Wellness Corner

What type of screening do you think that you would get done to see if you have signs of breast cancer? You'd probably think that you have to get a mammogram to screen for this serious disease. If you're on top of the news regarding breast cancer imaging, you may even be aware that some people get a breast MRI to reduce their risks. But new technology is being explored in Australia that could make it possible to get screened for breast cancer simply by having your hair tested.

"The Fermiscan Test is based on the discovery that women with breast cancer have a change in the structure of their hair which is detected using a technique called X-ray diffraction. This change is seen as a ring superimposed on the normal X-ray diffraction pattern of hair." (source)

The study appears to have approximately a seventy percent accuracy rate in the detection of breast cancer. This is highly impressive considering that mammograms alone have only about a fifty percent accuracy rate in detection of the disease. This is also promising because it offers a non-invasive screening option for women who are not getting screened because of the fears they have about getting a mammogram done.

Question of the Day: When will we see this type of breast cancer imaging technology move forward?

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