Cape Town - A locally developed imaging system has the potential to make breast cancer detection easier, cheaper and accessible to more women.
The Aceso machine, developed by CapeRay, is the first imaging system in the world to combine digital mammography and ultrasound technology into a single screening unit, cutting the time it takes for early diagnosis of breast cancer.
The machine was launched at Groote Schuur Hospital in October and aims to eliminate the need for multiple screening tests. It produces a low-dose X-ray and ultrasound simultaneously, allowing for the immediate detection and early treatment of even the smallest of breast legions.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel and Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor concurred that the multimillion rand innovation was a huge boon to South Africa.
Patel said: “This machine will not only provide opportunities for better healthcare, but it will provide employment opportunities for the country. I’m excited about the potential this holds for economic development. This shows that innovation can address healthcare problems and is a demonstration that South Africa has smart ideas for the world.”
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and early detection is key in combating the disease.
Mammography, an X-ray image of the breast, has been saving lives through early detection since its inception in the 1960s.
However, the major drawback in the screening process is that it is unable to detect early stage cancers in dense breast tissue, meaning many women receive a false negative screening result, with devastating consequences. Dense breast tissue is found in 40 percent of women with breast cancer.
Norah Mabota, one of the mammographers involved in the clinical trial and a participant in the trial, said the machine was good for patients and mammographers. “From a patient point of view it saves money and time. It’s amazing for patients. And then from a mammographers point of view it makes the work much easier.”
CapeRay, which branched out from UCT in 2010, developed the machine for R30-million and is in a testing phase to clear it for the market. The machine was funded by the Industrial Development Corporation and was proven effective and safe after a clinical trial at Groote Schuur.
It was used to screen more than 50 healthy volunteers and 20 patients with confirmed cases of breast cancer.
“Time-wise, the machine is so much faster. It takes less than 10 minutes to do each part of the screening process, whereas at the moment, each examination takes about 30-40 minutes each,” said Mabota.
She said she had high hopes for the device. “The hope for this machine is that it will be more accessible to all people, especially those in rural areas. At present people have to travel far and spend a lot to get screened for breast cancer. It would be far less expensive to get this machine mobile, which would be great for patients.”
Cape Argus