Karen, a consultant radiographer, with short dark hair and glasses, next to a computer screen in a dark room, looking at x-rays of breasts taken in the mammography suite.

Using MRIs to detect and monitor breast cancer

Category: Personal diangosis

Attend an online workshop to help researchers understand how people affected by breast cancer feel about MRI for breast cancer detection and monitoring.

What’s the project about?

Researchers are developing new equipment to diagnose and monitor breast cancer development. This new equipment uses an imaging technique called high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). 

Using MRI could potentially give people more detailed results after a breast scan, which could reduce the number of tests people need, and improve their experience of breast scans. 

To help shape how they develop the equipment, the researchers are holding an online workshop for people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer. This will help them understand what your priorities are for detection and monitoring of breast cancer. 

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Annie Howitt

Job title: Senior Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Officer

Organisation: King's College London

Email address: annie.howitt@kcl.ac.uk

Phone number: 02078 489 664 

Who can take part?

You can take part if both:

  • You’ve had a personal diagnosis of primary or secondary breast cancer, or a local or regional recurrence of primary breast cancer
  • And you've previously had an MRI scan

Why do you want me to be involved? 

The researchers want to understand what your priorities are when it comes to diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer. They want your experiences to shape how they create the new MRI equipment, so that people in the future will hopefully have more comfortable scans, and a smoother journey to diagnosis. They hope it will also allow people to have a better understanding of their specific disease.

What will you ask me to do?

The researchers would like you to attend a 1 hour online workshop on Thursday 12 June from 12.30 to 1.30pm.

At the workshops, they’ll ask you about your priorities when it comes to getting an MRI scan for breast cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

You won't be expected to share your own personal experiences, but you are very welcome to. 

While this is currently planned as a one off meeting, the research team are applying for a grant to develop this technology. If successful, they would like to set up a more permanent patient group that meets regularly. You can say whether you’d be interested in joining this group. 

You’ll be paid at a rate of £25 per hour for the 1 hour meeting and will be able to claim £5 for data or Wi-Fi expenses.

How do I get involved?

If you’re interested in taking part, please complete the online sign-up form. Or, you can call the team on 02078 489 664 (if no answer, please leave a message).

When’s the deadline?

6 June 2025

Get involved

Attend the workshop and help the researchers develop a new imaging tool which could improve how people have breast scans for cancer.

Sign up