Results: Teen Invents Bra That Can Save Millions After Mom Nearly Dies Of Breast Cancer

When Julian Rois Cantu was 13 years old, his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. His mom spent years battling the disease which eventually resulted in a double mastectomy. "The diagnosis came too late," Julian recalled. "My mother lost both of her breasts and almost her life." Have you or someone close to you battled breast cancer -- perhaps even more than once?

With his mother as his inspiration, Julian decided the world needed a better way to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women are encouraged to regularly examine their breasts, but it can be difficult to determine subtle changes in the body. That's why the Mexican teen invented an "auto exploration bra," a bra that could save millions of lives. The now-18-year-old's innovative bra contains 200 sensors that can spot early signs of breast cancer. The bra is meant to be worn for one hour a week; during that hour, the sensors in the bra map the surface of the wearer's breast and gather vital information. Sensors track texture, color, temperature, and blood flow. This data is transferred via Bluetooth to a computer or app. By looking over this data, the wearer can tell whether or not any unhealthy changes have taken place in their breasts. Julian's idea prompted him to establish his own company, Higia Technologies, at age 17. Higia's mission is to improve the lives of women and prevent breast cancer with new technology. Do you think this sounds promising?

The bra, named Eva, still hasn't been tested, but the idea is promising enough that Higia Technologies have attracted funding, winning the top prize of $20,000 at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards competition to develop the idea. Another company has been working on a similar breast cancer diagnosic wearable is Cyrcadia Health, a Reno, Nevada-based organization formerly known as First Warnings Systems which made some headlines back in 2012. Cyrcadia has quite a head start on Higia -- its product, the iTBra, has already secured FDA 510(k) Class II approval and completed some US clinical trials. Knowing this, are you surprised that a teenager developed something similar to what this company developed?

With breast cancer, early detection is key. Although rare, men can also get breast cancer, but the screening process is usually done by a physician. Which of these proactive steps do you practice?