Project Proposal and Plan
Methods to Improve the Drawback of Sensitivity of Thermogram Based Detection of Breast Cancer
1. Introduction:
Breast cancer is the most occurring type of cancer among women because the breast tissues are more susceptible to catch cancer. Therefore, different methods claim to detect breast cancer in its early stage. One of these methods is a thermogram that claims to detect breast cancer in many early stages. However, research has not provided any evidence regarding the claim. The treatment works by using an infrared camera to detect heat patterns and blood flow in breasts. The change in colour occurs in heated areas, and the blood flow also gets affected. It serves the purpose, but it has severe limitations as it does not treat breast cancer. The FDA indeed considers it as an adjunctive method along with other treatments like mammography. However, it is worth conducting research to improve the sensitivity of a thermogram as a treatment to detect breast cancer. The proposed research states that the research field should consider methods to get rid of these drawbacks associated with the thermogram based detection of breast cancer so that it can help patients. Thermogram is the method that should be used to make it more effective and useful.
2. The Main Objective and Purpose of the Research:
- To investigate how the sensitivity of thermogram-based detection of breast cancer can be improved so that the medical field can use it for effective treatment?
3. Questions need to be answered:
- How can the sensitivity of thermogram-based detection of breast cancer be improved so that the medical field can use it for effective treatment?
- What is the benefit of thermogram for detection of breast cancer?
- How can breast cancer detection be improved using thermogram?
- What are different methods of detecting breast cancer using thermogram?
- What are the practical implications of the research?
4. A brief description of the Proposal:
The proposed project is to find and investigate methods for the improvement of thermogram based detection of breast cancer. It has drawbacks because its effectiveness is limited. The detection ability of the method is less than other methods, but it is still used. Therefore, the proposed project wants to know how to improve its effectiveness by coming up with its drawbacks. The scope of the project revolves around getting responses from the medical field and practitioners so that methods for improvement of the thermogram can be known.
Breast cancer detection is a serious issue because early detection helps in treatment in its early stages. One of the methods is to use the manual self-examination in which breasts are palpated to note changes in patterns and abnormal lumps. However, this method also has got limitations as it might cause anxiety and depression among women experiencing it (Somayyeh & Aydogdu, 2019).
The most popular and evidence-based method for the detection is mammography that is popular since the 1960s. It starts with a clinical exam in which compressed and low-energy X-rays are employed to detect the changes in breasts. Its effectiveness calls for women to have the treatment every one or two years if the woman is of 40 years of age or above (Yeom, et al., 2019).
Another adjunctive method is there that is called 3D mammography. It is also called digital breast tomosynthesis. If this method is used with mammography, the rate of detection increases. Thus, the method becomes more effective.
Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is another method that utilizes strong magnetic fields and radio waves to serve the purpose. It makes images of tissues of different body areas. The limitation of the method is expensive and there is a high rate of false positives.
Sonography or ultrasound is another method for breast cancer detection. Its false positive and false negative rates are also high, but it is less costly and does not cause anxiety or discomfort among patients.
Breast cancer detection is also possible through a thermogram, and it is considered to be an adjunct method for screening of breasts. Infrared imaging takes the surface temperature of the surface of breasts, and it can detect thermal signatures as well. Breast cancer has numerous methods to increase its effectiveness, along with its adjunctive role for detection. These include infrared thermograms and using it with other methods. The proposed research is going to study these methods for improving the drawbacks of the sensitivity of the method for breast cancer detection.
The literature review highlights different methods for detecting breast cancer, and a thermogram is one of these methods. But the research also covers how this particular method can be made more perfect.
5. Methodology:
The project proposal is about a treatment method that has limitations. However, it is effective, as well. Therefore, the proposed research aims to find methods for the improvement of the treatment. It requires a methodology to serve this purpose.
The chosen research philosophy for the project is quantitative because it brings generalized results. It is a sign of effective research because research should benefit the medical field without any strict specifications. The qualitative research method might broaden the scope of research that is not the aim. The research design for the proposed research is explanatory, which would answer what the case is and how to bring in more improvements.
The sample for the research consists of medical practitioners and doctors to give their experiences and input of using a thermogram for the detection of breast cancer. Convenience random sampling is the technique to be employed for the purpose. In data collection and processes, the proposed research aims to adhere to ethical guidelines so that any respondent may not get harmed.
The proposed project plan is in the following that has been developed using the Project Libre software. According to the plan, the project would start after the submission of the proposal and its approval. After the submission, the project would be completed in almost two and a half months. The main activities of the project are the introduction of the project, its literature review, data collection in light of the methodology, results, discussions, and findings, and conclusion in the end. The timeline of activities on the Gantt chart shows that each activity starts at the end day of the preceding activity. It is because of the reliance on the start of activity at the end of the preceding activity.
6. Expected Outcomes:
The expected outcomes from this research are to provide practical guides for the use of thermogram for the detection of breast cancer. There are different methods that can remove drawbacks of using the method and the proposed research would bring those methods on the surface.
References
Somayyeh, N. P., & Aydogdu, N. G. (2019). The Effect of Breast Cancer Fear on Early Detection Behaviors of Women. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 12(2), 1-9.
Yeom, Y. K., Chae, E. Y., Kim, H. H., Cha, J. H., Shin, H. J., & Choi, W. J. (2019). Screening mammography for second breast cancers in women with history of early-stage breast cancer: factors and causes associated with non-detection. BMC Medical Imaging, 19(1), 1-9.
