These days, cancer has become such a common illness. It doesn’t mean it has become easier to accept; it never is. What I mean is that we all seem to be touched by cancer. We’ve either gone through it ourselves or we know someone who has gone or is going through it. Sadly, the number of diagnosis seems to be getting bigger.

Thankfully, the number of people beating cancer has also grown. Technology, research, and medication are all elements that are helping us beat this disease. But even with all the advancements that have been made, nothing is better than catching the cancer before it’s too late.

But catching it early requires us to go in for regular checkups. And although there’s so much awareness in prevention, many of us still avoid that dreaded doctor’s appointment. Well now, thanks to a brilliant 18-year-old kid, we might be able to skip that checkup and still detect cancer.

It started when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. Julian Rios Cantu from Mexico watched his mother go through the ordeal of cancer once again. He watched her lose her two breasts and almost die too.

That’s when Cantu knew he had to do something. But this kid didn’t come up with just anything; he created a bra that could detect breast cancer in its early stages. Impressive? Very, so it’s no surprise that this kid won the top prize at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.

The bra, called “Eva”, can potentially save the lives of many women. In a company video, Cantu spoke about his invention and what led him to this idea. “When I was 13 years old, my mother was diagnosed for the second time with breast cancer,” Cantu explained.

“The tumour went from having the dimensions of a grain of rice to that of a golf ball in less than six months,” Cantu added. “The diagnosis came too late and my mother lost both of her breasts and, almost, her life.” Unlike other regular teenagers, however, Cantu couldn’t bear to watch and do nothing.

So Cantu, together with three of his friends, designed the bra when he was 17 years old. The bra has sensors in it to “map the surface of the breast and measure texture, color and temperature.” Moreover, the bra is intended for a specific woman in mind.

Cantu drew inspiration from his mother’s condition for this bra. The latter was in fact, genetically disposed to get breast cancer. And so, when it came to designing the bra, Cantu made sure that it was made for women who are genetically predisposed to this form of cancer.

The bra works together with an app. The woman can wear the bra as any regular bra. Then, her condition can be tracked through the app.

Talking about the bra, Cantu explained how it detects cancer. “When there is a tumour in the breast there is more blood, more heat,” Cantu explained. This would lead to “changes in temperature and in texture.”

“If we see a persistent change,” Cantu added, “we will recommend that you go to the doctor.” By we, Cantu means his company. This bra wasn’t designed to be forgotten. 

Rather, this bra has opened a new world for this kid. These days, Cantu is the CEO of his own company of technologies. Called Higia Technologies, the company already has one, potentially life-saving technology under its belt. 

So why did Cantu go for a bra? Well, in his own words, “because it allows us to keep the breasts in the same position.” Moreover, “it doesn’t have to be used more than one hour every week.” 

For now, the bra is still a prototype. However, Cantu hopes that in about two years, the bra will become certified for use. It sure looks like this kid has created one impressive future for himself.