Empowering Women Through Informed Choice in Breast Cancer Screening

Every woman deserves the right to make informed decisions about her breast health. That means having access to complete, transparent information about the benefits, limitations, and potential harms of every screening option—not just the one most commonly offered.

Breast cancer screening is not one-size-fits-all. The best approach should reflect a woman’s age, breast density, personal and family history, risk factors, values, and preferences. Shared decision-making with a trusted healthcare provider is essential, and every woman should feel empowered to ask questions, seek a second opinion, and choose the screening plan that aligns with her individual needs.

While mammography remains the standard screening test recommended by many medical organizations, it is not the only imaging technology available. Depending on a woman’s clinical situation, supplemental or alternative imaging options may include breast ultrasound, Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS), Whole Breast Ultrasound (AWBUS), QT Imaging (where available), MRI, and other emerging technologies. Access to these options varies widely, and many are not routinely available or covered by insurance.

Women also deserve honest conversations about both the benefits and the potential harms of screening. Research has shown that breast cancer screening involves trade-offs, including the possibility of false-positive results, additional imaging, unnecessary biopsies, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment of cancers that may never have become life-threatening. Understanding these potential outcomes allows women to weigh the benefits and risks according to their own values and health goals.

Many women are surprised to learn that insurance policies often limit access to alternative imaging, requiring a mammogram before other technologies will be covered—even when a woman and her healthcare provider believe another approach may be more appropriate. This can create financial barriers and reduce meaningful patient choice.

We believe women should have the freedom to choose from clinically appropriate breast imaging options without unnecessary insurance restrictions. Expanding coverage for technologies such as breast ultrasound and QT Imaging, when recommended by a qualified healthcare provider, would support personalized care rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

Our petition calls on insurance companies to modernize their coverage policies and support informed choice by expanding access to clinically appropriate breast imaging options. Every woman deserves access to comprehensive information, individualized care, and the freedom to choose the screening approach that is right for her.

Questions to ask your doctor…

Are you aware of breast screening options other than mammograms?

Why are many women told, “You cannot have an ultrasound without a mammogram“?

What are the limitations and risks/harms of mammograms?

Can you explain overdiagnosis?

Is it true mammograms can miss cancers in dense breasts (under-diagnosis)?

What about unnecessary biopsies, radiation exposure, compression trauma, and psychological harm?

Do you know anything about Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) and QT Imaging?

Why am I being told a mammogram must be done first and why are these options not covered by insurance?

What can I do if I want to opt out of mammogram and seek alternative breast imaging?

Petition and Free Resources

Our petition calls on insurance companies to provide coverage for ultrasound and QT Imaging as stand-alone options, so women can make informed choices about their health without pressure or coercion.