LONDON, June 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Data presented today at the European Institute of Oncology's 12th Milan Breast Cancer Conference confirms that Breastlight detects malignant tumours, picking up lesions as small as 7mm.(1)

The hand held device, for women to use at home, was trialled at a breast clinic in Sunderland City Hospital involving 300 women. Patients were examined with Breastlight and findings compared to mammography, ultrasound and biopsy.

Breastlight:

- detected 12 out of 18 confirmed malignant tumours(1) (sensitivity of 67%) - correctly identified as negative 240 out of 282 breasts(1) (specificity of 85%) - detected malignant tumours as small as 7mm(1) (malignancies below 1.8cm are considered non-palpable(2))

We were impressed with the sensitivity and specificity of the Breastlight device. Mammography sensitivity falls between 60% and 90% and specificity falls between 75% and 95%. Breastlight's sensitivity was 67% with specificity at 85%. We are not saying that Breastlight could replace mammography but it can reliably pick up abnormal lumps which can be investigated to assess whether benign or malignant, said Mr Matei Dordea, specialist registrar at Sunderland City Hospital.

The Sunderland team see Breastlight's role in women who find palpation difficult: Women who have confirmed recurrent cysts find it difficult to palpate. As benign cysts tend not to have a blood supply, they will not show up with Breastlight. However, if women feel new cysts they should always seek medical advice.

This Morning's Dr Chris Steele said: This latest evidence confirms Breastlight's place alongside traditional methods of breast awareness at home. When used in conjunction with self examination, it could help women detect abnormalities early. It reminds women to get into a good routine and has been clinically proven to detect malignant disease that cannot be felt by hand.

Breastlight has been evaluated at-home in a User Study involving over 1,200 women.(3) Results showed that Breastlight encourages breast examination, at recommended frequency levels, and it gives women confidence in their breast examination:

- 80% of women said they felt more confident when using Breastlight in addition to their existing routine(3) - pre-Breastlight, 34% of women checked their breasts less than once every three months. Post-Breastlight this was reduced to 10%(3) - once a month checkers, increased from 44% pre-Breastlight to 76% post-Breastlight(3) - all women in the study continued with their usual practice including self examination and attending mammograms(3)

Breastlight is a UK invention that works by shining a very bright but harmless red LED light through breast tissue. Veins and other blood vessels show up as dark lines, often referred to as the 'map' of the breast. This is normal.

If a woman detects dark spots or shadows, this is generally an indication that there is an abnormality. This could be the stimulation of blood vessels (angiogenesis) when a tumour is developing or a benign lesion such as a bruise or blood filled cyst.

Mr Matei Dordea presents this study on June 17th at the EIO 12th Milan Breast Cancer Conference.

References

1. Iwuchukwu O, Keaney N, Dordea M: Analysis of Breastlight findings in patients with biopsies. City Hospital Sunderland. Presentation given at the European Institute of Oncology's 12th Milan Breast Cancer Conference

2. Canadian Cancer Society

3. User Study available at http://www.breastlight.co.uk

Breastlight is available in Boots GBP84.99 and online at http://www.breastlight.com and boots.com.

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk

SOURCE: PWB Health Ltd

CONTACT: For abstract, pictures, case studies, interviews contact KateFreeman at Breastlight Tel: +44(0)7748-142113. Email: kate@breastlight.com