As I get older, I find myself increasingly worrying about my health.
Could the binge-drinking of my university days (and, ahem, post-uni days) have permanently damaged my liver in some way?
Is my love of running slowly destroying my knees?
Will my dodgy hip result in a hip operation in my early 30s?
Another, and more serious, thought is the idea that I, or my friends, may develop breast cancer at some point in the near future.
After all, according to Cancer Research, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
Of course, regular breast self-examinations to monitor any changes, such as lumps or thickenings, are a great way to notice anything unusual, and it is always advisable to visit a GP as soon as you can if you have any concerns regarding your breasts.
However, what if we told you there was a way of detecting breast cancer by simply wearing a bra?
Well, that's exactly the kind of invention 18-year-old engineering student Julian Rios Cantu has just been awarded the top prize at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) and £15,000 for.
According to El Universal, the Mexican student was inspired to create the EVA bra after his own mother's fight against breast cancer, which ultimately resulted in a double mastectomy.
Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death for women in Mexico, with the annual mortality rate per 100,000 people dying from breast cancer increasing by 78.9% since 1990, according to research engine Health Grove.
The EVA bra is reportedly made using hundreds of biosensors which record what the surface of the breast looks and feels like, and can track any gradual changes in shape, temperature and weight.
[youtube ] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM5-xGsW4N8 [/youtube]
The data then feeds back to a computer which monitors the changes for potential increased blood flow, according to Julian, which indicates those blood vessels might be 'feeding' on something – typically some type of cancer.
'As soon as there is a malformation in the breast or a tumour, there is an over-vascularisation,' he told the publication.
'So the more blood, the higher the temperature,' he added.
The student also revealed he thought detectors fitted into a bra would be the easiest way to monitor changes in the breasts as the garment keeps them in the same place, and only has to be worn for an hour a week to notice any abnormalities.
He hopes the bra will provide a 'less aggressive and painful alternative to mammograms'.
The teenager reportedly developed his invention primarily for women who have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer.
His company, Higia Technologies – named after Hygieia, the goddess of health, prevention and hygiene – is described as being 'devoted to boosting women's quality of life by attaining a professionalisation of the self-exploration method for the early and effective detection of breast cancer'.
With the award prize money, Julian hopes to use the funds to further his invention and take on technology hub, Silicon Valley, California.
You have our full support, Julian.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
