October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and today is the National Breast Cancer Day in Portugal!
The research group in Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), the research institute part of the coordinator institution of 3BAtwin (FCiências.ID/CIÊNCIAS), led by Raquel Conceição has been studying breast cancer diagnosis and staging using medical microwave imaging.
Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women worldwide and 1 in 11 women in the European Union will develop breast cancer before the age of 74 [Source]. Besides tumour detection and diagnosis, the diagnosis of axillary lymph nodes is also important to ensure a correct breast cancer staging and treatment decisions.
Breast and axillary microwave imaging has the potential to be used as a screening modality as it does not use ionising radiation and it is cost-efficient. Unlike traditional mammography, microwave imaging is comfortable for all breast sizes as it does not require breast compression. This technology is also non-invasive and easy to operate!
Source: IBEB’s research group
3BAtwin will also enhance the research in breast care and prototype development of this promising imaging technique. Stay tuned to more updates of 3BAtwin and our research!