Screening Breast MRIs catch breast cancer five to six years earlier than mammograms: research

Dr. David Strahle of Fenton, radiologist and retired CEO of Regional Medical Imaging, almost died as a young pilot flying a plane in a thunderstorm. The problem: dense clouds hid storm cells on the radar system and made the dangerous storms evasive. He never dreamed, years, later, he'd discover the same problem while attempting to detect breast cancer. His research involving over 670 women uncovered that mammograms missed lesions (benign or malignant) in approximately one-third of the women. His other discovery: breast MRIs detect breast cancers up to five to six years sooner than 3D mammography, often before the tumors progress to the point of needing additional treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation. He sat down with WWJ's Christina McDaniel with a life-saving message, and to discuss the importance of giving women a choice of screening procedures. (Photo Credit: AnnaStills/GettyImages).