Cisco, is committed to showcase how the Internet
of Everything (IoE) is a game changer for organisations, individuals,
communities, and countries. The potential it unlocks in garnering insights that
can be actioned on is extraordinary. From cultivating vineyards and restocking
our refrigerators, to full visibility and control of our oil and gas pipelines,
IoE’s relevance and application have been widely discussed.
IoE is already helping to unlock new
possibilities for health care. A networked connection of people, process, data,
and things is transforming healthcare through developments like electronic health
records that are customised and secured for each user, giving patients more
information about their own medical care.
In October, as we recognise Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, the World Health Organisation shares that breast cancer
is the most prevalent cancer, killing more than a half million women globally
in 2011. Cases of breast cancer in men is a smaller percentage compared to
women, but is a growing concern with the number of men choosing a double
mastectomy doubling between 2004 - 2011.
Multiple sources highlight the Philippines as
one of the countries with the highest incidence of breast cancer, with an
estimated 5 out of 100 women developing breast cancer before the age of 75,
and an average recorded rate of 12,262 new cases every year
Today the fight against breast cancer is
centred on one strategy – early detection, which is said to raise the survival
rates among diagnosed individuals by up to 90%.
Campaigns around the world that push for awareness of the disease encourage
proactivity in looking for warning signs, a step that divides the lines we walk
between life and death.
With the technology today, the key question that
must be answered is how the IoE can equip us against this cruel disease. We are
now beginning to see examples of how IoE’s ability to provide us with data
insights can help fundamentally change the way we diagnose and treat women with
breast cancer. One catalyst for this future is Rob Royea, a scientist and
entrepreneur who is leading the charge to bring a new medical innovation called
the iTBra from concept to
market with the power of IoE.
The device – a normal bra embedded with IoE
sensor technology – can detect tiny temperature changes in breast tissue. These
fluctuations may indicate the presence of breast cancer at an early stage, when
it is easier to treat and potentially cure. The iTBra works even in women with
dense breast tissue, which can be difficult to detect with traditional x-ray techniques
like mammography.
Cisco is helping fund a documentary about the
iTBra called DETECTED. This
upcoming indie-doc thriller will chronicle Rob’s journey to create the iTBra
and shed important light on how IoE can be used to make a difference in
people’s lives.
When people ask why IoE matters, there are
many reasons we can offer. The most important reason is that we work to make IoE
more than just a game changer. We believe IoE can be a life saver.
