Magnetism May Be Alternative To Mammograms

UNM Researchers Develop New Way To Detect Breast Cancer

POSTED: 8:56 am MST November 28, 2011
UPDATED: 9:28 am MST November 28, 2011

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Scientists said they have discovered a way to detect breast cancer earlier than any other test, thanks to groundbreaking research at the University of New Mexico.

The new detection method could be in clinics in just a few short years, helping to find the cancer that develops in more than 12 percent of women. A group of UNM physicists, chemists, biologists and researchers pioneered the research.

"We put our heads together and started this approach," UNM School of Medicine Dr. Helen Hathaway said.

Using nanomagnetic waves, researchers are able to isolate cancer cells in a tumor to determine how far it has progressed.

"If you have scarred breasts or augmented breasts, mammography can often fail to detect the cancer," Hathaway said.

The new method could help find the cancerous cells earlier than traditional mammograms, especially for patients with complications. Doctors said mammograms can fail to find 10 to 20 percent of breast cancers.

"This method, being sensitive and specific to the cancer cells, offers the possibility in some years from now from being a more sensitive detection method," Hathaway said.

Researchers said that their method will cause less pain and save more lives in years to come.

The new method also helps reduce the number of false positive results, which can prevent over-treatment as well.

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