Charity launches appeal to speed up breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

28 October 2022

Barnet residents are being urged to support a fundraising appeal that could speed up diagnosis and treatment for people with breast cancer.

The introduction of a contrast enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) service at Barnet Hospital will lead to earlier and faster access to diagnosis and will see patients receiving treatment more quickly.

Dr Besma Musaddaq, consultant breast radiologist, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Contrast enhancement mammography makes use of intravenous contrast and the reason why it’s so great is because it helps light up breast cancer.

“Younger women in particular tend to have dense breasts and that can obscure cancers. If we give contrast enhanced mammography to these patients, that cancer will light up in the midst of a dense breast, increasingly the likelihood that it will be picked up.”

CEDM will also reduce the need for MRI scans to assess the extent of cancer spread in breast tissue. These scans can be claustrophobic and distressing for patients, while some can’t have the scan at all due to other health issues.

Unlike MRI, CEDM can be used during a clinic, meaning there would be no need to schedule an additional appointment. A CEDM procedure takes 8-15 minutes, compared to up to an hour for an MRI scan.

Three cancer improvement projects 

The introduction of CEDM at Barnet Hospital is one of three cancer improvement projects the Royal Free Charity is raising money for this winter on behalf of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. With funding, the other two areas that could see changes are:

• Introducing London’s first one-stop NHS lung cancer diagnostic service. The launch of a medical thoracoscopy service at the Royal Free Hospital would see patients with a fluid-filled lung cavity get same-day treatment and diagnostic procedures, meaning those receiving subsequent oncology care are fitter and stronger when their treatment starts.
• Using virtual reality to improve the experience of patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy at Chase Farm Hospital and Finchley Memorial Hospital. Patients would have a variety of immersive experiences to choose from, from calming, meditative apps that invoke the sensation of walking in nature or deep-sea diving to playing action-based games.

Jon Spiers, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, said: ““We’re extremely grateful that the support of our local community in recent years ensured we could address some of the most pressing needs of Barnet Hospital’s staff and patients in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now, we’re turning our attention to cancer. We want to fund projects that will speed up diagnoses for lung and breast cancer – getting patients onto their treatment pathways sooner than would otherwise happen – and introducing virtual reality therapy to give patients receiving chemotherapy a better experience during their treatment.”

The number of people with cancer in north central London is due to grow from 42,000 to 60,000 by 2030.

To support the Royal Free Charity’s appeal, visit www.royalfreecharity.org/future

Ends

Notes to editors
The Royal Free Charity is an NHS charity supporting the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Its vision is for everyone served by the Royal Free London to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce and driven by medical research that has a global impact. The charity funds medical research, facilities and services at Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free hospitals, all of which is made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters.