What is the name of your organization?
City Cancer Challenge Foundation
What is the name of your solution?
C/Can Soft Diagnostic
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
AI-powered equity in breast cancer diagnosis: Connecting every woman to timely, complete cancer care pathways.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Geneva, Switzerland
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Switzerland
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Imagine you've been screened for breast cancer and told you're at high risk, but it will take months for a diagnosis from your healthcare system. Seeking help from a private clinic is too expensive. C/Can aims to solve this issue: your location and socioeconomic status shouldn't determine the breast cancer care you receive.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, responsible for about 670,000 deaths each year. Its incidence is increasing, with notable disparities across different regions. In high Human Development Index (HDI) countries, 1 in 12 women is diagnosed, and 1 in 71 dies from it. In low HDI countries, 1 in 27 is diagnosed, but 1 in 48 dies. Projections suggest a 38% increase in cases and a 68% rise in deaths by 2050.
Many LMICs face challenges with fragmented and underfunded healthcare systems, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment. Poor referral systems and a lack of coordination among providers worsen these issues, while the absence of centralized electronic health records limits access to vital medical histories. This ultimately hinders effective care.
As a WHO Implementation Partner, C/Can aims to reduce breast cancer mortality by following the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative's recommendations.
What is your solution?
The City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can) has developed a software solution that integrates and interoperates diagnostic results, such as lab tests, imaging, and pathology, into a single platform adapted to the specific needs of public health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). C/Can Soft Dia solution will be enhanced with coordinated AI agents to automatically upload key outcomes to cancer registries and trigger alerts when diagnostic timelines exceed established benchmarks.
The planned multi-agent platform expansion will work through several specialized components:
AI-Powered Real-Time Visibility into Diagnostic Status
- Complete patient diagnostic information accessible in a single system
- Automated updates on test status across departments
- Consolidated view of each patient's diagnostic timeline
Predictive Analytics for Timely Follow-Up & Minimize Lost-to-Follow-Up (LTFU)
- Identification of pending or overdue tests without manual checking
- AI-based detection of patients at risk of missing follow-up
- Priority management process for high-risk patients who miss appointments
Standardized Data & Accelerate Operational Improvement
- Consistent data formats compatible across all systems
- Simplified registry reporting without manual data compilation through AI automation
- Bottleneck identification in the diagnostic process to improve patient flow
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
The C/Can Soft Diagnostic solution is aimed at patients diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly women in LMICs who face significant barriers to accessing healthcare services.
Let’s take the example of Colombia. In Cali, the initial cohort comprised 196,000 women, representing 70% of the regional population. However, fewer than 30% (58,000) had undergone a mammogram or ultrasound in the past two years. In May 2024, of the 315 mammograms that yielded suspicious results, only 60% led to a biopsy. This highlights the significant number of critical patients lost to follow-up, a concern previously unrecognized before this program. National indicators reported an average wait time of 44.7 days for biopsy results, but the project data revealed that 41% of women requiring a biopsy experienced delays of up to 240 days.
Breast cancer is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary diagnosis. Limitations in the healthcare system create disparities in access to care, leading to delays that are often associated with poorer outcomes and higher mortality rates in various countries. To address these issues, our solution will allow us to offer personalized support to patients and caregivers, from suspicion to diagnosis confirmation.
