Hearing the news that you have breast cancer is never easy. But finding out when the cancer is at its very earliest stages can be a godsend, leading to much more positive outcomes.
That’s why many people are turning to Thermography, a new, non-invasive digital imaging technique that can indicate the presence of cancer cells up to six years earlier than with a traditional mammogram.
How Does Thermography Work?
In order for most types of cancer grow, there has to be a blood supply feeding those cells. The idea behind Thermography is that instead of looking for groups of cells that have already grown in to a tumor, why not simply look for changes in your blood flow to indicate where tumors may be growing?
Unlike mammograms, which are x-rays that look at anatomical changes in the breast, Thermography works by creating a thermal image of your body showing heat patterns. Patients first get a baseline image and then return for a second image about three to four months later. The thermal images, called thermograms, are then analyzed for changes in blood flow patterns to different parts of the body, which can indicate where cancer cells may be growing.
Best of all, Thermography is painless, requires no radiation and has no side effects.
Of course, Thermography cannot detect all cancers. There are some cancerous tumors that are not fed by a blood supply, so these would not come up on a scan.
Not Just Breast Cancer
And, Thermography can be used to signal the onset of a wide range of other diseases as well. By analyzing abnormalities in where your blood is flowing, you can identify areas of inflammation, which can be a precursor for diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, sinus issues, headaches, carpel tunnel syndrome, back and neck pain, and immune issues such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Inflammation can be reduced through dietary changes, nutritional supplements, antioxidants, detoxification and more, letting you potentially eliminate these diseases before they start.
What to Expect at a Thermography Appointment
At your Thermography appointment, you simply sit in a temperature controlled room and allow your body to cool. Then a technician positions you in front of a Thermal Imaging Camera and takes digital pictures of your body. Including filling out your paperwork, your entire first-time session should take no more than 30 minutes.
After your session, medical doctors who are trained to read the thermograms analyze the images to look for abnormalities in the distribution of heat around your body. You generally receive results in two to three business days.
Thermography is especially effective in screening for breast cancer in women under 40 whose breast tissue is denser than in older women. In fact, according to best-selling author Dr. Joseph Mercola, nearly 75 percent of women with dense breasts are at risk for a cancer being missed if they rely solely on a mammogram.
You may be asking yourself, “If Thermography is so great, why don’t more doctors and hospitals recommend it?” The answer is, of course, financial. Because most women start getting annual mammograms between age 40 and 50, hospitals make a lot of money on people getting mammograms.
While we don’t recommend skipping your mammogram entirely, we do recommend that all women – and especially those who have a history of breast cancer in their family – receive both a thermogram once a year and a regular mammogram every one to two years for best results.
Try Thermography
If you’re interested in trying Thermography, we will be offering a day of Thermography appointments by Longevity Thermography on March 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our clinic. Initial baseline scans for part of the body are $225, and follow-up scans range from $125 to $150. You can also get half-body or full-body scans for an additional fee, and scans may be covered under some insurance plans. Contact us about setting up your Thermography appointment today!