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“Discovering Hands” trains blind women as experts in detecting breast cancer

3 min read

Inspiring People
Source: discovering-hands.de

Discovering Hands utilises the superior tactile perception of blind and visually impaired women to become Clinical Breast Examiners (CBEs), deploying them to improve palpatory diagnosis in the early detection of breast cancer.

Blindness is no longer a handicap but a gift, substantially contributing to saving lives

One out of eight women will develop breast cancer. In Germany, over 70,000 are diagnosed every year — for 18,000 it’s fatal. Early detection can save lives. A new method uses people with a remarkable ability, people who are twice as likely to discover even the smallest anomalies: blind people. Introducing Discovering Hands. The innovative concept focuses on the revolutionary idea of this new collaboration, combining the extraordinary tactile skills of blind women with the competence of medical professionals. Uniquely pairing the abilities of blind women with normally sighted people, blindness is no longer a handicap but a gift, substantially contributing to saving lives.

Discovering Hands trains blind women to become Medical Tactile Examiners (MTEs) as their superior sensitive touch gives them a higher precision rate and enables them to detect breast cancer earlier than the average doctor. The first scientific study conducted within half a year has shown that in 450 cases, MTEs found more and smaller tumors than doctors. Moreover, the 30-minute breast examination, as compared to the usual 3-minute exam, gives women more time to ask questions and be reassured that they are healthy.
Blind and visually impaired MTEs found more and smaller tumors than doctors Discovering Hands trains blind women to become Medical Tactile Examiners (MTEs) as their superior sensitive touch gives them a higher precision rate and enables them to detect breast cancer earlier than the average doctor. The first scientific study conducted within half a year has shown that in 450 cases, MTEs found more and smaller tumors than doctors. Moreover, the 30-minute breast examination, as compared to the usual 3-minute exam, gives women more time to ask questions and be reassured that they are healthy. Source: discovering-hands.de

discovering hands® transforms a perceived “disability” into a capability

discovering hands® trains blind and visually impaired women to become Clinical Breast Examiners (CBEs), deploying them for the early detection of breast cancer.

The early discovery and treatment of breast cancer enables a less strenuous form of treatment and improves patients’ chances of survival. The clinical breast examination by the CBE is based on a specially developed, standardised and quality-assured concept of examination.

This innovative concept not only establishes a greater degree of certainty for detecting changes in the breast, but also facilitates an agreeable examination environment for women, with maximum attention and allocation of time.

In a nine-month training programme, blind and visually impaired women are trained as CBEs in qualified vocational training centres for persons with disabilities (Berufsförderungswerke) across Germany and examined by the North Rhine Medical Association.

Through this training, discovering hands® transforms a perceived “disability” into a capability and simultaneously makes a valuable contribution to enhancing the range of professional opportunities for visually impaired persons, while improving health care provision.

discovering hands® is a completely unique, innovative and globally unprecedented project that, using everyday clinical experience, not only improves the healthcare situation for patients and eliminates the fear of confronting the “spectre of breast cancer”, but also simultaneously creates social added value for persons with disabilities and, through a meaningful qualification measure, creates economic potential.

Originating in Germany, discovering hands® has, so far, not been implemented outside of the country, but there have been inquiries from 6 European and 2 Asian countries. Market studies are currently being carried out in China, Singapore and Austria. 

In an initial quality study, it was determined that CBEs are able to detect up to 50% more and up to 28% smaller changes in the breast than doctors are able to. 

Currently, a large scale clinical study to academically underpin these findings is being carried out in cooperation with the University Gynaecological Hospital at the University of Erlangen under the supervision of Prof. Dr. M.W. Beckmann.

Source: ZeroProject.org

This mapping system is an innovative solution on its own and has already been adopted by other gynecologists. It consists of five adhesive strips placed around a woman’s breast with both braille and color coordinates that allow any abnormality/lump to be pinpointed by two dimensional coordinates. This allows blind women to carry out breast examinations with complete autonomy. Trained as MTEs—a completely new profession that Frank created through his standardised training curriculum—they are also able to accomplish other daily tasks of a seeing medical assistant, including the maintenance of medical records.
Dr. Hoffmann designed a standardised system of orientation for breast examiners based on braille strips. This mapping system is an innovative solution on its own and has already been adopted by other gynecologists. It consists of five adhesive strips placed around a woman’s breast with both braille and color coordinates that allow any abnormality/lump to be pinpointed by two dimensional coordinates. This allows blind women to carry out breast examinations with complete autonomy. Trained as MTEs—a completely new profession that Frank created through his standardised training curriculum—they are also able to accomplish other daily tasks of a seeing medical assistant, including the maintenance of medical records. Source: welovead.com discovering-hands.de
This method humanises medicine by giving more attention to patients through individual contact and longer, more personal examinations. An MTE reports to the doctor as an assistant, not a replacement, and their examination feeds into the doctors ultimate diagnosis. When an abnormality is located, the doctor proceeds, most often with ultrasounds and mammography.
Due to the personal nature of the procedure, Dr. Hoffmann has only trained women. This method humanises medicine by giving more attention to patients through individual contact and longer, more personal examinations. An MTE reports to the doctor as an assistant, not a replacement, and their examination feeds into the doctors ultimate diagnosis. When an abnormality is located, the doctor proceeds, most often with ultrasounds and mammography. Source: welovead.com
discovering hands® is a completely unique, innovative and globally unprecedented project. Using everyday clinical experience not only improves the healthcare situation for patients and eliminates the fear of confronting the “spectre of breast cancer”, but also simultaneously creates social added value for persons with disabilities and, through a meaningful qualification measure, creates economic potential. Source: YouTube/discovering-hands
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