KHEIR has been a tireless advocate in ensuring that all women, regardless of income, have access to regular breast cancer screenings. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, while 40,000 of them ultimately succumb each year to this devastating disease. In the Korean American community, breast cancer has an especially alarming impact: It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Even more distressing, Korean American women have one of the lowest mammogram screening and re-screening rates of all ethnic groups in the United States. Language, cultural barriers and a lack of education, coupled with financial difficulties, often prevent women from seeking medical services.
To this end, KHEIR is proud to announce that we are the recipients of the latest equipment in mammogram technology. A SureTouch Visual Mapping System was generously donated to us by the Pre-Mammogram Foundation, Medical Tactile, Inc., and the St. Vincent Medical Center. The system is the first accurate, affordable and comfortable breast examination solution for women under 40 years old. Unlike a mammogram exam, where the entire breast is compressed, SureTouch is a simple hand-held device that mimics a manual exam. It is also effective and safe for women of all ages, and the exam is a fraction of the cost of a mammogram. This unique combination of high effectiveness and low cost per use makes SureTouch a revolutionary product in the early detection of breast cancer. SureTouch works by measuring the reactive pressures generated by cancerous tissue, which is more than 100 times harder than normal tissue. And unlike clinical breast exams, it produces results that are quantifiable, repeatable and electronically documented. The device is easy to operate, and the training required is minimal.
Dr. Jae Son of Medical Tactile, who also received a Ph.D. in engineering sciences from Harvard, is the key developer behind SureTouch’s patented technology. He has been an entrepreneur and inventor for more than 15 years in software, electronics and sensor design. While completing his dissertation on “Giving Robots the Sense of Touch,” Son was unable to find a sensor suitable for his research, leading him to develop a unique sensor that successfully emulates the human sense of touch. Years later, this technology became personally significant when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The experience forced Son to realize the need for a more effective tool to aid physicians in locating and documenting breast lesions.
The KHEIR-S.Mark Taper Foundation Community Clinic is honored to accept this life-saving screening device. Early detection is still the most powerful tool in fighting breast cancer. To make an appointment for a mammogram, cervical cancer screening, or other women’s health services, please call the KHEIR-S. Mark Taper Foundation Community Clinic at (213) 637-1070, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
