UC student develops more equitable, less painful breast cancer screening
University of Canterbury PhD student Jessica Fitzjohn is developing a new prize-winning tool for breast cancer diagnosis, which aims to break down the socio-economic, cultural and accessibility barriers of breast-screening.
She is part of the research team working alongside Tiro Medical on a breast cancer-diagnosis device with the potential to help overcome cultural and socio-economic boundaries, reach more rural communities, and make breast screening more accessible to women of all ages. After her success gaining third place in the national Falling Walls Lab competition, run by the Royal Society Te Apārangi, Fitzjohn hopes this new breast-screening method could become a reality in Aotearoa.
The new method involves lying face down while the device vibrates at different frequencies for cameras to capture surface motions. The images are analysed to detect possible tumours.
“Up to now, this method of testing has been just as effective as asymptomatic mammography in finding early stages of cancer, capturing tumours as small as 7.5mm – smaller than a coffee bean,” Fitzjohn says.
“Currently, free mammograms are offered to women aged 45-69 in New Zealand, but only 67% of women in that age group make the most of this. Many women put off coming in for mammography because they find it uncomfortable and invasive. In addition, almost 20% of breast cancers occur in women under 45, who aren’t eligible for the free programme and for whom mammography is not generally recommended.”