Dr Sreekala Sreehari, a Consultant Histopathologist at NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, discusses about the natural history, measures of early detection and her unique way of helping women to save their lives through a Mobile Application called BREXA … reports Asian Lite News.
Any cancer is scary; of which breast cancer is the worst. Breast cancer is rising year after year all over the world. Dr Sreekala Sreehari, a Consultant Histopathologist at NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, discusses about the natural history, measures of early detection and her unique way of helping women to save their lives through a Mobile Application called BREXA.
Breast cancer is one of the cancers which has proven screening methods that helps to detect this grave disease at very early stage. This is possible because it has the unique nature of producing calcium deposits which makes it easily detectable by a simple routine X-ray mammogram. Early detection saves lives- Breast cancer is one of such good cancers where current treatment modalities can offer an almost complete cure if detected at detected at Stage 0 or 1.
Breast cancer is rising in the world and Asia is becoming the capital of breast cancer. Let us take the example of India, where incidence is 40 per one hundred thousand women. In India according to the recent WHO report, 1 out of 2 women with breast cancer are dying due to it.
If detected and treated early (either stage 0 or stage 1), breast cancer is completely curable today. And that is why the breast cancer deaths are decreasing in the West. But due to lack of awareness and inhibition to do mammograms, in India and other developing countries Breast cancer is being detected very late and lives could not be saved. It is so unfortunate that a vast majority of cancer detection camps are unable to reach larger populations.
This is why Dr. Sreekala developed a brilliant idea to make use of smartphone technology for the early detection of breast cancer and prevent breast cancer deaths.
The vision behind BREXA App to function as a virtual doctor, to motivate and assist women for self-breast examination after 20, clinical breast examination and yearly mammograms after 40 years.
BREXA is available in English, Malayalam, Hindi and Arabic languages. It is a free app which makes cancer detection easy and more efficient.
App Features:
- Risk Checker: The risk checker helps to assess the potential of a woman being at high risk of breast cancer.
- Monthly Prompt and Reminder for self-breast check: Every woman who makes use of the BREXA app is prompted on a monthly basis to have a self-checkup for breast cancer. This will then be done with a video assistance that will teach them to do things in the right way.
- If the breast examination is abnormal, then the BREXA app will help to find a nearby breast specialist based on GPS guidance and can proceed to book an appointment through the app with a breast cancer specialist. It also lets you remain connected to the doctor by chat facility, making follow up easy.
- Once the woman crosses 40 years of age, the app automatically advises to start mammogram testing every year in order to be on the safer side. The app will help to find a nearby X-ray mammogram centre based on GPS guidance and can proceed to book an appointment through the app.
- The BREXA app also provides quality information about the various tests that can be used in breast cancer diagnosis
- The app also provides tips and advice even after diagnosis.
The BREXA app is a comprehensive cancer solution that every woman should have with her.
The mission of BREXA is to fight against breast cancer by a total and complete awareness campaign in all phases and preparing women to do self-breast examination after 20 and yearly mammogram checkup after 40 and thus prevent breast cancer deaths. Ultimate goal is to make breast cancer screening campaigns more effective across developing countries in the world. In these countries, organized breast cancer screening programs are not available. To solve this deficiency, BREXA creates effective partnership between labs, doctors and patients.
