Published 17:30 IST, October 25th 2019
Thermal camera at museum helps detect breast cancer in tourist
Thermal cam at Camera Obscura museum helps a woman detect breast cancer. Yet mammograms are preferred for detection instead of heat camera which took the image.
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An interactive heat-cam exhibit reportedly revealed a tumor in a woman during a family trip to a museum in Edinburgh which was later detected as breast cancer. The woman named Bal Gill was informed about the anomaly at the Camera Obscura attraction in May which prompted her to consult a doctor. Later, it was detected as early-stage breast cancer. The museum said that one of the thermal cameras on display showed her breast glow yellow denoting the disease.
The woman said to the media that she saw a heat patch in her left breast and found it odd as her rest of the body was fine. She called the incident life-changing.
A camera detects breast cancer
After returning to her home in Slough, west of London, the woman reportedly showed the thermal image to a doctor got scans and biopsy done. As per reports, she has had a mastectomy and will have another next month which will nullify the need for chemotherapy. Camera Obscura's general manager, Andrew Johnson said that he was not aware earlier that the cameras could detect cancer in such a way. It was only after the incident that he realized it could work that way.
Camera detected cancer due to tumour's warm temperature
The Thermal Camera was installed in 2009 in Camera Obscura which lets visitors see an image of all the hot spots in their bodies. Yet there is no scientific evidence to suggest they are effective tools in screening for breast cancer or other medical conditions, said, Caroline Rubin, vice president for clinical radiology at The Royal College of Radiologists. Cancer tumors generate heat as they tend to have a good blood supply but they vary hugely in size and position. The thermal camera which detects objects as per their temperatures detected cancer on the basis of that, she added. The radiologist clarified that thermal cameras are not enhanced enough for detecting breast cancer rightly.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is celebrated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is an international campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the second most common cancer in women. Radiologists and cancer specialists recommend women to attend routine mammography screening appointments. Thermography is not a substitute for regular mammograms and should not be used in place of mammography for breast cancer screening or diagnosis, clarified FDA. Women age 40 to 50 onwards should go for regular mammograms.
16:15 IST, October 25th 2019