Funding gap stalls Finnish breast cancer screening bra

Researchers at the University of Oulu are developing microwave-enabled bras that could detect breast tumours at an early stage, Yle reports. The technology could complement mammography, but the project has not received funding for further research.

Finland is beginning to fall behind other Nordic countries in breast cancer screening, as a lack of funding slows the development of new methods. Artificial intelligence has not yet been introduced into Finnish screening, even though its use in Sweden has improved cancer detection by 20 per cent.

The bras developed by the University of Oulu use microwave technology to examine breast tissue. Tests using realistic models suggest that the method could detect tumours early and may also be suitable for people for whom traditional mammography is not appropriate.

A possible alternative alongside mammography

In conventional mammography, the breasts are placed between compression plates. The procedure can be painful, leading some women to skip breast cancer screening.

Mammography is also less effective for some types of breast tissue. Mariella Särestöniemi, a docent and university researcher at the University of Oulu, said its accuracy and sensitivity are low in dense breasts, where there is a large amount of glandular tissue.

Microwave technology, by contrast, has been found to detect tumours more effectively in dense breast tissue, Särestöniemi said. The bras are not intended to replace mammography, but to provide another method alongside it and address some of the current challenges of mammography.

AI could reduce radiologists’ workload

Women aged 50 to 69 are currently invited to screening mammography approximately every two years in Finland. The aim is to extend screening to women aged 46 to 74.

Finland also has a shortage of doctors specialising in breast radiology. Two specialist radiologists assess each patient’s mammography images, but artificial intelligence could eventually take over the work of one of them.

In Sweden, the introduction of AI has reduced radiologists’ workload by 44 per cent and improved cancer detection by 20 per cent, said Maija Vahteristo, head of breast cancer screening development at the Finnish Cancer Registry.

More than 300,000 women are invited to breast cancer screening each year, and about 80 per cent attend. There are concerns that participation could decline after wellbeing services counties reduced the number of screening locations. In West Uusimaa, the number of imaging units was cut from nine to three, which has already begun to affect attendance, Vahteristo said.

Researchers hope for use within a decade

The technology is not expected to reach health centres soon because medical devices are subject to strict regulation. Särestöniemi hopes the bras could be in use within 10 years.

Researchers have shown with realistic models that the principle works, but developing a regulated medical device that combines new technology with wearable electronics is a slow process. The team has not yet received funding for further research.

Early detection gives breast cancer a very good prognosis, Särestöniemi said.