December 31, 2025 Wiggy Saunders

Why We Invested BIG $$ in a New Breast Imaging Machine

Recently, Dr. Lantelme and I expanded the suite of services we offer to include a new, non-invasive breast imaging technology. As a physician, I want to start with something very clear: breast imaging exists for a good reason.

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting women, and early detection can absolutely save lives.

Imaging gives us information that a physical exam simply can’t, with it we can detect subtle tissue changes, developing masses, structural shifts that happen long before symptoms appear.

In our practice, I often explain it like this: breast imaging is a flashlight, not a verdict.

It helps us see what might deserve closer attention so we can act earlier, more thoughtfully, and with better outcomes.

That’s the goal.

But supporting early detection does not mean we should stop asking questions about how we detect disease, especially as technology evolves. And that’s where the conversation gets more nuanced.

This is also where integrative medicine is taking steps to do things in a healthier way.

Traditional medicine can be short-sighted, using tools that work, but sometimes at the patients' detriment.

I don’t want to practice medicine that way, and I doubt you want to be subject to that kind of treatment.

The Hidden Costs of More Invasive Breast Imaging

The mammogram is what almost everyone thinks of when they think of early detection of breast cancer.

Sadly, mammography has become so routine that many people never stop to question it.

It’s often treated as “just part of being a woman.” But ubiquity does not mean risk-free, and this is where an integrative lens matters.

Radiation exposure, even at low doses, is cumulative. Mammograms use ionizing radiation, which we know can damage DNA.

The absolute risk from a single mammogram is small, yes, but repeated exposure over decades… particularly beginning at younger ages will add up.

Multiple studies have raised concerns that routine screening in low-risk women may contribute to radiation-induced cancers, especially in genetically susceptible populations.

Then there’s compression. Mammography requires significant mechanical pressure on breast tissue to flatten it for imaging.

Women often complain that it felt like their breast was “caught in a vise.”

While this is usually tolerated, there’s ongoing debate about whether repeated compression could theoretically contribute to tissue trauma or inflammatory responses.

We can’t see that there is any definitive answer here, and I want to be honest about that, but the absence of certainty isn’t the same as the absence of concern.

Another major issue is the false-positive rate and overdiagnosis.

Mammograms can detect abnormalities that look suspicious but are biologically insignificant.

This leads to additional imaging, biopsies, anxiety, and sometimes even surgery... all for findings that may never have caused harm.

From a whole-person perspective, psychological stress is not a trivial side effect.

Chronic fear and medical trauma matter, too.

And finally, mammography struggles with dense breast tissue, which is incredibly common, especially in younger women.

Dense tissue not only reduces mammogram accuracy, but it’s also independently associated with increased breast cancer risk, meaning the very women who need better screening often get the least clarity from traditional methods.

None of this means mammograms are “bad” or should be abandoned wholesale.

It means we should stop pretending they’re perfect and start embracing better tools where appropriate.

A New Era of Breast Assessment: Less Invasive, More Insightful

This is where newer technologies become genuinely exciting.

Over the last several years, breast imaging has expanded beyond radiation-based tools to include sound-based and pressure-free approaches that work with the body rather than stressing it.

One of the most promising advances I’ve seen is Breast Acoustic CT, developed by QT Imaging and used in their system.

Instead of radiation, Breast Acoustic CT uses sound waves to create detailed 3-D images of breast tissue.

No compression.

No ionizing radiation.

No painful squeezing.

The physics are closer to ultrasound, but the output is far more comprehensive: a full volumetric map of breast structure rather than flat, two-dimensional slices.

From a clinical standpoint, this matters for several reasons.

First, it’s gentler. Patients lie comfortably during imaging, which reduces stress and makes the scan easier. If you don’t brace for pain, you’re more likely to follow through with recommended screening.

Second, it performs particularly well in dense breast tissue, where mammography often struggles. Acoustic imaging doesn’t rely on X-ray contrast, so density becomes far less of a barrier to clarity.

Third, and this is key for integrative care, it allows us to reduce cumulative radiation exposure. When we can gather meaningful information without adding radiation burden, that aligns perfectly with a prevention-first mindset.

That’s why we’re incorporating Breast Acoustic CT into our office.

Not as a replacement for every traditional tool, and not as a magic solution, but as a smarter, safer option for many patients, especially those who are younger, have dense breasts, or are understandably concerned about repeated mammograms over time.

My job isn’t to tell the world that what they’re doing is “wrong,” it’s to offer tools that respect the body, reduce unnecessary harm, and still give us excellent clinical insight.

This one checks those boxes.

Want to Book a Scan?

Breast health isn’t just about finding disease; it’s about how we look for it.

Medicine works best when it evolves, when we question old assumptions, and when we adopt innovations that lower risk while preserving benefit.

Less invasive breast imaging isn’t about fear of mammograms.

It’s about better options, better experiences, and better long-term health strategies.

And as both a physician and a patient advocate, I’m encouraged to finally have tools that allow us to screen thoughtfully, without asking the body to pay an unnecessary price for the information we’re seeking.

If you’re curious whether newer imaging options like Breast Acoustic CT might be appropriate for you, that’s a conversation worth having.

And it’s one I’m glad we can now offer.

Our Imaging Center and Health Store is located right across the street from our main building at 3283 Robinhood Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Our Imaging Center is independent of our medical practice, and you do not have to be a patient to book a scan.

We are currently open for patients to book appointments, giving them early access, and will be open to the public for this scan on March 1 2026. Our Imaging Center also offers Thermography, which is open to everyone beginning immediately. To book an appointment for either scan, call us at (336) 306-8649. You can learn more about both scans here.

📅 Important Imaging Center and Health Store Dates

For patients, QT Imaging: starting on December 29th, you can schedule your appointment now
For public, QT Imaging, non-patients on March 1st
For patients and the public, Thermography can schedule appointments now
Health Store is open to everyone now.