Mammogram - Ezra - Detect cancer early using MRI

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ezra help me with getting a mammogram?

You are able to book your own mammogram directly with one of our imaging partners using Ezra. This is only a booking service provided by Ezra AI, Inc. No clinical decision support is provided for mammogram results by Ezra AI, Inc. or Ezra Health. Your mammogram results should be discussed with your primary care provider.

What is a “3D mammogram”?

Digital breast tomosynthesis [commonly known as three-dimensional (3D) mammography] is an FDA-cleared advanced technology that takes multiple images (X-rays) of breast tissue to recreate a 3-dimensional picture of the breast. The images provided give radiologists a clearer image of breast masses, making it easier to detect breast cancer.

Are mammograms safe?

Everything in medicine has benefits and risks. The main benefit of screening is that it helps find cancer early, when it might be easier to treat.

The drawbacks to being screened for breast cancer include:

False positives – Mammograms sometimes give “false positive” results. This means they suggest a woman might have cancer when she does not. This can lead to unneeded worry and to more tests – including a biopsy (tissue sampling) in some cases, which can be painful. False positive results are more likely to happen in women younger than 50 than they are in older women.
Finding cancer that would not have needed treatment – Sometimes, mammograms find cancer that would never have affected the woman’s health. This can be a problem because treating these cancers does not have any benefit, and can cause harm. For example, a woman might get surgery or chemotherapy to treat a cancer that never would have caused problems if it hadn’t been found. There is no way to know which cancers found by screening will lead to problems, and which won’t.
Radiation exposure – Like all X-rays, mammograms expose you to some radiation. But studies show that the number of lives saved by finding cancer early greatly outweighs the very small risks that come from radiation exposure.

If you’d like, you can discuss the benefits and risks more with your primary care provider.

What should I expect?

Women notice little difference between 3D mammography and traditional mammograms. The breast will be placed on a special platform and compressed with a clear plastic paddle. This may cause some discomfort. The tube taking the X-ray sweeps across the breast in an arch. It takes about four seconds to obtain an image, just a little bit longer than a digital mammogram. 3D mammography produces more images, so it does take the radiologists a little longer to read than a single digital mammography image. Exam length is about 15 to 20 minutes.

How should I prepare?

If available, bring your prior mammogram images and report with you so the radiologist can compare them to your new images. The day of your exam, avoid using deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, lotions, creams or perfumes under your arms or on your breasts. Metallic particles in powders and deodorants can interfere with the imaging.

If you’re premenopausal, your breasts may be more tender/swollen around the time of your period, which can cause extra discomfort during the mammogram. As such, you may want to consider scheduling your scan one to two weeks after the last day of your period.

Does insurance cover mammogram?

Most insurance companies cover the cost of mammograms. If you have health insurance, check with your insurance provider to see if the exam is covered by your health plan.

Understanding your mammogram results

The radiologist uses a standard system [Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®)] to describe your mammogram results. The categories are numbered 0 through 6, with a score of 0 to 2 indicating normal/benign results. If you receive a score of 3 or above, clinical guidelines can help you and your primary care provider regarding follow-up imaging and/or a biopsy (tissue sampling) for further evaluation and management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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