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Stay up-to-date with our research, press and newsletter updatesInnovations for Inclusive Breast Screening
17th Dec 2025
by Dotplot
by Dotplot
Why Breast Screening Isnt a Level Playing Field
For all the progress in breast cancer detection, access still isn’t equal. Where you live, how mobile you are, and even how comfortable you feel in a clinical setting can dramatically shape whether, and how often, you get screened. Across Europe, screening participation rates vary by more than 20 percentage points between urban and rural regions, and studies consistently show lower uptake among women with disabilities, lower incomes, or caregiving responsibilities. That gap is exactly where a new wave of breast-health technology is stepping in: not to replace clinics, but to reach people they often miss.
For all the progress in breast cancer detection, access still isn’t equal. Where you live, how mobile you are, and even how comfortable you feel in a clinical setting can dramatically shape whether, and how often, you get screened. Across Europe, screening participation rates vary by more than 20 percentage points between urban and rural regions, and studies consistently show lower uptake among women with disabilities, lower incomes, or caregiving responsibilities. That gap is exactly where a new wave of breast-health technology is stepping in: not to replace clinics, but to reach people they often miss.
The Rise of Portable Breast Imaging
One of the most promising directions is portable, non-invasive imaging. A 2024 review in Computers in Biology and Medicine analysed 41 emerging breast-screening devices, including microwave imaging systems, electrical impedance scanners, and compact ultrasound tools. Many of these technologies reported sensitivities above 85–90% in early trials, particularly for detecting solid masses. Microwave imaging, for example, works by sending ultra-low-power electromagnetic waves through breast tissue and measuring how they scatter. Because cancerous tissue has different dielectric properties than fatty or glandular tissue, it reflects signals differently, allowing algorithms to map suspicious regions without compression or radiation. Scans take seconds, not minutes, and can be performed in primary care settings, mobile clinics, or even ambulances.
Finland is already testing this idea in real-world settings. Researchers there are trialling a bra-like microwave scanner designed to feel as routine as a blood-pressure check. Early studies show the system can reliably differentiate between healthy tissue, cysts, and tumors, even in dense breasts, where mammography sensitivity can drop below 65%. Importantly, these devices are being designed for decentralised care, such as quick scans, automated analysis, and digital transfer of results to clinicians. That combination could be transformative for rural regions, where travel distance alone is a major barrier to early diagnosis.
Inclusivity also means comfort and trust. Pain and anxiety remain leading reasons women skip mammograms. Surveys suggest up to 25% of women delay or avoid screening due to fear or discomfort, even when services are available. That’s why gentler approaches matter. Wearables like smart bras, impedance-based sensors, and home-monitoring tools offer an alternative pathway. Frequent, low-stress checks that help women notice changes earlier and seek care sooner. Researchers argue that even modest increases in screening participation, just 5–10% in under-screened populations, could translate into meaningful reductions in late-stage diagnoses.
One of the most promising directions is portable, non-invasive imaging. A 2024 review in Computers in Biology and Medicine analysed 41 emerging breast-screening devices, including microwave imaging systems, electrical impedance scanners, and compact ultrasound tools. Many of these technologies reported sensitivities above 85–90% in early trials, particularly for detecting solid masses. Microwave imaging, for example, works by sending ultra-low-power electromagnetic waves through breast tissue and measuring how they scatter. Because cancerous tissue has different dielectric properties than fatty or glandular tissue, it reflects signals differently, allowing algorithms to map suspicious regions without compression or radiation. Scans take seconds, not minutes, and can be performed in primary care settings, mobile clinics, or even ambulances.
Finland is already testing this idea in real-world settings. Researchers there are trialling a bra-like microwave scanner designed to feel as routine as a blood-pressure check. Early studies show the system can reliably differentiate between healthy tissue, cysts, and tumors, even in dense breasts, where mammography sensitivity can drop below 65%. Importantly, these devices are being designed for decentralised care, such as quick scans, automated analysis, and digital transfer of results to clinicians. That combination could be transformative for rural regions, where travel distance alone is a major barrier to early diagnosis.
Inclusivity also means comfort and trust. Pain and anxiety remain leading reasons women skip mammograms. Surveys suggest up to 25% of women delay or avoid screening due to fear or discomfort, even when services are available. That’s why gentler approaches matter. Wearables like smart bras, impedance-based sensors, and home-monitoring tools offer an alternative pathway. Frequent, low-stress checks that help women notice changes earlier and seek care sooner. Researchers argue that even modest increases in screening participation, just 5–10% in under-screened populations, could translate into meaningful reductions in late-stage diagnoses.
Bridging the Gaps: Looking Forward
But technology alone isn’t enough. Access to information plays a huge role too. Recent trials emphasise the importance of culturally sensitive design, multilingual interfaces, and tools that fit into daily routines rather than disrupting them. When screening feels approachable and adaptable to real life participation rises. The long-term vision is a layered system with clinic-based imaging for diagnosis, complemented by home-based or community tools that support awareness, continuity, and early escalation when something changes.
This is where breast health is clearly heading, not toward fewer clinicians, but toward smarter, more connected pathways that meet women where they are. From portable imaging to intelligent wearables and digital monitoring, the direction is consistent. Early detection should no longer be limited by geography, ability, or a once-a-year appointment. It’s within this shift that Dotplot positions itself, not as a product that will “solve” the problem, but as part of a growing movement toward accessible, science-led breast awareness. The aim isn’t to replace screening programmes, but to help bridge the long gaps between them, so fewer changes go unnoticed, fewer women fall through the cracks, and more concerns are raised at a stage when outcomes are at their very best.