New guidelines from the American Cancer Society say women who have a high risk of getting breast cancer should undergo yearly MRI screenings in addition to yearly mammograms.
But how do you know if you are high risk? And can you have the MRI here?
Dr. Kevin Hughes, a breast specialist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, has been studying hereditary cancers in Bermuda since 1998 and recently launched a 'cancer genetic risk assessment programme' to help identify and educate women who are at high risk here.
Speaking to us yesterday he said the MRI recommendation is definitely a good idea but it may only be applicable to a very small percentage of women.
High risk factors
Women may be at high risk if there have been instances of breast cancer or ovarian cancer in the family on either the mother or father's side and if the cancers have appeared at an early age, usually in their 20s or 30s and if they have already been diagnosed with one breast cancer.
He told us: "If this is the case, women should talk to their primary care provider about their family history. If the primary doctor feels they are high risk, I'm more than happy to see them."
Women who fall into this category would likely be referred to the Bermuda TB, Cancer and Health Association, which is working closely with Dr. Hughes.
Putting the new guidelines into context, Dr. Hughes said: "The reality is mammography is by far the best thing we have going. Bermuda has done extremely well in terms of having the population screened."
He said that there may be three or four per cent of women who are initially considered high risk, but further assessment would further reduce the percentage to less than one per cent.
The key, said Dr. Hughes, is getting women to realize that they may be high risk. "If we can find these women we have something we can do for them, one of which is MRI."
The American Cancer Society launched the guidelines following a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that showed that MRI detected three per cent more breast cancers than mammograms.
Dr. Stephen Witchell, the clinical director of MRI at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said the facility does not do MRI to screen for breast cancer but it is looking at the benefits of buying a "biopsy device designed for use in the MRI magnet to allow a definite diagnosis to be made."
He said: "Once we formally offer the service, the initiation of the order for MRI of the breast would typically come after consultation with the woman's physician. Imaging exams are performed only on the request of a doctor."
Dr. Witchell says he and his colleagues are keeping a close eye on developments and that he is hopeful MRI screening for breast cancer will become a reality here.
He said: "The radiologists at KEMH are aware of the great potential value of breast MRI. We are actively evaluating the USA experience as it develops, and as guidelines become established, we expect to offer this service in the near future."
