As a mammography technologist, Teresa Young knows mammograms save lives. But getting a clear image to interpret isn’t always easy, particularly if a woman has dense breasts. 

Teresa knows this because of her training, and because she’s long had difficulties with her own mammograms due to her dense breast tissue. So in June 2021, when AI-guided technology helped catch an abnormality on her mammogram, she knew things would be forever different for her and her patients.   

Teresa’s breast cancer journey

The new AI technology, developed by Volpara Health, helps mammography technologists like Teresa perform successful screenings. 

After her mammogram in ’21, Teresa returned the next day for a biopsy. Three days later, she learned she had breast cancer. 

But with the routine mammogram and the AI-guided technology, Teresa’s cancer was found in stage zero, meaning any cancerous cells hadn’t spread to her surrounding tissue.  

Because of her family history, Teresa chose to have a double mastectomy and didn’t need further treatment. 

Teresa knows her mammogram—with the help of this new technology—saved her life.

The future of lifesaving mammograms  

Volpara’s technology enhances the training and expertise of mammography technologists to help them care for patients by taking the best, clearest images they can. 

The technology guides technologists to include 100% of the breast tissue—from the pectoral muscle to the nipple—in the image. 

“There are landmarks on our image that help us know that we have the whole breast,” Teresa says. “The measurements are right there.” 

Another important part of a successful mammogram is proper compression, especially for dense breast tissue, which appears white on a mammogram. Cancer masses also appear white on mammograms and it can be difficult to see abnormalities without enough compression. 

With the technology, technologists can determine the best positioning and compression for each patient, meaning they help find breast cancer sooner. 

“I really do believe using the tools we have to know the ideal compression, especially on dense breast tissue, is imperative,” Teresa says. 

Something Teresa knows firsthand.