How technology is changing the detection of breast cancer

Key Points:

• Dr. Rachel Brem, inspired by her mother's breast cancer survival, is advancing breast cancer screening through AI technology and early detection efforts, aiming to improve outcomes for all women.
• Brem collaborates on Transpara, an AI breast cancer screening software shown to detect cancer up to five years earlier than mammograms alone, and it is currently used in every mammogram at George Washington University without extra cost.
• Despite benefits, only 20% of practices nationwide use AI in mammogram procedures, often due to additional costs, contributing to disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, especially among Black women who have a 40% higher mortality rate.
• Brem is also involved in developing a noninvasive breast cancer breath test that detects chemical compounds from diseased tissue, with potential future applications for broader women's health screening panels.
• She advocates for earlier and more frequent breast cancer screening starting at age 35 for high-risk women and stresses the importance of supplemental exams for women with dense breasts, urging women to be proactive and advocate for comprehensive screening to improve survival rates.