Breast Thermography

Most breast cancers have been growing eight to ten years before they are detected, and because of that our treatment options usually involve surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, with drugs toxic to the rest of the body as well as to the cancer. With truly early detection, gentler and more natural means of rebalancing the body may be used and may actually prevent a tumor becoming established.

Breast Thermography, using
Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI)
is a painless, non-invasive state-of-the-art clinical test
that gives women of all ages the opportunity
to increase their chances of detecting breast disease
at a very early stage.

With Breast Thermography, there is no compression of the breast, and absolutely no exposure to radiation or any other harmful substance. Thermography is a simple test of the physiology of the breast (the way cells function). Each person has a ‘thermal fingerprint’, which remains essentially unchanged throughout life, except in the presence of disease. Establishing a thermographic baseline, by having two scans, three months apart, and then continuing to scan once a year, gives a woman the opportunity to detect the subtle physiologic changes which accompany breast disease at a very early stage, even prior to a tumor being established.

Image © Copyright 1997 - 2008 by Meditherm, Inc. All rights reserved

Most breast cancers are diagnosed in women forty years and older. This means that these tumors began their growth in the thirties and early forties, a time when mammographic screening is not effective because of the density of breast tissue. Breasts are also more vulnerable to the harmful effect of Xrays prior to menopause. Beginning thermographic screening in the late 20s or 30s, when mammograms are not as safe or effective, can reveal changes in the breast leading to tumor formation early enough that taking steps to re-balance the body can often prevent tumor formation.

It is important to remember that no test is 100% accurate and in the presence of abnormal changes in the breast, no one test should be used as the sole basis to make treatment decisions.

Some important points about breast thermography:

Breast Thermography has the ability to detect the first signs that a cancer may be forming up to 10 years before any other procedure can detect it.

Breast Thermography will show signs of inflammatory breast cancer, lymph dysfunction, Paget’s disease and new blood supply to an area of abnormality (indicating early tumor formation). Mammogram will not see any of these changes since it does not look at physiology. Thermography will also show changes in the tail of the breast, armpit and upper breast, just under the collarbone, which mammogram cannot see, because these areas are outside what is compressed by the plates.
In 1982, the FDA approved breast thermography as an adjunctive diagnostic breast cancer screening procedure.
Breast Thermography has undergone extensive research since the late 1950s with over 800 peer-reviewed studies in the index-medicus literature. Well over 300,000 women have been studied in groups as large as 85,000, some followed for up to 12 years.
Breast Thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90% and a persistently abnormal thermogram carries with it a 22x higher risk of future breast cancer.
Extensive clinical trials have shown that Breast Thermography significantly augments the long-term survival rates of its recipients by as much as 61%.

How to prepare for a breast thermogram:

For 24 hours prior to your scan – avoid heavy exercise, accupuncture, massage, sauna or steam rooms.
For 2 hours prior to your scan - avoid exercise and hot or cold showering. Do not shave under your arms or use deodorant, skin creams or lotion in the areas to be imaged. Avoid sun exposure the day of the test. For best result, you should not have had a sun burn or have used a tanning booth within a week of your test.
No changes in diet or medication are necessary.

Note: you must wait 3 months after major breast surgery, chemotherapy or radiation before having a breast scan, and at least 1 month after a biopsy or minor surgery, such as mole removal, for results to be accurate.

Procedure

The test takes approximately 20 minutes. You will be asked to remove all upper body clothing and jewelry. A gown will be supplied. Please bring a hair clip to keep your hair off of your shoulders if it is long. The thermographer will review your history and breast questionnaire with you prior to your scan. Please inform the thermographer if you have had any recent skin lesions (rashes, cuts or abrasions) on your breasts, as the inflammation might result in inconclusive findings.
After discussing your history and answering any questions you might have, five images will be taken of your breasts and surrounding area. The procedure is entirely non-invasive. There is no contact with the body at any time and the camera emits no radiation.

You are welcome to bring a companion or partner to be present at the examination.