Breast cancer cases in South Africa have doubled in the past 20 years, with many women lacking access to resources for early detection. Aiming to change this, a pioneering Breast Cancer Awareness Program launched by Phithos Technologies, in partnership with the Breast Health Foundation (BHF), offers a free, first-of-its-kind online assessment tool to empower women across the country. This innovative initiative, supported by Novartis, aims to significantly increase early-detection rates and save lives. The groundbreaking health-tech platform (phylaxis.ai) uses medical-science, data-science and personalised education to empower South African women with the knowledge and tools for early- detection of breast cancer.
The Phylaxis.ai platform offers a solution to the challenges of breast cancer awareness and prevention in South Africa. As the first-of-its-kind comprehensive online assessment, it empowers individuals with personalised knowledge, breaking down barriers to care and facilitating early-detection. Unlike traditional awareness campaigns, Phylaxis.ai leverages data-driven approach to provide targeted education and address specific knowledge gaps, ensuring maximum impact. By combining accessibility, affordability, and cutting-edge innovation, this program represents a significant step forward in the fight against breast cancer, empowering women across the country to take control of their health.
“Imagine Phylaxis.ai as a personalized health coach for breast cancer awareness. Just like a coach helps you understand a sport, this online tool helps you understand breast cancer. It asks you a series of questions about your knowledge of breast cancer, and then gives you a personalized report. This report tells you what you know, what you don't know, and gives you information to help you learn more. It's like having a private tutor for breast cancer information, right at your fingertips” says Kabelo Sejaphala, Program Director at Phithos Technologies.
Prof. Carol-Ann Benn, a renowned surgeon, top breast cancer specialist, and the head of The Breast Care Centre of Excellence (BCCE), herself did the assessment and quoted “Absolutely the most amazing thing that Breast Health Foundation has come up with, it is a wonder. The only concern is that I only got 76% and not 100%, which goes to show that we all can learn something about breast health, what we need to check for, and I encourage everyone to use the assessment tool”.
Why This Matters: Early-Detection Saves Lives
According to the National Cancer Registry, breast cancer rates in South Africa have doubled over the last two decades, now accounting for 14-30% of all cancers in women. Early-detection remains one of the most effective strategies to reduce mortality, yet significant disparities in awareness, access to screening, and medical care persist—particularly in underserved communities.
Phylaxis.ai addresses these challenges by providing personalized and easy-to-access educational content. The platform’s assessment tool helps women understand their breast cancer risks, dispels common myths, and guides them on appropriate steps for screening and prevention.
Innovating Healthcare: How Phylaxis.ai Works
Developed by South Africa-based Phithos Technologies, Phylaxis.ai integrates medical-science and technology to deliver prospective and personalized health insights. Here’s what makes it innovative:
Empowering Women, Reducing Healthcare Disparities
The Breast Health Foundation’s collaboration with Phithos Technologies will see the platform rolled out in clinics across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga. Patient navigators will guide women through assessments and provide critical information on breast health.
“This is more than just an awareness campaign—it’s an actionable tool that will help improve breast cancer literacy and screening rates, which are crucial for early-detection and reducing mortality,” said Louise Turner, Chief Operations Officer of the Breast Health Foundation.
The Breast Cancer Awareness assessment is accessible to all South Africans, at no cost, through a web-based application. This democratises healthcare by making life-saving information available to all, regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers.
Lovkesh Arora, CEO of Phithos Technologies, emphasized, "Access to contextualized and personalised health information is fundamental to promoting better health at all levels of the socio-ecological hierarchy. We view this as an essential component of quality healthcare services, aligning with the 'Right to Health' principle.
A Paradigm Shift in Preventative Healthcare
As Dr. Bradley Max Segal, Chief Health AI Officer at Phithos Technologies, explains, this initiative has the potential to reshape healthcare: “By leveraging personalized assessments, we're able to deliver targeted educational content that addresses each individual's specific knowledge gaps. This approach has the potential to significantly improve early-detection rates and breast health outcomes while providing insights into overall patterns of awareness to help define high-yield targeted interventions and effective programs & policy updates.”
Call to Action: Join the Movement for Better Breast Health
Women across South Africa are encouraged to complete the assessment, empowering themselves with knowledge that could save their lives
Empower Yourself, Empower Nation. https://bit.ly/BHFBCAA
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Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Phithos Technologies - https://www.phithos.com/
