British woman thanks artificial intelligence for saving her life.
Sheila Tooth from Littlehampton, West Sussex, had her breast cancer successfully detected by AI after routine tests came back ‘normal’, according to a SWNS report.
Tooth, 68, learned she no longer had breast cancer after her last mammogram was reviewed by two radiologists.
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Her mammogram was then analyzed by an AI system, Mammography Intelligent Assessment, as part of a system being trialled by Sussex University Hospitals.
The technology detected cancer cells during Tooth’s screening that were undetectable by the human eye, according to SWNS.
“I am deeply grateful that it was detected so early,” Tooth told SWNS. “All the staff were amazing, so kind, lovely and very reassuring.” (iStock; SWNS)
Tooth had previously been diagnosed with early, non-invasive breast cancer 15 years ago, so she said she felt “very scared” about being diagnosed again.
“But I knew that whatever they could see on my scan must have been incredibly small if it hadn’t been detected the first time,” she told SWNS.
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Because the scan detected the same type of breast cancer early on, Tooth was able to have a lumpectomy without further treatment.
She described feeling “grateful” for AI technology, stating that “it’s amazing and I’m amazed.”
Artificial intelligence was able to detect Tooth’s breast cancer early enough to treat it. She described feeling “grateful” for AI technology, stating that “it’s amazing and I’m amazed.” (SWNS)
“When I talk to friends, we can’t believe that this AI can detect what the human eye can’t always see. I feel so lucky,” she said.
“At 68, this may have been my last mammogram, so my early cancer could have turned into invasive cancer at 70.”
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Dr Olga Strukowska, consultant radiologist and director of the West Sussex Breast Screening Program, told SWNS that as AI in healthcare develops it should “find its place in the program breast cancer screening.
“The earlier and more accurately we detect cancer, the greater the chance that our patients will have a positive outcome,” she said. “Using AI increases accuracy while reducing the number of missed cancers and decreasing false positives.”
“My early-onset cancer could have turned into invasive cancer around age 70,” said Tooth, pictured here. (SWNS)
Dr. Harvey Castro, an emergency physician and AI expert in Texas, described Tooth’s story as a “powerful testament to how AI is transforming breast cancer detection and saving lives.”
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“Sheila’s story highlights the lifesaving potential of combining human expertise and AI assistance,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It’s not about replacing radiologists, but about giving them the means to provide the highest quality care.”
The technology can offer “a second opinion that can lead to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes, particularly in cases where the cancer is subtle or difficult to detect,” Castro continued.
“It’s not about replacing radiologists, but about giving them the means to provide the highest quality care.”
AI acts as a “safety net” in breast cancer detection, “catching what the human eye might miss”, an expert has said. (iStock)
Fox News Medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier agrees, noting that AI is transforming breast cancer detection by “improving our ability to detect subtle abnormalities that might go unnoticed by the human eye.”
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“Through faster, more accurate analysis of mammograms and other images, we can diagnose breast cancer earlier, giving patients a better chance of successful treatment and better outcomes,” she told Fox News Digital.
While AI is impressive, Saphier emphasized that the “real sweet spot” for accurate cancer diagnosis lies in the “synergy between the trained human eye and AI, where each complements the strengths of the other.” .
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“As we see with most technological advancements, cost is often a limitation, so insurance companies will need to be convinced to cover the additional cost of using AI to improve cancer detection,” she added.