UWB Microwave Breast Cancer Detection Using SAR

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment and a patients long term health. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Microwave imaging is a technique that uses wide bandwidth electromagnetic signals to see through the internal structure of the breast. It detects and localizes cancer tumors based on the high dielectric properties contrast with normal tissue. This paper presents a novel method for locating a tumor by illuminating the breast with an ultra-wideband signal of 4 to 9 GHz and identifying the coordinates of maximum value of specific absorption rate (SAR). Results show that at 7 GHz these coordinates could detect a 5 mm tumor and the same was obtained on increasing the size of the breast. On increasing both the size of the tumor as well as the breast, it was found that larger tumors have a better chance of detection compared to smaller tumors at the same location. Also, as the mass of the normal breast increases the absorbed power values increase.