How technology is changing the detection of breast cancer

October 14, 2026 / 7:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Dr. Rachel Brem decided at age 12 that she wanted to cure cancer after her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was early detection that led to her mother living way past her prognosis of six months. Now, Brem is working to improve breast cancer screening for all women.

Brem is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist and director of Breast Imaging and Intervention at George Washington University. She created the Brem Foundation to help prevent breast cancer from taking more lives.

On this week's episode of "Healthful," she discussed the innovation that makes her hopeful.

"AI is going to change everything in medicine, and certainly breast cancer detection," Brem said.

In addition to her work with George Washington University's Breast Imaging and Intervention unit, Brem collaborates with ScreenPoint Medical to develop Transpara, an AI breast cancer screening software.

Already there is significant scientific research showing mammograms paired with AI evaluations "can find cancer up to five years earlier," she said, by detecting warning signs in women that might be missed with just mammograms alone. The software can also predict future risk of breast cancer even when none is detected in…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/