Thermography Part 1

In the series of articles on mammography risks we have addressed the main stream approach and conclusions about the early detection of breast cancer with yearly mammograms in women over 50 years old. We have also looked at the research that indicates the x-rays used for mammograms may add to the risk of developing breast cancer.

So we have concerns about the cumulative effect of the x-ray exposure from mammograms on our breasts. Yet we don’t want to be foolish and let an early more treatable breast cancer go undetected.

What’s a gal supposed to do in this dilemma?

Let’s take a look at thermography as another modality for detecting breast cancer.

As a cancer begins to grow it develops its own blood supply that grows at a rapid rate. In fact even in the pre-malignant state, the new blood supply begins to grow at an accelerated rate.

An increased heat pattern develops in the areas of these abnormal blood vessels. A procedure called thermography detects this abnormal heat pattern by scanning the breasts with a specialized infrared camera. Then high tech computer programs analyze these thermograms. Doctors skilled and board certified in thermography analyze the results of these procedures to detect abnormal heat patterns.

Thermography can detect the earliest signs of a pre-malignant or malignant cancer developing in the breast.

Here’s what two doctors board certified in thermography have to say about it:

“An unprecedented level of early detection can be realized when thermography is added to a woman’s regular breast health care. It has been found that an abnormal thermographic image is the single most important sign of high risk for developing breast cancer, 10 times more significant than a first order family history of the disease. Studies show that this technology has the ability to warn a woman that a cancer may be forming up to 10 years before any other test can detect it. This gives breast thermography not only the ability to detect cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage, but to also act as a biological marker warning a woman about her own unique level of future risk for breast cancer.

Women who undergo the test find it to be fairly uneventful, since the procedure uses no radiation or contact with the breasts. Women with dense breasts, implants, and women who are pregnant or nursing can be imaged without any harm or reduction in the accuracy of the test.

Currently, no single screening procedure can detect 100% of all breast cancers. Thermography is designed to be used with mammography and not as a replacement. Studies show that when thermography is added to a woman’s regular breast health checkups (physical examination + mammography + thermography), 95% of all early stage cancers will be detected. This would give the vast majority of women who are diagnosed with this disease the reality of returning to a normal healthy life.

Should we continue to concentrate our efforts on procedures that can only detect an existing cancer, or should we be focusing on true screening methods that can warn of a pending problem far in advance? The number of women who die from this disease will continue relatively unchanged if nothing is done to provide them with a true early warning system.

Breast thermography has the unique ability to warn most women far enough in advance to give them a fighting chance. Combined with its ability to play a role in primary prevention, the life saving implications are incredible. The addition of this technology to every woman’s breast health care will make the greatest impact on breast cancer mortality. With breast thermography, women of all ages are given hope and a true early detection edge in the battle against breast cancer.”

References:

Beating Breast Cancer

William Hobbins, MD, FABS, DABCT, FIACT

William Amalu, DC, DABCT, DIACT, FIACT

About the authors:

William Hobbins, MD, a Fellow of the American Board of Surgeons and a board certified clinical thermologist, has been performing thermographic breast imaging for over 35 years. As an internationally recognized authority in this field, he has sat on multiple medical and thermographic boards, authored numerous articles, and has contributed a significant amount of research to the medical database using this technology. He currently practices in Madison Wisconsin and can be contacted at 608-273-4274.

William Amalu, DC, a Fellow of the International Academy of Clinical Thermology and a board certified clinical thermologist, has utilized thermography in practice for over 14 years. He is currently the President of the International Academy of Clinical Thermology and practices in Redwood City California. He can be contacted at 650-361-8908 (www.breastthermography.com).

Blessings,

Dr. Jo