This definitely gives intimate apparel a new meaning; generally intimate apparel is usually designed to provide support and comfort. But now a bra for women, and eventually briefs for men, could have some real health benefits by detecting cancerous cells in the early stages. The undergarments could serve as monitoring and early detection systems to alert at-risk patients years before a tumor forms.
Photo Source: discoveryhealth.com
“It could emit two warnings, audible or visual or both,” said Elias Siores, director of the Center for Materials Research and Innovation at the University of Bolton in the U.K. “If the warning persists, you would see a specialist.”
The device is built on technology called microwave radiometry, which measures small temperature changes in internal tissue. Cancerous tumors are known to have a different temperature than the surrounding tissue, often because of inflammation, changes in the blood supply to the area, or increased metabolism in the cells.
Some doctors already use microwave radiometry for breast cancer detection, but the equipment is elaborate and far from portable.
Whenever I learn about new advances which can help in the early detection of cancerous cell, it reminds me of how fortunate I am to still have my mom in my life. Seven years ago my mom was fortunate to have survived breast cancer and if this new “Smart Bra†comes into effect it will save millions of men and women dying from breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Shopping list:
Pants
socks
cancer detecting bra
milk
who would have guessed it!