How you prepare

To prepare for a molecular breast imaging test, you'll be asked to:

• Check with your insurance company. Molecular breast imaging is a new technology that may not be covered by all health insurance providers. Some insurance companies may cover molecular breast imaging for breast cancer diagnosis, but not for breast cancer screening. Check with your health insurance company to understand the costs you may incur if you choose this test.
• Tell your doctor if you're pregnant. Molecular breast imaging isn't recommended for women who are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you're nursing. Molecular breast imaging usually isn't recommended for women who are breast-feeding. But if the test is necessary, your doctor may recommend that you stop nursing for 24 hours after the test, which gives your body time to eliminate the radioactive tracer. You may choose to use a breast pump before your test to express and store milk for feeding your baby after your test.
• Schedule the test for the beginning of your menstrual cycle. If you haven't been through menopause, it may be preferable to schedule your molecular breast imaging exam around seven to 14 days after the first day of your period.
• Don't eat anything for 3 to 4 hours beforehand. Fasting before your test increases the amount of the tracer that travels to your breast tissue and creates better quality pictures. It's OK to drink liquids, including water, diet soft drinks, and coffee or tea without milk and sugar.