Despite having registered a fairly modest growth rate since its inception, mammography systems market has recorded incremental expansion only since it became apparent that breast cancer attributes to 11.9% of all cancer cases and affects 1.7 million women worldwide. Breast cancer has been listed as the second most prevalent cause for cancer related death in women. However, the increased benefits of getting a mammography done has led to better awareness about the importance of detecting cancer on time, thereby bringing down the rate of cancer. This has in consequence, substantially upscaled mammography systems industry trends.
India Mammography Systems Market, By Technology, 2013 – 2024
Citing statistics validating the aforementioned, in the United States, the death rate due to breast cancer has declined by 39% between 1989 and 2017. Since 2007, breast cancer death rate among young women has been steady and has decreased among women aged above 50. These estimates have further provided a ray of hope for women, increasing the sense of awareness regarding early detection and subsequently expanding the scope of mammography systems market.
While advancements in breast cancer treatment have been responsible for a drop in breast cancer related deaths, the medical community has also been concentrating in advancing the breast cancer screening procedures and machinery to treat breast cancer more effectively. One of the most essential reasons for the same is that breast cancer when detected early, presents more chances of full recovery for the patient. Such an advancement in technology in the mammography systems industry can be cited with the novel 3D mammography technology.
3D mammography is a relatively new technology as compared to 2D mammography. With the advent of 3D mammography experts are expecting a more detailed screening for breast cancer. While the 2D technology provided front and side images of breasts, the 3D technology provides x-rays that arc around the breast. The experience for women remains same in both technologies, however, the accuracy of 3D screening ensures that women do not have to return for additional images to be taken.
In spite of the advancement in technology, breast cancer screening can be painful and uncomfortable for women as it involves compressing the breasts between plates extending from the mammography system and a technician controlling the amount of pressure put on the breasts. Many women refrain from returning for regular breast cancer checkup because of the pain involved in the procedure. In this regard, mammography systems market giants had been proactively looking out for better systems that could ease the subject’s pain.
When GE Healthcare introduced a new mammography system designed by women, it apparently generated waves of anticipation in mammography systems industry. In the new system sharp edges have been removed eliminating the industrial and intimidating look of the machine. In addition, the hand bars have been redesigned to become arm rests and a wireless remote control has been introduced which lets the women effectively adjust the compression of the breasts. Initial data collected in Europe showed that the remote control made women feel less intimated and more in control of the process and they actually pressed harder than technicians would have, leading to accurate diagnosis.
The significance of mammograms in women’s health has prompted most hospitals to provide such services on a larger scale. As per estimates, hospitals have contributed to 64.4% of mammography systems market share in 2017. However, lately, the trend of installing mammography systems in ambulatory surgical centers has become more commonplace. As a matter of fact, many women cannot afford regular hospital visits for mammograms, while many others simply do not realize the extent of the consequences untreated breast cancer can have.
In this regard, vans equipped with mammography systems are thus becoming an increasingly popular concept and governments and private organizations in various nations are robustly implementing such vans for promoting women’s health. For instance, in Sharjah, UAE, the Pink Caravan Ride has recently bought a state-of-the-art van that will delivered to the UAE from US and will make breast screening available to everyone all year round. Considering the conservative nature of the Arab society, it will be extremely convenient for women if a mobile mammography unit is made available to them.
As the demands of subjects are more clearly recognized and brought to light, mammography systems market giants have been getting more and more opportunities to bring forth a plethora of products at the disposal of the masses. Powered by a supportive governmental framework that encourages periodic checkups and the rising awareness regarding early detection and treatment, mammography systems industry size will $3.2 billion by 2024.