Call for MRI scan for high breast density: ‘It saved my life’

Many women are unaware of their breast density, and this can be crucial for early detection of breast cancer. Women with type D breast density are four times more likely to develop breast cancer, and routine mammography is often not enough for them. Early tumors are difficult to see with high breast density, but they can be detected with an MRI scan. But many women do not get this scan as a standard.

Every year, approximately eighty thousand women with this type of breast participate in the population survey, without being told that they have type D breast density. As a result, they miss vital information. It is therefore requested that this information be shared routinely and that women with type D be offered an MRI scan. The Dutch Breast Cancer Society is a a petition start, which has now been signed over eleven thousand times.

Caroline would like to know that she had type D breasts. Her mother died in 1997 at the age of 60 from breast cancer, which was discovered too late. Caroline therefore asked for further research in addition to the mammograms, but this was always refused. When she finally asked for her medical file, she said doctors couldn’t see anything because of the amount of glandular tissue in her breast.

‘MRI scan saved my life’

Finally she got a call from her doctor for an MRI scan, which revealed she had cancer. “When I heard it, I was very surprised. But at the same time I was so grateful that I had followed through and caught it early. The cancer had not yet spread. I am still say: MRI saved my life. If I hadn’t had it, I would have kept walking around with it and it would have been too late.”

Secretary of State Karremans arrived late The Heart of Holland know that they will soon enter into discussions with the Dutch Breast Cancer Association, the Health Council and radiologists to discuss how to deal with this problem.