Breast Thermography
Article by Angela Haldane
Warning signs – ills of a modern age
Thermography is a great tool to monitor changes in breast health.
Breast thermography is a breakthrough imaging procedure where infrared images of the breast are analysed and rated to determine the risk of developing breast cancer.
Thermography is non-contact, safe and painless – no radiation or compression is used.
The infrared imaging process detects the range and amount of heat or thermal energy emitted from the body.
Structural tests, such as mammograms and ultrasound, rely on finding physical lesions (anatomy), while breast thermography detects asymmetrical blood vessel circulation (physiology) within the breast.
Thermography is based on the scientific premise that before the growth of abnormal cells can occur, an increased blood supply must be circulated to the growth area. Thermography measures the heat generated by the microcirculation of blood in the breast during the process.
Thermography can identify a woman's risk for breast cancer at the very early stage of this process, thus helping the patient and her physician to set preventative measures in place.
Who should have Breast Thermography testing?
• Women who want to take a pro-active approach to their health find great value in the additional information provided by breast thermography.
• Women who have had inconclusive mammograms or physical breast examinations find that breast thermography can help to clarify these tests, thus enabling women to better manage their breast health.
• Women with dense or fibrocystic breasts, where mammography is less effective, will benefit from thermographic monitoring. Naturopathic treatment is effective in fibrocystic breast disorders.
• Breast thermography can be safely performed on young women
• In addition, early breast exams can provide a valuable baseline from which to measure future breast health and potential risk factors.
The advantage of an early assessment of risk factors can be life-saving. Breast thermography is one of the best systems to detect early changes in breast health available today.
Studies have shown that:
1. When thermography is added to a woman's regular breast health check up, a 61% increase in survival rates has been shown.
2. An abnormal infared image is the single-most important marker of high risk for developing breast cancer.
3. A persistent abnormal image carries with it a 22 times higher risk of developing future breast cancer.
4. When thermography is used as part a multimodal approach (clinical examination, mammography and thermography) 95% of early-stage breast cancers can be detected. For further information on studies about thermography visit www.clinicalthermography.co.nz
To book an appointment call Clinical Thermography Ltd on 5220020.
Located at 99 Remuera Rd, Auckland.