AI detects woman’s breast cancer after routine screening missed it: 'Deeply grateful'

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A U.K. woman is thanking artificial intelligence for saving her life.

Sheila Tooth of Littlehampton, West Sussex, had her breast cancer successfully detected by AI after routine testing came back "normal," according to a report by SWNS.

Tooth, 68, was told she was clear of 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 tested by University Hospitals Sussex.

The technology picked up cancer cells in Tooth’s screening that were undetectable by the human eye, according to SWNS.

"I’m deeply grateful for it to have been caught so early," Tooth told SWNS. "All the staff were amazing — so kind and lovely and very reassuring." (iStock; SWNS)

Tooth had been previously diagnosed with non-invasive early breast cancer 15 years ago, so she reported feeling "very frightened" about being diagnosed again.

"But I knew that whatever they could see on my scan must have been incredibly small if it wasn’t picked up the first time," she told SWNS.

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Because the scan picked up the same type of breast cancer early on, Tooth was able to receive a lumpectomy without any further treatment.

She described feeling "grateful" for the AI technology, stating that "it’s extraordinary and I’m amazed."

Artificial intelligence successfully detected Tooth's breast cancer early enough to treat it. She described feeling "grateful" for the AI technology, stating that "it’s extraordinary and I’m amazed." (SWNS)

"When I talk to friends, we just can’t believe this AI can detect what the human eye can’t always see. I just feel so lucky," she said.

"Being 68, this may have been my last mammogram, so my early cancer might have developed into invasive cancer in my 70s."

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Dr. Olga Strukowska, a consultant radiologist and director at the West Sussex Breast Screening Program, told SWNS that as AI in health care develops, it should "find its place within the breast screening program."

"The earlier and more accurately we detect cancer, the better the chance our patients will have a positive outcome," she said. "Using AI increases accuracy while reducing the number of missed cancers and lowering false positives."

"My early cancer might have developed into invasive cancer in my 70s," said Tooth, pictured here. (SWNS)

Dr. Harvey Castro, an ER physician and AI expert in Texas, described Tooth’s story as a "powerful testament to how AI transforms breast cancer detection and saves lives."

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"Sheila’s story highlights the life-saving potential of combining human expertise with AI assistance," he told Fox News Digital.

"It’s not about replacing radiologists, but empowering them to deliver the highest standard of care."

The technology can offer a "second opinion that can lead to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes, especially in cases where cancer is subtle or hard to detect," Castro went on.

"It’s not about replacing radiologists, but empowering them to deliver the highest standard of care."

AI acts as a "safety net" in detecting breast cancer, "catching what the human eye might miss," an expert said. (iStock)

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier agreed, noting that AI is transforming breast cancer detection by "enhancing our ability to spot subtle abnormalities that might be missed by the human eye." 

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"With faster and more accurate analysis of mammograms and other imaging, we can diagnose breast cancer earlier, giving patients a better chance for successful treatment and improved outcomes," she told Fox News Digital.

Although AI is impressive, Saphier emphasized that the "true sweet spot" for accurate cancer diagnosis lies in the "synergy between the trained human eye and AI, where each complements the other's strengths."

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"As we see with most advancements in technology, cost is often a limitation, so it will take convincing insurance companies to cover the additional cost of using AI to enhance cancer detection," she added.