A mammogram is a specialized X ray imaging test used to screen for and diagnose breast cancer by detecting abnormal masses, calcifications, or other changes in breast tissue. Screening mammograms are routinely recommended for women in certain age groups or with risk factors, while diagnostic mammograms investigate specific symptoms or follow up on findings from other exams. Early detection through regular mammography significantly improves treatment options and survival rates. Mammograms are a key preventive health tool and frequently appear in medical records reviewed for life and health insurance underwriting.

In practical terms, advisors encounter mammogram results when APS reports or electronic health records summarize a client's preventive care. Normal mammograms with consistent screening history generally support favorable underwriting decisions by demonstrating engagement in routine care and absence of suspicious findings. Abnormal or suspicious mammograms that led to biopsies, lumpectomies, or ongoing surveillance require underwriters to evaluate pathology results and follow up recommendations. Advisors may need to help clients obtain detailed reports when applications trigger questions about prior breast evaluations. For female clients with a history of treated breast cancer, the timeline of mammogram findings, interventions, and subsequent stability is central to underwriting. By understanding what mammograms show and how carriers interpret related reports, producers can better anticipate underwriting questions, encourage clients to maintain age appropriate screening, and position applications with complete documentation.