Early breast cancer detection saves lives

Widely-publicized statistics inform women about the importance of early detection of cancer. The Center for Disease Control reports that second only to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American females.

The National Science Foundation funded an extensive series of tests designed to enhance the MammaCare technology and to advance the detection process for more effective and through training. Manacare merges the results of these tests into tactually accurate breast models embedded with small, detectable, simulated lesions or lumps.

"MammaCare has created the recognized medical and scientific standard for performing and teaching breast examinations," said Mark Goldstein, a founder and chairman of the MammaCare Corporation. "You can't palpate a pamphlet but you can train fingers for faster detection and treatment. We took a private event and made it a standard."

The MammaCare system aims to modernize education practices and materials related to cancer detection.

"We viewed the company as having valuable technology that was antiquated and that the NSF award could give a boost and modernize a product for education related to cancer detection, said Glenn Larsen, program director in the Engineering Directorate at NSF. "The panel and I saw this product as being of value throughout the world and of value in areas that might not have strong medical facilities or knowledge. It looked doubtful that the company could pull this off on their own resources and that NSF funding could contribute substantially to something with very broad impact not only here in the US but around the world."

Provided by National Science Foundation