AI Offers New Hope for Breast Cancer Patients Battling Mental Health Challenges
Charlottesville, VA - August 22, 2024 – In a meaningful leap forward for holistic cancer care, researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA) are pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to proactively address the frequently enough-overlooked mental health needs of breast cancer patients. The initiative, unveiled this week, aims to identify and support individuals struggling with anxiety, insomnia, and other psychological burdens associated with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment – offering timely intervention before thes challenges escalate.
Breast cancer remains a global health crisis, impacting an estimated 2.3 million people worldwide, according to Dr. David Penberthy, associate professor of radiotherapeutic oncology at UVA. Breast cancer is a worldwide problem,
he stated. While survival rates are steadily improving thanks to increasingly targeted and effective treatments, the emotional toll of the disease is often substantial.
“We’re seeing more people survive breast cancer,which is fantastic,” Dr. Penberthy explained.”But that also means we need to focus on the mental health challenges that come with it. There is uncertainty, and dealing with it generates some challenges for people, and each one handles it in a slightly different way.”
The UVA team’s approach centers on remote patient monitoring, leveraging readily available technology to gain a deeper understanding of a patient’s well-being outside of clinical visits. This includes utilizing smart watches to track stress levels and heart rate variability, and also virtual counseling platforms capable of detecting signs of depression through voice analysis and monitoring sleep patterns.
Portable technologies, such as smart watches and rings, can identify aspects such as heart rate variability or sleep disorders and disorders. Thus,if we recognize a pattern of problems,perhaps we can intervene,
Dr. Penberthy said. The goal isn’t simply to react to crises, but to anticipate them.
This proactive strategy is detailed in a newly published article authored by Dr. Penberthy and his colleagues. The core principle, he emphasizes, is early intervention. We want to intervene and address things before they become a real problem. And that is the promise of AI.
The submission of AI to mental health in oncology is particularly promising, Dr. Penberthy notes, as of the inherent complexities of addressing emotional distress in the context of a serious illness. Uncertainty is probably a very arduous concept to address for most oncology professionals.
AI’s ability to analyze large datasets can help identify subtle patterns and predict potential issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Ultimately, the researchers hope that by providing early and targeted mental health support, they can improve treatment outcomes and enhance the overall quality of life for breast cancer patients. The real benefit that AI will give us is that we can use data analysis to help prevent things in the future,
Dr. Penberthy concluded.
Keywords: Breast Cancer,Mental Health,Artificial Intelligence,AI,Oncology,Remote Patient Monitoring,UVA,University of Virginia,Cancer Treatment,Anxiety,Insomnia,Depression,Digital Health.SEO Notes:
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