Leveraging AI to Explore Breast Density and its Implications on Māori and Pacific Women's Health in Aotearoa New Zealand
Problem
Breast cancer is a serious health issue in New Zealand, and it often isn’t found until it’s too late, especially for Māori and Pacific women. Current screenings sometimes miss cancers because of breast density, which can make it harder to see tumors.
Project
Our team is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to study mammogram images to understand how breast density affects Māori and Pacific women. The AI will help us find patterns in these images, showing us who might be at higher risk and could benefit from more frequent screenings.
Outcome
We hope this project will lead to earlier breast cancer detection, which could allow for less invasive treatments and improve survival rates. By using AI, we’re working to make screening more accurate and fair for everyone.
Future
This project lays the groundwork for more personalized cancer screening in New Zealand. Our focus on fairness and community values ensures that everyone will have an equal chance at early cancer detection.
Project Update
Researchers have tested AI tools that can measure breast density and estimate future breast cancer risk using mammograms. The next step is to validate these tools using New Zealand data, helping lay the foundation for more personalised and equitable breast screening in Aotearoa.
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