Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is frequently identified during mammographic screening and treated to minimize the risk of development of invasive cancer. Local recurrence is a recognised risk after breast conserving surgery (BCS), and radiotherapy (RT) is frequently used to reduce this, despite having no impact on overall survival. Little is known about the impact of RT on patient-reported outcomes. We conducted a retrospective study to assess differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), fear of recurrence or progression (FRP), risk perceptions, and illness beliefs in women with DCIS, based on RT status. Women with DCIS diagnosed or treated at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne from 2010 to 2022 who underwent BCS were eligible. HRQoL (QLQ-C30; BR45), FRP (FCRI-SF), illness perceptions (BIPQ) and perceptions of risk of DCIS recurrence or progression were assessed by self-report. Questionnaires from 160 women (RT n = 80, no RT n = 80) were analysed. Median age was 65 and median time since diagnosis was 7.7 years. Overall impact on HRQoL of treatment was low irrespective of treatment. There was no difference in FRP according to RT status. Women who received RT had larger tumours (P < .001), more breast symptoms (P = .015) and stronger beliefs in the effectiveness of treatment (P = .034). In multivariate analysis, neuroticism, perceived likelihood of DCIS progression to invasive disease and emotional impact of DCIS predicted FRP. DCIS treatment was associated with minimal long-term HRQoL impact and low FRP, irrespective of RT. Improving understanding of recurrence/progression risk may protect against persistent FRP in these women.

Early detection remains critical for reducing breast-cancer mortality, yet millions of women worldwide, particularly those in low-resource, rural, or underserved communities, face significant barriers to screening. Clinic-based imaging modalities such as mammography, ultrasound, and MRI require specialized infrastructure, trained personnel, and in-person attendance, contributing to persistent underscreening and sometimes late-stage diagnoses. Feminai is a disposable, wearable self-breast-examination patch that integrates heat, blood flow, tissue conductivity, and density sensing, with AI-driven analysis. This study evaluates the device's accuracy in identifying abnormal breast findings. This prospective, noninterventional validation study enrolled 150 women aged 25 to 75 undergoing breast-cancer screening at the "Merav" Clinic, Tel Hashomer Hospital. Participants completed a medical questionnaire and underwent a 5-minute scan using the Feminai wearable patch. All participants underwent standard imaging with mammography, with diagnostic ultrasound or MRI as indicated. Sensor-derived heat and tissue conductivity data were analyzed using a proprietary AI algorithm and compared against radiological assessments and biopsy results. Among 150 women (mean age 49 years), screening mammography identified 75 as BI-RADS 1 to 2, and 75 as BI-RADS 4 to 5. The Feminai device identified 70 of 75 BI-RADS 4 to 5 cases as suspicious, correctly detecting all biopsy-proven malignant lesions and five benign cases as nonsuspicious, corresponding to 96% sensitivity, 82% specificity, and 98% negative predictive value. The Feminai Breast Examination Kit showed high accuracy, particularly in sensitivity and NPV, indicating strong potential as a remote, cost-effective, and user-friendly early-detection tool. By enabling self-administered screening without reliance on specialized facilities, Feminai offers a scalable pathway to improve access in rural settings, low-resource communities, and medically underserved populations, groups most vulnerable to delayed diagnosis. Further large-scale validation is warranted, but these findings support its promise as an impactful addition to global breast-cancer screening strategies.