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Breathe Easy: New Tool Aims to Catch Breast Cancer Sooner
8 Oct
Summary
- A new non-invasive breath test is being studied at IWK Health for early breast cancer detection.
- The technology analyzes compounds in breath to identify potential breast cancer patterns.
- This test aims to enhance diagnosis alongside mammograms, especially for dense breast tissue.
A new, non-invasive breath test is being evaluated at IWK Health in Halifax as part of a study to achieve earlier breast cancer detection. This innovative technology analyzes specific compounds exhaled in a person's breath, identifying unique patterns that could be associated with the presence of breast cancer. The study is focusing on women aged 40 to 74 who are undergoing standard breast biopsies or MRIs at the IWK. The goal is to compare breath profiles of individuals with and without breast cancer.
This breath test is not intended to replace mammograms but to serve as an additional tool to enhance diagnostic accuracy and facilitate early detection. This could be particularly beneficial for the 50% of women with dense breast tissue, where mammograms may be less effective. The technology was developed by Breathe BioMedical, a New Brunswick-based company, and the IWK is one of only two Canadian sites participating in this clinical research trial, with the other being in Moncton. The study is currently in its early stages, and women who meet the criteria will be invited to participate.
