Good, Better, Breast

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the February 2026 issue.

Naperville health care provider offers a new alternative to the traditional mammogram

Very few women may be surprised to learn that the majority of historical figures who developed mammography have been men. While the lifesaving research and early breast cancer detection has been invaluable, most women would almost certainly agree with equal enthusiasm that the field’s engineering skills have left much to be desired.

Why? Because mammograms can hurt like hell. Thanks for that, fellas.

Of course, there are plenty of other reasons a woman might choose to skip her annual mammogram, including a common psychological hang-up that crosses gender lines to apply to any number of routine exams—the fear of finding out something is wrong. But it’s no surprise that “discomfort” is one of the top three answers in the reasons-to-avoid-a-mammogram category.

That’s why one local female-led firm is on a mission to upend the narrative of the painful mammogram with a new high-tech alternative. In fact, while Pioneer Diagnostics & Imaging offers an array of tests and exams at its Naperville location (387 Shuman Blvd.)—including X-rays, ultrasounds, sleep testing, and more—the Koning Vera Breast CT system that the company introduced last May as a revolutionary new breast cancer screening method may eventually become its most sought-after offering.

“A lot of women hold off on getting mammograms or don’t get them at all because of the pain and the terrible experiences they’ve had in the past,” says Gabi Rodrigues-Gonzalez, Pioneer’s director of operations. “When you take that fear away, women are more inclined to come in and get their screenings done and maybe find something that can potentially save their life.”

Bypassing the awkward and uncomfortable plate compression of a traditional mammogram, the Koning Vera Breast CT system instead has the patient lie on her stomach on a table with her breast through a hole for about 10 to 15 minutes. Rotating around the breast, the scanner uses low-dose X-rays to capture cross-sectional 3D images from multiple angles.

For doctors and radiologists, the new system provides a clearer, more detailed image to review, making it easier to spot potential abnormalities, cancer, tumors, cysts, and microcalcifications, especially in denser breasts with overlapping tissue. And for patients, the more natural setup helps eliminate the ridiculous angles, multiple takes, and, notably, the routine agony of a typical mammogram.

Rodrigues-Gonzalez says early feedback from women who have had the scan has been encouraging. And as word starts to get out, the team at Pioneer hopes that the new Breast CT system will inspire women who have neglected their breast health to get back on track with this important preventative care. “This is still a relatively new offering for us, but we’ve already heard from a lot of women who have said they never want to go back to a traditional mammogram again,” she says.

For more information about the system, visit pioneerdr.com.

Photos: Pioneer Diagnostics & Imaging