ATLANTA -- Researchers say a new test could offer a new way to identify
breast cancer in the earliest stages, simply by the smell of a patient's breath.
Doctors have known for centuries that the smell of a patient's breath can reveal
a lot about their health, but a new breath analyzer device is taking that one
step farther by searching for subtle changes that could signal the early stages
of cancer.
The experimental test measures organic compounds breathed out from the lungs,
and identifies those associated with breast cancer. It's being tested at the
Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta.
"The big difference is now, you go in you get your breast crushed. What this
does, you just breathe into it and we measure just from the breath," said Dr.
Charlene Bayer, the principal research scientist on the project.
In
a pilot study, the breath test was 77 percent accurate in distinguishing cancer
from non-cancer compared to 80 percent for mammograms.
Experts said this could one day mean a painless, instant screening test for
breast cancer.
"Very exciting to potentially put in the primary care physician's office as a
direct read system where a patient could be told right away, 'Yes. It looks like
something's there. Go get your mammogram earlier,'" said Dr. Sheryl
Gabram-Mendola, a surgical oncologist.
Researchers said the breath test probably won't ever replace the mammogram, but
it could be invaluable to allow earlier intervention, regular testing for
high-risk women and offer breast cancer screening to women in Third World
countries.
Source : ClickOnDetroit.com
