Halifax Hospital Joins Breath-Based Breast Cancer Detection Study
The IWK Health Centre in Halifax has become the second Canadian site to participate in a Breathe BioMedical study analyzing breath samples for volatile organic compounds linked to breast cancer. The non-invasive test aims to supplement mammograms, particularly for women with dense breast tissue, in a province with Canada's highest breast cancer mortality rate.
The IWK Health Centre in Halifax is now the second Canadian site collecting breath samples as part of a study investigating whether breathing into a machine can help detect breast cancer. The research is led by Breathe BioMedical, a group based in New Brunswick.
Researchers are analyzing the collected breath samples for volatile organic compounds that are theorized to serve as markers of breast cancer. During the process, each participant provides three breath samples using individual cartridges inserted into a machine. These cartridges are then sent to a laboratory in Moncton for analysis.
The goal of the initiative is to develop a non-invasive early detection tool designed to supplement mammograms rather than replace them. The research places particular focus on the 50 per cent of women who have dense breast tissue, a condition under which mammography performs less effectively.
Nova Scotian women undergoing biopsies or MRIs are eligible to take part in the study. Reports on the eligible age range differ: SaltWire states the study is open to women aged 46 to 74, while CTV Atlantic reports the range as 40 to 74.
The effort carries particular significance for the region, as Nova Scotia currently records the highest breast cancer-specific mortality rate in Canada.