The serious disease of breast cancer, which was silently spreading in the silent valleys of the mountains, is now standing as a new challenge in front of Uttarakhand.
This gap of distance and untold pain of mountains silently snatches away many lives. Amidst the threat of breast cancer, Artificial Intelligence based machine iBreast has raised hope.
This machine has come as a ray of hope to prevent breast cancer in the mountains, which is working to identify patients in time and provide them treatment.
The Health Department has started a special screening campaign across the state through AI based breast screening machines. With the help of these machines costing about Rs 15 lakh, it is becoming possible to identify breast cancer at an early stage.
At present, three machines have been deployed in different districts, while preparations are on to order other machines soon. This machine measures the hardness of the breast tissue through sensors, because cancerous lumps are harder than normal tissue.
This data is immediately analyzed through AI and appears in the form of a colored map, which identifies suspicious areas. The entire testing process is completed in five to 10 minutes and there is no pain and no risk of radiation.
1602 new breast cancer patients appeared
The increasing cases of breast cancer in Uttarakhand have raised concerns. There is information that 1602 new cases of breast cancer will be reported in Uttarakhand in the year 2025. Still, the breast cancer screening rate is only 0.4 percent, which is much lower than the national average. This is the reason why a large number of patients come forward when cancer has spread.
Screening through mobile health camp
This problem is more serious in the hill districts of Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli and Pithoragarh, where access to health services still remains a challenge. In such a situation, this AI based portable machine is reaching every village and providing women the facility of their check-up. There are plans to increase the screening scope through mobile health camps.
Breast cancer cases are being identified at an early stage through Artificial Intelligence based iBreast device in the state. This technology is very effective in inaccessible mountainous areas, due to which patients are being identified on time and referred for high level investigation and treatment.