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RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
Is Breast Thermography
safe?
Yes, breast thermography is FDA approved in the US and has been used there
and in Europe for over 40 years. Thermography is a non-invasive test. This
means that nothing is sent into your body. It simply is creating an image of
your breasts by measuring your heat. There is no contact of any kind, nor is
there any pain or radiation. When thermography is added to a woman’s regular
breast health checkup, 61 percent increase in survival rates has been noted.
When used as part of a multimodal approach, 95 percent of early-stage breast
cancers can be detected.
Can thermography diagnose breast cancer? No. Thermography, is an adjunctive
screening tool. Thermography identifies abnormal physiological changes in
your breasts that elevate risk for getting breast cancer. When thermography
is used in conjunction with other tests it increases the accuracy of
diagnosis. However, only a biopsy can definitely identify cancer.
Have any studies been done regarding the accuracy of thermography? Yes.
Hundreds of studies have been written up in medical journals. For further
information, visit www.iact-org.org/articles/articles-review-btherm.html
How often will I need a re-scan? This depends on the results of your initial
scan. With no unusual changes noted and depending on your age, we will
recommend re-scanning annually or every 2 years. If your scan shows changes,
depending on the level of risk, you will be asked to have a re-scan sooner.
I have breast implants. Is thermography safe? Yes. Breast implants do not
interfere with thermography. Breast thermography is painless and safe, using
no radiation or compression. It can be used effectively and safely for all
women including pregnant or nursing women, and women with dense breast
tissue, as well as younger women with fibrocystic breasts.
Why do we plunge our hands into cold water during the scan? You will be
asked to plunge your hands into ice water for 60 seconds during the exam.
This is known as a functional test - which leads to constriction of blood
vessels due to cold. Normal blood vessels will contract and cool down, blood
vessels feeding abnormal cell growth will not. The technician will then
repeat the process of taking the images for a before and after view.
For more information on early detection & thermography, call Glenda
Neufeld of Thermography Clinic Vancouver Island at 250.947.5424 or visit her
online at
www.thermographyvancouverisland.com |
