A non-invasive and relatively inexpensive new method to visualise and detect the early stages of breast cancer could start to be widely used following a recent ground-breaking ERDF-funded research project in Poland.
- 01 July 2014
If breast cancer is detected at an early stage this improves survival rates by around 25 %.
The Braster tester works by producing a thermographic image of the breast which is used to identify potential tumours at an early stage in their development. The image created by the hand-held tester appears on a liquid crystal display which shows the hot spots on a breast which could indicate early-stage tumours.
The development and roll out of the technology has the potential to save the lives of thousands of women around the world as breast cancers account for 26 % of all tumours in women. In Poland, breast cancer has a mortality rate of 38 %, and 40 % of tumours result in death within five years.
Reducing mortality rates
The earlier that abnormalities are detected the better the outcomes for patients. At present, conventional mammographies are typically offered to women every two or three years in many countries, but this is not often enough to detect all potential cancers at an early stage. Unlike the X-ray machines used to produce mammographies, the new thermographic testers do not produce harmful radiation. They also have the advantage that, because the equipment is cheaper to produce, screening tests on women could be carried out more regularly.
The tester, which is easy to use, was created by a research team based at the Warsaw Military University of Technology led by Dr Jacek Stępień.
Commercial launch
Clinical trials of the tester have been successful and the tester is expected to be launched commercially in Poland followed by other European countries in due course. In the long-term the tester could also be made available in other countries in the world.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “BreastLife-innovative liquid crystal thermography test platform for the detection of cancer” was PLN 1 576 239 (approximately EUR 400 000) of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributed PLN 768 637 (EUR 200 000) from the “Innovative Economy” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period, under the priority “Support for special projects”.