Empowering Early Breast Cancer Detection through Innovation

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Every day in Canada, someone’s life is forever changed by a breast cancer diagnosis. Whether it’s a young mother chasing her dreams or someone enjoying the next chapter of retirement, breast cancer touches all ages and backgrounds. However, access to care, particularly early detection, varies drastically depending on where you live.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we explore the current state of breast cancer diagnosis in Canada and highlight how technology can help address barriers to care and push the envelope on early detection.

Approximately 2.8 million Canadian women live in rural areas where there’s limited access to mammograms, a crucial tool for the early detection of breast cancer that has the ability to enhance treatment success rates. Despite their proven benefits, women in rural or underserved regions often face challenges in obtaining timely screenings, which can result in later-stage diagnoses.

Although mammograms are the gold standard for screening, they can miss cancers in individuals with dense breast tissue. Younger women, in particular, face barriers to accessing these vital screenings, as guidelines suggest they consult their doctor about personal risks if they are under 50. With approximately 35 per cent of Canada’s population not participating in screening programs, there is a pressing need for improved access and education.

Innovation in Breast Cancer Screening

Innovation is crucial in overcoming the challenges associated with breast cancer screening. Wave View Imaging, co-founded by Elise Fear and Jérémie Bourqui, is at the forefront of this transformation with its user-friendly imaging technology.

This Alberta-based startup is developing a portable, pain-free, non-ionizing solution that complements traditional mammograms and is intended to be effective for women with dense breast tissue.

The company aims to address the lack of screening options for women under 40 or 45, depending on local guidelines. Supported by Pfizer’s Healthcare Hub, Wave View is dedicated to making timely and effective screenings accessible to everyone, regardless of their location. By adapting healthcare solutions to individual circumstances - considering factors like age, health status, and geographic location - Wave View is paving the way for more inclusive care.

“This innovation allows us to screen younger women who aren’t eligible for routine mammograms,” said Jérémie Bourqui, CEO and co-founder of Wave View. “By detecting changes in breast tissue early, we can provide a better chance of successful treatment.”

Their long-term goal is to create a portable device that is sensitive and specific enough to be used for screening at the point of care, such as in family doctors’ offices, particularly in rural and remote communities. Their cutting-edge ultra-wideband imaging technology delivers high contrast images, especially in dense breast, offering potential for earlier breast cancer detection.

Through their innovation and with the support of Pfizer Canada, Wave View is committed to ensuring that all women, regardless of their age and location, have access to breast cancer screenings.

As we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pfizer is proud to support the innovations that aim to make care accessible to all. It is through collaborations such as these that Pfizer Canada’s Healthcare Hub aims to accelerate the adoption of new technology that has the potential to redefine healthcare in Canada.