Contact Us for Donations
Think Pink Bahrain
Bahrain Breast Cancer Charity
Donations:
Tel: + 973 39076717
Email: donations@thinkpinkbahrain.com
MRI For Breast Screening
Annual screening is recommended for women at the age of 40 and older who are at average risk of getting breast cancer. But for women at high risk, i.e. those with a strong family history of the disease or with a genetic mutation that predisposes them to breast cancer, an MRI breast scan is highly recommended as they have shown to be more sensitive than a mammography for finding a breast tumor.
Younger Women & Screening
Women at high risk of breast cancer need to begin screening at a younger age. MRI for breast screening is effective in younger women because their breast tissue is denser making the images harder to read. With the MRI very small tumors can be identified. Unlike a mammogram, an MRI machine does not use x-rays.
According to the Oncology Centre at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, the majority of cancer cases are breast related affecting 8 out of 10 of the patients in the complex, many of whom are diagnosed at a later stage. Alarmingly, statistics have also indicated that younger women are increasingly getting breast cancer at the tender age range of 20s – 30s with the youngest Bahraini to have breast cancer being 19. Women at high risk should be screened by both an MRI and a mammogram.
MRI Fund
Think Pink Bahrain aims to purchase an MRI machine to assist the Salmaniya Medical Complex in their fight against breast cancer. Currently, this machine is not available to the people of Bahrain. Upon purchasing this equipment, it will be available for free at the Salmaniya Medical Complex.
Are you at high risk?
- have a BRCA 1 or 2 Mutation
- have a first degree relative with a BRCA 1 or 2 mutation and have not been tested?
- have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20-25% or more using standard risk assessment models?
- receive radiation treatment to the chest between ages 10 – 30 for Hodgkin Disease?
- Carry or have a first degree relative who carries a genetic mutation in the TP53 or PTEN genes?
