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 Breast cancer has witnessed the emergence of innovative screening technologies designed specifically for accessibility and comfort. Scientifically validated, portable solutions are now enabling early breast health assessments beyond large hospitals and diagnostic centres, informs Bhaumik Sanghvi, co-founder and COO, UE LifeSciences.
He adds that these tools are particularly impactful in urban clinics, workplace wellness programmes, community health settings, and semi-urban areas where traditional imaging infrastructure may not be available. For younger women and those with dense breast tissue, routine mammography is not always recommended or effective. In such cases, supplemental screening solutions that are radiation-free and pain-free become essential.
Sanghvi further says that India has emerged as a powerful hub of medical innovation, combining deep scientific capability with an acute understanding of real-world healthcare challenges. Solutions developed under the Make in India vision are increasingly addressing global gaps in affordability and access. UE LifeSciences is working on building evidence-backed technologies in India with a global outlook. Its focus on scientific validation, emphasis on portability and ease of use allows solutions to scale across diverse healthcare ecosystems.
Sanghvi explains that devices like UE LifeSciences’ iBreastExam exemplify how thoughtful innovation can reshape screening experiences. iBreastExam is an FDA approved hand-held device enabling primary health workers to identify breast lumps early, in just a few minutes, without any pain or radiation. Using tactile sensor technology to measure tissue stiffness, iBreastExam allows trained healthcare workers to identify areas of concern quickly and comfortably while providing instant results that encourage timely follow-up. Clinical evaluations of iBreastExam have demonstrated its ability to detect suspicious findings that were not identifiable through clinical breast examination alone.
“In one such evaluation, the technology identified 15 women with correlating BI-RADS 4 scores, among whom three were confirmed early-stage breast cancers, including Stage I and DCIS, despite the absence of palpable abnormalities. Equally telling is the response from women themselves, with 97 per cent reporting the experience as acceptable and recommending it to others, and 98 per cent expressing interest in access through local public health centres. These responses underline an essential truth. When screening is comfortable, dignified, and easy to access, women are far more willing to participate,” he further explains.
Breast cancer identified at an early stage dramatically increases survival rates and significantly lowers the physical, emotional, and financial burden of treatment. Yet a significant proportion of women are still diagnosed at advanced stages. The reasons vary across geographies but often include a lack of awareness, limited screening infrastructure, social stigma, and fear of discomfort. Data from population-based cancer registries analysed by the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR-NCDIR), Bengaluru, highlights the scale of the challenge. An analysis of approximately 2.1 lakh breast cancer cases across 28 population-based cancer registries in India showed that only about 30 per cent of cases were detected at a local stage. Nearly 59 per cent were diagnosed at the regional stage, when the cancer had already spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues, while around 11 per cent were identified at distant metastatic or advanced stages. This reality highlights the urgent need to move screening closer to women, rather than expecting women to navigate complex healthcare systems on their own.
“From public health initiatives to private sector wellness programmes, innovations in breast cancer detection have allowed early screening to reach women across geographies and socioeconomic contexts. Evidence from decentralised screening programmes further illustrates the potential of such models. Across more than 12 international clinical validation studies involving over 25,000 women, technologies like iBreastExam have demonstrated the ability to expand access to breast health assessments beyond traditional hospital settings. These initiatives show how community-based screening programmes and portable diagnostic tools can significantly improve participation rates, enabling earlier identification of potential abnormalities and timely clinical follow-up,” Sanghvi concludes.
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