Experts are all agreed that early diagnosis of breast cancer is the key to increased survival rate. They believe that with early diagnosis, survivial rate which has been put at 10 per cent for Africa, could go as high as 90 per cent.
To help early detection of breast cancer, two researchers in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, USA, Ravi F. Saraf and Chieu Van Nguyen have come up with what they call Electronic skin, “a thin-film tactile device that has the capacity to detect and produce clear images of small lumps in breast tissue that fingers may not be able to detect.
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, USA, Ravi F. Saraf and Chieu Van Nguyen have come up with what they call Electronic skin, “a thin-film tactile device that has the capacity to detect and produce clear images of small lumps in breast tissue that fingers may not be able to detect.
Presently, the most common method of screening for breast cancer is mammography which delivers incorrect results occasionally and it is said to be ineffective for young women or women with dense breast tissue.
Another commonly used method is Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) by health care professionals.
Another commonly used method is Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) by health care professionals.
Although it is radiation-free, inexpensive and can be performed outside the hospital, the downside is that physicians most times, are unable to detect lumps until they are 21mm long.
Other methods such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasounds, are sensitive but expensive.
Other methods such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasounds, are sensitive but expensive.
The good news is that the electronic skin made from nanoparticles and polymers, can successfully detect lumps and accurately determine their shape when they are less than 10 millimeters in length and this could lead to increase in cancer survival rates by over 94 per cent, according to the report published in the journal, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
“Knowing the size and shape of a lump could allow for earlier identification of breast cancer, which could save lives,” the researchers said.
The electronic skin has been formulated to operate with an optimum level of sensitivity in order to provide quality imaging without a level of pressure that would create discomfort as experienced in manual breast exams.
The electronic skin has been formulated to operate with an optimum level of sensitivity in order to provide quality imaging without a level of pressure that would create discomfort as experienced in manual breast exams.
To test their device, the scientists placed lump-like objects within a piece of silicone to simulate breast tissue. They subsequently “applied the device to their model with the same level of pressure that a clinician would use in a manual exam.
“During this testing, the device was able to successfully identify lumps as small as 5 mm and as deep within the silicone as 20mm – measurements that would typically be very difficult to detect for even an experienced clinician.”
Detecting lumps and determining their shape when they’re less than half that size improves a patient’s survival rate by more than 94 per cent.
Saraf says electronic skin could also be used to screen patients for early signs of melanoma and other cancers.
Saraf says electronic skin could also be used to screen patients for early signs of melanoma and other cancers.