Breast Cancer Detection Made Instant With Smart Bra

A smart bra device developed in Nigeria can detect breast cancer early saving the lives of African women who had long journeys to access screening services.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 129,000 new cases diagnosed in 2020.

Screening for Breast Cancer with Clinical Breast Examination
Clinical breast examination is a simple and inexpensive method of detecting breast cancer especially in women who do not have access to mammography.

‘The discovery of smart bras will be instrumental in addressing the barriers to the early detection of breast cancer.’

Tweet it Now

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only around half of the women here live for more than five years after being diagnosed, with the late diagnosis a major factor.

"My beloved mother died of breast cancer in 2017 at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria because it was diagnosed late," says Bolarinwa, founder of Nextwear Technology, a wearable technology company based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Women of different age groups, even teenagers are groaning in the pain of breast cancer. That pushed the need to contribute to the fight against the disease.

Breast Cancer Screening using Mammogram
Breast cancer if detected early can be completely cured. Mammography is used to screen women for breast cancer.

The smart bra was developed using ultrasound technology, and the chargeable, battery-operated device comes with mobile and web apps that can display where a tumor is located on the breasts.

The result will show if the tumor is benign (harmless) or malignant (harmful). The smart bra must be worn on the breasts for a maximum of 30 minutes for the result to show. The app also has an interface for the result to be transmitted to a doctor.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2021 � It�s Time to RISE
Breast cancer awareness month is observed throughout October, which is an annual campaign to increase breast cancer awareness by conducting different activities worldwide.

Women could use this device safely from the comfort of their homes to check their breasts regularly. If breast cancer is detected earlier, the death rate will be less.

The inventor hopes the device will be ready to market in July this year, after a four-year journey. The engineer and her team started work on the design in 2018 and by February 2020 had come up with their prototype. Since then, the company has developed ten more.

Breast Cancer - Prevention and Management with Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle choices may or may not cause breast cancer but healthy lifestyle changes can open up avenues beyond breast cancer. Good habits will allow one to fight breast cancer and to live with dignity.

They conducted a local trial and got about 70% accuracy. Now, they are working toward 95% to 97% accuracy.

The invention has received the approval of Nigeria’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and the Communications Commission.

The invention team will consider affordability when the smart bra is finally produced for the market, but delays in getting raw materials shipped from overseas and a lack of funding have been a challenge.

Source-Medindia