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Dr Lyn Jones, consultant radiologist and lead of the FAST MRI DYAMOND study.<\/p>\nA pioneering new breast cancer screening study could transform how early-stage cancers are spotted \u2013 using a rapid MRI scan that takes just three minutes.<\/p>\n
The FAST MRI DYAMOND study, led by North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), is investigating whether a quicker version of MRI \u2013 known as FAST MRI \u2013 can detect aggressive breast cancers in women in their early fifties, particularly those with average breast density. These are cancers that may not show up on traditional mammograms.<\/p>\n
Unlike standard mammograms, the FAST MRI scan does not involve compression or radiation, and has already been shown to spot cancers missed in women with denser breast tissue. This is the first time such scans are being trialled in the UK for women with average breast density during routine screening.<\/p>\n
Dr Lyn Jones, consultant radiologist and lead of the FAST MRI DYAMOND study.<\/p>\n
Dr Lyn Jones, consultant radiologist and programme lead, said: \u201cEach woman\u2019s breasts are unique. As well as differences in size and shape, they vary by density, which determines how white or dark they look on mammograms. The DYAMOND study will discover whether women with average breast density could benefit from having a FAST MRI scan too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Funded by a \u00a31.36 million grant from the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the three-and-a-half-year study is being conducted across six NHS sites in Bristol, Swindon, Cheltenham, Truro and two London hospitals.<\/p>\n
Recruiting 1,000 women aged 50 to 52 \u2013 typically attending their first screening mammogram \u2013 the study aims to see whether FAST MRI can pick up small, fast-growing cancers earlier and more reliably than mammography alone.<\/p>\n
The NHS Breast Screening Programme already saves around 1,300 lives in the UK annually. It is hoped this new technology could further reduce deaths by identifying cancers that mammograms can miss.<\/p>\n
The initiative has been supported by Bristol-based charity BUST (Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust), which donated over \u00a32.5 million to buy and install a state-of-the-art Siemens MAGNETOM Vida 3T MRI scanner at Cossham Hospital. This scanner, officially opened in January 2024, has increased capacity for outpatient scans across multiple cancer specialities.<\/p>\n
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Dr Jones added: \u201cWe know that FAST MRI can find cancers earlier than mammograms for women with dense breasts. Now we want to know if women with average breast density \u2013 who make up about 40% of women in this age group \u2013 might also benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patient advocate Janice Rose, from Independent Cancer Patients\u2019 Voice, said: \u201cI\u2019m very interested to see if the FAST MRI technology is shown to be effective as it could have a huge benefit to women entering the screening programme.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first scans for the study were carried out on Thursday, May 22.<\/p>\n
Women aged 50 to 52 in the six participating areas will receive information about the study when attending their first mammogram. More details and a video about what the scan involves are available at www.nbt.nhs.uk\/fastmri-dyamond<\/a><\/p>\n