This document summarizes a design project for a mobile breast cancer clinic for rural areas of China. The key points are:
1) Rates of breast cancer are rising in China due to changes in diet, pollution exposure, and tobacco/alcohol use.
2) The goals of the project are to raise awareness, offer prevention/early diagnosis resources, and provide patient support.
3) Research found a lack of healthcare information in rural areas and a link between lifestyle, diet, and breast cancer. The proposal is for a mobile, self-sustaining clinic that can conduct exams, education, and tele-consultations.
1. Parsons, The New School for Design
MFA Design and Technology | Design for the Majority, 2010
Professors: Benjamin Bacon & Ji-Ping Chang
2. the case
• Rates of breast cancer in China are now as low as
12.8/100,000 women
• The Journal of the National Cancer Institute predicts
that 100/100,000 of women aged 55-69 by 2021
This trend is attributed to:
• poor diet,
• increased exposure to pollution, and
• growing use of alcohol and tobacco products.
3. our goals
Educational
to raise awareness of breast cancer
Preventive
to offer resources for prevention and early diagnosis
Supportive
to provide support for patients with breast cancer
4. methodology
Primary Findings:
• Lack of healthcare information in rural areas
• Lifestyle and diet closely linked to breast cancer
• Self breast exams, x-ray/digital mammography, MRI
routine for identification and treatment
Expert Interviews:
• Oncologist – New York
• GE Imaging Technologies – China
• UK government development officer
• QA for healthcare programs – Ethiopia, Pakistan
