If you spend the summer in shorts, tank tops, and bathing suits, you are definitely aware of how your body looks. That makes summer the perfect time to also focus on how your body feels and more importantly, how it functions. Enter Breast Thermography. This non-invasive early detection method is painless, effective and affordable. I have been using Breast Thermography for a decade, and it is my preferred screening technique for proactive breast health.
For the first couple of years, I augmented Thermography with Mammography so that I had an established baseline. That was the recommendation of my physician a decade ago. Once the baseline was established, I switched to Thermography for early detection and can track subtle changes before they become problematic.
Thermology Online defines Thermography as a painless, non-invasive, state of the art clinical test without any exposure to radiation and is used as part of an early detection program which gives women of all ages the opportunity to increase their chances of detecting breast disease at an early stage.
All thermograms (infrared images) are kept on record and form a baseline for all future evaluations. These patterns are like a thermal fingerprint which will only change if pathology develops.
Thermography shows heat patterns that can indicate breast abnormality as subtle changes in temperature can indicate a variety of conditions. Follow up procedures such as mammography, breast ultrasound, and/or MRI can then be used to rule out or diagnose cancer, fibrocystic breasts, Paget’s disease etc.
Canadian researchers recently found that infrared imaging of breast cancers could detect minute temperature variations related to blood flow and demonstrate abnormal patterns associated with the progression of tumors. These images or thermograms of the breast were positive for 83% of breast cancers compared to 61% for clinical breast examination alone and 84% for mammography. And a comprehensive review of research on Breast Thermography concurs that data on the thermal and circulatory characteristics of breast tissue is a valuable tool for diagnosis of various conditions.
Thermography is particularly useful for younger women starting at age 20 who are not in the age recommendation for mammography but want to be proactive about their breast health. It is also a great screening tool for women with dense breasts and/or breast implants where mammography may not pick up abnormalities.
However, Thermography is a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to take a non-invasive, proactive approach to breast health without repeated radiation exposure.
Thermography is a painless process (as painless as having your picture taken) that takes less than 30 minutes. On the day of the imaging you should wear loose clothing or just give the girls a rest and “burn your bra” for the day. Here is how it goes.
For a more complete explanation of how to prepare for Thermography, check out this document.
For a deeper dive consider our enhanced cancer screening that includes a blood panel that measures specific tumor markers in the blood. These include AFP which can be elevated in certain cancers; CA-15-3 which is effective in distinguishing between benign and malignant conditions; and CEA which is helpful in monitoring treatment progress and evaluating outcomes in breast cancer.
Check out our website to learn more about Thermography, or contact us to schedule your regular or enhanced screening today!
Dr. Jane Bowser is a certified health coach, nutritionist, and personal trainer, blending academic expertise with a passion for holistic wellness.
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