Dense breast screening service launched by cancer care provider

A new screening service for patients with dense breast tissue has been launched in Oxford by a cancer care provider.

The service offered by GenesisCare will be available to women over 40 with dense breast tissues.

These patients can benefit from a rapid breast MRI scan provided by the company's Oxford facility.

Dr Fleur Kilburn-Toppin, consultant radiologist and specialist advisor at GenesisCare, said: "Dense breasts are when you have a more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fatty tissue, and around half of women in their 40’s will have dense breasts.

"An MRI scan is a more sensitive screening test than a standard mammogram and is significantly better at detecting breast cancer in women with dense breasts."

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK.

Detecting it via using mammogram can be difficult in patients with dense breast tissue.

Currently, MRI scans such as the one now available at GenesisCare are not typically offered in standard breast cancer screenings, unless the patient is considered at high risk of developing the disease.

Dr Kilburn-Toppin added: "It’s harder to spot early signs of cancer in dense breasts using a standard mammogram and having dense breasts can also increase your chance of getting breast cancer.

"If we do detect breast cancer, then finding the cancer early is important so you can get the treatment you need as soon as possible."