A device to help detect breast cancer has won the prestigious UK James Dyson Award.
The Dotplot aims to help women self-check at home and track any changes they may find on an app. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK but many women do not carry out regular self-examinations. Medical professionals have welcomed the invention but warn it is no substitute for going to the doctor. The technology is very similar to mammograms for over-50s or ultrasound scans offered to women worried about a lump.
The procedure:
➡️️ Users build a personalised map of their torso by inputting their breast size and shape and pressing the handheld device over their chest.
➡️ Once a month, soundwaves are used to record tissue composition
➡️️ if there are any suspicious changes or abnormalities, users are advised to see a healthcare professional
➡️️ These include nipple discharge or dimpling or puckering of the skin of the breast
➡️ While most breast changes, including lumps, won’t be cancer, it’s important to contact your GP as soon as possible if you notice a change to your breast that’s new or unusual for you, as the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.
It is about not replacing medical professionals, it is about enabling women to be confident in the self-checks they are doing!
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62807367
How to do a breast examination – BBC News
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