It is no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has taken a firm stance at the forefront of all new technology. It’s potential benefit to the healthcare sector is something that should be welcomed. The NHS have recently announced a £21m investment in AI technology to accelerate diagnosis of heart conditions, strokes and cancers.
Academics and expert health care professionals are developing AI breast screening technology which has the potential to help practitioners detect and diagnose cancer that is often missed during the current breast screening procedures.
Mammograms as they are currently being used, offer low level x-rays which detect and monitor signs of breast cancer. These save approximately 1,300 lives every year in the United Kingdom. Sadly, plenty of cases go undetected even with mammograms and they are only picked up on at the later stage when the cancer becomes more noticeable and is progressed. According to statistics, in 2020, there were 685,000 deaths from the disease and 2.3 million people were diagnosed with breast cancer.
AI research studies are being pioneered by NHS Grampian, the University of Aberdeen, which have analysed approximately 200,000 mammograms from more than 50,000 people to help determine how well AI tools can detect breast cancer.
The software, code named Mia, has been assessed by the research team from University of Aberdeen. Their studies so far have indicated that technology was successful in identifying potentially missed breast cancers. The new AI technology has suggested that recalling 34.1% of women who would go on to develop breast cancer in between screenings for further investigation.
Further studies in America report that such technology is being tested and has demonstrated the ability to spot cancer at least as well as human radiologists. The initial investigations of artificial intelligence in the health care system is showing clear benefits and signs as to how it can improve public health.
The AI technology is being designed to work alongside skilled practitioners as opposed to replacing them in their entirety. Both AI and practitioners can work hand in hand to assist one another which would go some way in helping the current issue the NHS is facing of a shortfall and clinical radiologist. The downside of this is that this leads to longer waiting times and worse outcomes for delayed diagnosis. The NHS, since Covid, and perhaps before, has been under increasing strain and it is seen that the AI technology could go some way to relieving the pressures and strains our healthcare sector is facing. Whilst the AI continues to make the headlines in all walks of life, the potential it has to reduce delayed diagnosis and in particular to treat breast cancer, should be welcomed.
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If you have suffered a delayed diagnosis in breast cancer, or any cancer, please contact our team at Calio claims on 0800 988 8082 or by using our online enquiry form.
