Assam doctor awarded patent for affordable breast self-examination model

Guwahati: In an important step towards enhancing breast cancer awareness and promoting early detection, Dr Gayatri Gogoi, a renowned breast cancer researcher, has received a design patent from the Government of India for her innovative Breast Self-Examination (BSE) demonstration model. Dr Gogoi, who works as an Associate Professor at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh, and is also an Adjunct Researcher at the ICMR Regional Medical Research Centre, Northeast, developed the model using simple materials like cotton cloth and wool. It is lightweight, eco-friendly, safe to use, and costs only about Rs 150 to produce. The model has been awarded the design patent (Design No: 395195-001) by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. It is mounted on a small piece of plywood, making it easy to carry and demonstrate, especially by health workers in rural and semi-urban areas. Also read- Breast self-examination once a month can save lives of 30-40 percent of breast cancer patients Explaining the need for this invention, Dr Gogoi said that despite breast cancer being an external organ disease, it is often diagnosed late in India due to a lack of awareness. Mammography, though available, is expensive and requires trained professionals, making it impractical for most common Indian women in rural areas. Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai has already shown that with proper training, healthcare workers can effectively detect breast cancer and save thousands of lives. Dr Gogoi’s model builds on this idea by offering a low-cost, practical teaching tool for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs). These frontline workers can be trained first and then use the model to show women how to examine themselves at home. Speaking to NDTV, she said, "Breast cancer is the leading cancer globally as well as in India. Every 4 minutes, a new breast cancer case is diagnosed, and almost 50 per cent of them are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, in India, cancer awareness among the public and implementation of suitable user-friendly breast cancer screening programs is an urgent need." "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, she added. She further explained that "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." Dr Gogoi believes this model could revolutionize breast cancer screening, as women often hesitate to come forward for screenings, and health staff feel uncomfortable conducting checks during home visits when male family members are present. Supported by Assam Medical College and Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Trust, Dr Gogoi’s model aims to bridge the gap in breast cancer awareness and early detection, as reported by TOI. If widely used in primary health centres and sub-centres across the country, this simple innovation could play a major role in saving lives and reducing the burden of late-stage breast cancer in India.