By Shakoor Rather
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in India as well as across the globe. It is estimated that a new case of breast cancer is diagnosed every four minutes, and alarmingly, nearly 50% of these cases are identified at advanced stages, where treatment options are limited and survival rates are drastically reduced. One of the primary reasons behind late diagnosis is a lack of awareness among women regarding the risks, symptoms, and preventive measures associated with breast cancer.
Though advanced diagnostic tools like mammography are available, they are often inaccessible to the broader population. Cost, limited availability, and the need for specialized training create significant barriers for women in rural and semi-urban areas. Research conducted by Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai highlights that training healthcare workers such as ASHAs and ANMs can be a game-changing step toward early detection. Their involvement in screening programs has the potential to save up to 30,000 lives annually.
Recognizing this gap, Dr Gogoi, an associate professor at the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh, and Adjunct Researcher at the ICMR Regional Medical Research Centre, focused on developing a tool that is not only medically sound but also culturally acceptable and easily deployable at the grassroots level.
The Innovation: SBE Demonstration Model
The Self Breast Examination Demonstration Model is a thoughtfully crafted educational tool designed to teach women how to perform breast self-examinations correctly and confidently. The primary objective is to equip health workers with a hands-on, user-friendly model that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical learning.
Currently, training sessions rely predominantly on printed diagrams, which are limited in their ability to convey the necessary tactile and visual experience. This often results in confusion or hesitancy among both trainers and learners. Dr. Gogoi’s model addresses this by offering a realistic, interactive, and safe platform for demonstration, enabling women to learn how to identify abnormalities early without fear or embarrassment.
Key features of the model include:
- Affordability: Made from every day, readily available, low-cost materials to ensure widespread adoption.
- Eco-friendliness: Constructed using safe, non-toxic, and sustainable materials.
- Portability: Lightweight and easy to carry, making it ideal for outreach programs.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Designed to be acceptable and approachable in community settings, respecting societal norms and sensitivities.
- Ease of Use: Enables trainers to demonstrate techniques effectively, ensuring that learners gain practical skills rather than theoretical knowledge alone.
About the model
While talking to NDTV she states “”This SBE demonstration model is designed for everyday use, easily available, ordinary material which is safe, eco-friendly, very low-cost, has no side effects, is lightweight, and is easy to carry anywhere by ASHAs and ANMs. Moreover, it is acceptable for females to demonstrate on an open platform, keeping in mind cultural sensitivity. This model can be a game changer if used by primary health centres or sub-centres to teach the right technique to detect any abnormality at the earliest,”
The granted patent
Dr Gayatri Gogoi was issued the patent (Design no: 395195-001) by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. While working in breast cancer research, she observed that the diagnosis of the cancer is often late, in spite of it being an external organ, due to low levels of awareness about the disease risk.
Impact and Vision
The adoption of this model has the potential to revolutionize breast cancer screening in India, especially in underserved areas where awareness is low and diagnostic facilities are limited. By enabling women to practice self-examination regularly, early detection can be encouraged, potentially reducing the number of advanced-stage diagnoses and improving survival rates.
Dr. Gogoi’s approach aligns with a larger vision of integrating scientific research with community empowerment. She believes that scientific temper and health literacy are essential tools for improving public health outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
Supported by Assam Medical College and Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Trust, this initiative reflects a collaborative effort aimed at making healthcare education accessible, efficient, and sustainable. Dr. Gogoi’s tireless efforts not only contribute to the scientific understanding of cancer but also translate research into actionable solutions for society’s most vulnerable sections.
For those interested in learning more about the demonstration model, the prototype is publicly accessible on YouTube by searching “Self Breast Examination by Dr. Gayatri Gogoi”.
This innovation is a testament to how simple, practical solutions—rooted in scientific research and cultural understanding—can create meaningful change and empower individuals to take charge of their health.
Help in healthcare
It is efficient for breast cancer screening, the simple, affordable model can be used to demonstrate a “show-how” level of knowledge transfer to first train ASHAs and ANMs of primary health centres and sub-centres. Then they can demonstrate self-breast examination to be practised by women themselves.
Extensive training is a must so that they are confident and interested in continuing it for their population. Only when the population around them adopts this simple method will the desired outcome be achieved. Currently, only with the help of a diagram on paper is the training being offered, and therefore, there is a gap in learning and teaching the skill quickly and confidently.
This would also further help in not just affordability for the detection of breast cancer at an early stage in women.
Source- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer