Startup Mantra: Using Breath to Detect Cancer in a Simple Way

A Pune startup has developed a breath analysis tool to detect breast cancer, making screening easier and more accessible for women.

Startup Mantra: Using Breath to Detect Cancer in a Simple Way
Startup Mantra: Using Breath to Detect Cancer in a Simple Way

Pune: Imagine if your breath could reveal secrets about your health. Well, that’s exactly what a couple in Pune is working on. Jilma Peruvangat and her husband Suman have created a tool called CanScan that detects breast cancer just by analyzing your breath. It’s pretty cool, right?

Jilma, who has a biotech background, got inspired by how dogs can sniff out cancer in urine. She thought, why not use breath instead? After diving into research, they realized breast cancer is a big issue in India, especially for women under 45 who can’t get mammograms. So, they decided to focus on that.

They started their journey in 2017, collecting breath samples from women with and without breast cancer. Using a mass spectrometer, they found unique chemical patterns in the breath of cancer patients. But here’s the catch: the compounds they needed to detect were super tiny, so they had to create their own sensitive sensors.

With help from a local incubation center, they developed their technology. Jilma and Suman worked hard, and now their device can identify these unique chemicals in breath, much like how a dog sniffs out a bone. Instead of a painful mammogram, you just breathe into their device. It’s quick and painless!

They’ve tested it on over 150 subjects and found it to be more than 95% accurate. They’re currently running clinical trials in Pune to ensure everything works perfectly. Plus, they’ve filed for a patent to protect their invention.

What’s exciting is that there aren’t any other breath analysis tests for breast cancer on the market right now. Jilma knows there’s competition, but their portable device can be used in remote areas where healthcare is hard to access.

They’ve secured funding from various grants and are looking to raise more to get the necessary licenses for manufacturing. Jilma has big plans to expand CanScan to detect other diseases too, like diabetes and other cancers.

It’s been a long journey for them, but they’re hopeful. If CanScan takes off, it could help countless women who struggle to get screened for breast cancer. It’s all about making healthcare more accessible and saving lives.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/startup-mantra-using-breath-to-detect-cancer-101737746655591.html

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/startup-mantra-using-breath-to-detect-cancer-101737746655591.html
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