Copyright healthcareradius
Commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month and taking a significant step towards proactive breast health, ShardaCare Healthcity, a multispecialty hospital in North India, has launched a free comprehensive breast health screening program using Thermalytix, an AI-powered screening solution. The screening offers a contactless, radiation-free, and painless breast cancer test and is being conducted at the hospital, as well as in corporate offices, RWAs and community centres. The initiative emphasises self-awareness, healthy lifestyle choices, and professional screenings to maintain overall breast tissue health and detect potential problems early across all age groups. The program is being spearheaded by Dr Anil Thakwani, Senior Consultant & Head of Department, Oncology, ShardaCare Healthcity. Painless AI-based screening tool Aligning with the growing burden of breast cancer in India, ShardaCare Healthcity’s initiative aims to bridge critical gaps in early detection and screening. Breast cancer accounts for nearly 14 per cent of all cancer cases among Indian women, with incidence projected to rise by 13.4 per cent from 200,000 cases in 2020 to about 232,832 in 2025, alongside over 87,000 annual deaths. This surge is driven by extremely low screening rates, leaving many cases underdiagnosed due to poor awareness, social stigma, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. The Thermalytix program enables clinicians to identify patients needing further investigation with high comfort and accuracy, as it is a non-contact, radiation-free, and painless AI-based screening tool; compared to traditional methods, Thermalytix demonstrates higher sensitivity (90 to 95 per cent) and specificity (82 to 89 per cent) than mammography (sensitivity 75 to 85 per cent, specificity 75 to 90 per cent), and matches or slightly outperforms ultrasound (sensitivity 85 to 95 per cent, specificity 75 to 85 per cent) in breast cancer detection. In its initial phase, the hospital is targeting 1,000 screenings to bring advanced, accessible breast health solutions closer to the community. Speaking on the initiative, Dr Anil Thakwani, Senior Consultant & Head of Department, Oncology, ShardaCare Healthcity, said, “Breast cancer remains a major health concern, with around 60 per cent of patients in India diagnosed at advanced stages. Yet only 0.9 per cent of women aged 30-49 undergo regular screenings. Thermography offers a promising, non-invasive solution that detects temperature changes caused by cancer cells without using radiation. Modern thermal cameras are fast, portable, and affordable, making them ideal as an adjunct to mammography or ultrasound, especially for young women or those with dense breasts.” In low-resource settings, it could even serve as a primary screening tool or complement ultrasound, helping reduce unnecessary biopsies that currently account for about 80 per cent of cases. We are committed to spreading awareness, breaking cultural barriers, and bringing breast health closer to women in their communities,” he also added. Early detection is the key He further added, “At ShardaCare Healthcity, we see around 3 to 4 new cases every week of breast cancer. Early detection is crucial; it significantly improves treatment outcomes and can be lifesaving. Women with a family history of breast cancer, genetic predisposition (such as BRCA mutations), or other risk factors like hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and age should prioritise regular screening. We are committed to spreading awareness, breaking cultural barriers, and bringing breast health closer to women in their communities.” Speaking on the initiative, Dr Anindya Mukherjee, Senior Medical Oncologist, ShardaCare Healthcity, emphasised, “Screen today, smile tomorrow, because early detection remains the best protection. Also Read: ShardaCare Healthcity performs first fully automated robotic knee replacement on a 65-yr-old Commenting on the initiative, Rishabh Gupta, Managing Director, ShardaCare Healthcity, said: “Through this initiative, we are taking a holistic approach, and our goal is to empower women with knowledge and access to early breast cancer detection. Through this initiative, we are taking a holistic approach, raising awareness, promoting regular screenings, and reaching communities where access to care is limited. By combining cutting-edge AI technology with our compassionate, patient-centric care, ShardaCare Healthcity is redefining breast health screening, enabling early detection, improving outcomes, and ultimately saving lives.”
