Still Have Questions About Thermography? I always find it interesting when I ask a woman if she would be interested in learning about a safe and early detection breast screening tool. When I educate them on the benefits of infrared thermal imaging, I frequently get the response that they have ‘never heard of it’ or ‘why isn’t my doctor ordering it.’ Medical thermography has been used worldwide for breast and whole body screening for over 30 years. The FDA registered thermography as an adjunctive breast screening tool in 1982. Still, there remains some misunderstanding about its relevance in breast screening. Mammography has been considered the gold standard for years, yet recent information continues to reveal questions regarding its efficacy and safety. So what do we do to insure early detection of breast disease and protect ourselves from the effects of ionizing radiation and compression? To answer that question let’s look at how thermography works. Thermography actually takes a digital picture through a temperature sensing camera that can show vascular patterns and temperature gradients(trends) in the breast tissue. Vascular patterns are generally symmetrical in our body, so any abnormal pattern can be detected through an increased heat pattern (hyperthermia). Also, there are a number of vascular patterns that alert the thermologist (reader) of the potential for abnormal vascular growth called angiogenesis. A thermogram can pick up on changes in the breast anywhere from 5-8 years before a mammogram sees it as a measurable mass. By that time there may be lymph node involvement and the woman would require aggressive therapy such as surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We haven’t even mentioned the emotional, physical and financial stress that women suffer through this process. Why wait to find a palpable mass? I use thermography in my practice to educate women about breast health and ways to prevent breast cancer. We know that breast cancer is primarily caused by estrogen dominance and environmental toxins. Family history only accounts for 5-10%. There are so many steps we can take to prevent and treat early signs of changes in our breast. I recommend that women in their 20’s start annual thermography screening to monitor any changes we can see over time that would indicate the need for intervention. Thermography is a proactive approach to preventing breast disease. It can be an indication of hormone imbalances, lymphatic congestion and inflammation. Women with fibrocystic breasts have a better chance of accurate screening with annual thermograms. Mammography often times cannot detect lesions when a woman has dense or cystic breasts. She might be recalled several times for repeat x-rays due to its obscurity. Also, women with breast implants are reluctant to have annual screening due to their fear of rupturing the implants. Hence, they receive no screening. Unfortunately, there is not a 100% accurate method for detection. Thermography has a 92-95% sensitivity rate and when combined with breast ultrasound, the sensitivity increases to 97%. If you are have questions, feel free to call our clinic. Our website homepage lists the many Pinellas ,Pasco and Hernando County clinics where I offer thermography services, along with my office in Tampa . For more information regarding thermography , please call Lotus Path Wellness Center at 813-964-0847 or browse our website lotuspathwellness. Still Have Questions About Thermography? I always find it interesting when I ask a woman if she would be interested in learning about a safe and early detection breast screening tool. When I educate them on the benefits of infrared thermal imaging, I frequently get the response that they have ‘never heard of it’ or ‘why isn’t my doctor ordering it.’ Medical thermography has been used worldwide for breast and whole body screening for over 30 years. The FDA registered thermography as an adjunctive breast screening tool in 1982. Still, there remains some misunderstanding about its relevance in breast screening. Mammography has been considered the gold standard for years, yet recent information continues to reveal questions regarding its efficacy and safety. So what do we do to insure early detection of breast disease and protect ourselves from the effects of ionizing radiation and compression? To answer that question let’s look at how thermography works. Thermography actually takes a digital picture through a temperature sensing camera that can show vascular patterns and temperature gradients(trends) in the breast tissue. Vascular patterns are generally symmetrical in our body, so any abnormal pattern can be detected through an increased heat pattern (hyperthermia). Also, there are a number of vascular patterns that alert the thermologist (reader) of the potential for abnormal vascular growth called angiogenesis. A thermogram can pick up on changes in the breast anywhere from 5-8 years before a mammogram sees it as a measurable mass. By that time there may be lymph node involvement and the woman would require aggressive therapy such as surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We haven’t even mentioned the emotional, physical and financial stress that women suffer through this process. Why wait to find a palpable mass? I use thermography in my practice to educate women about breast health and ways to prevent breast cancer. We know that breast cancer is primarily caused by estrogen dominance and environmental toxins. Family history only accounts for 5-10%. There are so many steps we can take to prevent and treat early signs of changes in our breast. I recommend that women in their 20’s start annual thermography screening to monitor any changes we can see over time that would indicate the need for intervention. Thermography is a proactive approach to preventing breast disease. It can be an indication of hormone imbalances, lymphatic congestion and inflammation. Women with fibrocystic breasts have a better chance of accurate screening with annual thermograms. Mammography often times cannot detect lesions when a woman has dense or cystic breasts. She might be recalled several times for repeat x-rays due to its obscurity. Also, women with breast implants are reluctant to have annual screening due to their fear of rupturing the implants. Hence, they receive no screening. Unfortunately, there is not a 100% accurate method for detection. Thermography has a 92-95% sensitivity rate and when combined with breast ultrasound, the sensitivity increases to 97%. If you are have questions, feel free to call our clinic. Our website homepage lists the many Pinellas ,Pasco and Hernando County clinics where I offer thermography services, along with my office in Tampa . For more information regarding thermography , please call Lotus Path Wellness Center at 813-964-0847 or browse our website lotuspathwellness.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 19:25:32 +0000
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