtra Health Minister, Hon. Dr Deepak Sawant noted that over 1.5 lakh women are diagnosed with breast cancer and almost half, which equates to 70,000 deaths every year, succumb to breast cancer. Now, the country is starting to realize the importance of making breast cancer treatment and early diagnosis a priority. This test is a prime example of the difference that can be made with such a horrible disease.
Making a Change for Social Good
Imagine the positive impact that such accessibility will now have for the women in India and other countries with similar challenges. Once this type of disruptive technology is introduced in more healthcare systems around the world and more women are made aware of it, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be reduced and perhaps someday eliminated.
This articles is written by Stepanie frasco