The Painless Mammogram: What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer Screening

Hate getting mammograms because they're painful, uncomfortable or stressful? Here's another option. In this episode of The Shift with Sonia Azad, I sit down with board-certified breast radiologist Dr. Richard Reaven, co-founder of The Painless Mammogram, to talk about a newer approach to breast imaging, and why understanding your options matters. We break down how a traditional mammogram works and how this newer technology differs. We also talk about: • How the painless mammogram works without breast compression • What breast CT is and how it differs from mammography • What "dense breast tissue" actually means and why they can make breast cancer harder to detect on a mammogram • Why breast implants can make traditional mammography more complicated & how the painless mammogram images the breast around and behind implants • The importance of finding breast cancer early • The current challenges around insurance coverage and reimbursement • Where women can currently find this technology • Why having more breast imaging tools may matter for personalized screening ABOUT THE SHIFT WITH SONIA AZAD The Shift is a podcast about navigating the big transitions of life with more intention, curiosity and self-trust. I'm Sonia Azad, a longtime health journalist, yoga and meditation teacher, and retreat leader, and I bring together experts, researchers, physicians and fascinating people to have honest conversations about health, wellness and the major shifts that shape our lives. Subscribe to The Shift for more conversations about healthy ways to navigate major life shifts. If you know someone who avoids mammograms because they're uncomfortable or who has questions about dense breasts, share this episode with them. This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about which breast cancer screening approach is appropriate for you. YOUTUBE CHAPTERS 00:00 — Meet Dr. Richard Reaven & the painless mammogram 00:57 — What is a painless mammogram? 01:50 — How breast CT differs from a traditional mammogram 03:12 — Why the painless mammogram doesn't require compression 04:07 — Mammogram vs. CT: what's the difference? 05:02 — My personal experience with the painless mammogram 06:28 — Why do women avoid mammograms? 08:06 — Why early breast cancer detection matters 10:34 — Could a more comfortable mammogram change screening rates? 11:22 — Dense breasts: what does that actually mean? 12:50 — Mammogram vs. ultrasound vs. MRI 14:49 — What breast CT can detect 15:48 — What if you have dense breasts? 16:43 — Choosing the right breast imaging for you 18:50 — What the research says about breast CT 19:26 — Breast implants & mammography 20:43 — How the painless mammogram images breast implants 22:08 — Can breast imaging see behind implants? 23:07 — How much does a painless mammogram cost? 24:37 — Will insurance cover it? 26:13 — Where can you get a painless mammogram? 28:40 — Why women need to know their breast imaging options 30:38 — Final thoughts KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. A painless mammogram is a different approach to breast imaging. Instead of compressing the breast between plates, the patient lies on her stomach while the breast is suspended and imaged using dedicated breast CT technology. 2. Dr. Reaven emphasizes that many women may be perfectly comfortable continuing with traditional mammography. The point is to have additional tools available for women for whom it doesn't work well. 3. Breast density matters. Dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to distinguish a small cancer from surrounding tissue on a mammogram. 4. There isn't just one breast-imaging tool. Mammography, ultrasound, MRI and dedicated breast CT each have different characteristics and uses. The appropriate approach depends on the individual patient and clinical situation. 5. Breast implants create additional imaging considerations. Dr. Reaven explains how traditional mammography can require additional implant-displacement views, while the breast CT approach can image around and behind the implant and assess whether an implant is intact or ruptured. 6. Comfort matters because screening only works if people actually participate. 7. Insurance coverage is still evolving.