An incubator at the Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has developed a device that can help in screening for breast cancer. As is the case with devices that can help in measuring blood pressure, blood sugar, this simple device can help women conduct self-screening for breast cancer in the privacy of their homes.
The device has been developed by D3S Healthcare Technologies, one of the startups incubated at GTU’s Design Innovation Centre (DIC), the university said in a statement.
The device makes use of red-light technology and assists in finding breast abnormalities and other unusual changes within the breasts with a 360-degree scan. Pictures of the breasts are taken with the app and the scan report can be shared with doctors for review. Clinical trials on the device are currently going on, and it is expected to be launched in January.
GTU vice-chancellor Navin Sheth said breast cancer cases are on the rise globally, and the use of the device can help in lowering the breast cancer mortality rate.
D3S Healthcare Technologies Founder Dhruv Patel said India reported 7 lakh breast cancer cases in 2020, which are likely to touch 8 lakh by 2025.
“There is less awareness among people about breast cancer as compared with other forms of cancer. Early diagnosis of breast cancer can help in lowering deaths caused by it,” he said.
According to statistics released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in December, breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the world’s most commonly diagnosed form of cancer.