Thermal imaging is a non-invasive and painless procedure that can detect early breast changes and warn of breast cancer by seeing changes in temperature throughout the breast tissue. Our patients use breast thermography to help them have a better understanding of their breast health, and give them another tool to detect and fight breast cancer.
You want to detect changes as
early as possible.
Breast thermography can detect tumors as small as 2mm — that’s several years before MRI or mammography can. Also, most doctors won’t conduct a mammogram on a patient younger than 40 years old. Breast thermography is a great choice for patients in their early 20s who want to start with a baseline of their breast health.
You want a pain-free
breast exam.
Your breasts need something other than a mammogram.
If you have dense breast tissue, mammography and x-ray imaging can be difficult. Mammograms have a difficult time seeing through glands and ligaments. Also, if you’ve had a mastectomy, there isn’t any breast tissue for the mammogram to x-ray, but there’s still a risk of your surrounding tissue developing tumors. Breast thermography is effective in detecting tumors in dense breasts or after a mastectomy.
You don’t want to
expose yourself to
unnecessary radiation.
You want to reduce
the number of biopsies
you need.
If you have fibrocystic breasts, you may not be able to tell an abnormal lump from a cyst or normal lump. Breast
thermography can help make the call for you and your doctor, so you can cut down on the number of unnecessary
biopsies you may be subjected to.
Breast cancer is incredibly
common and deadly,
but also incredibly treatable.
But there is good news: in the past 60 years, breast cancer survivorship has tripled. This is thanks to early detection through tools like breast thermography.
The earlier you detect changes in your breast tissue, the earlier you can determine the best course of action for treating breast cancer. The more tools you have to check on your breast health, the better prepared you’ll be.
Breast thermography is an easy, safe test that can work in combination with other tests including mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, blood testing, and genetic testing to get a comprehensive picture of your breast health and breast cancer risk.
What Is Breast Thermography?
Breast Thermography is an exciting addition to breast imaging that helps doctors determine breast cancer risk. Approved by the FDA in 1982, it uses infra-red imaging to produce a detailed heat map of the breast tissue. Areas with enlarged blood vessels produce more heat – which can indicate the presence of a growth since tumors often create their own blood supply to feed the cancerous cells. Because thermography is the only technology in place that can detect this phenomenon, it is a key diagnostic tool for early cancer detection.
Who should have Breast Thermography?
Patients with inconclusive mammograms, dense breast tissue, or surgical implants benefit from the compression-free, radiation-free, and non-invasive thermography procedure. It is also an excellent choice for patients who have had surgeries, biopsies, or mastectomies. Thermograms are also a great option for those with a high risk of breast cancer as they can be done starting in the mid-twenties.
In patients with Fibrocystic Breasts, it is more challenging to identify tumors through mammograms. Mammograms have trouble seeing through dense tissue, in these people thermography can produce a more accurate image. This can reduce the need for biopsies by up to 20%.
What is the difference between a Mammogram and Breast Thermography?
While mammograms diagnose breast cancer by using X-rays to find denser tissues, thermography uses infrared imaging to find “hotter” areas of the breast. Areas with enlarged blood vessels may be signs of a tumor, which creates its own blood supply to feed the cancerous cells.
Both tests give us different information and are both important when it comes to assessing your breast health. In short, thermography assesses risk, mammograms detect unusual masses, and biopsies help guide diagnosis.
Can I use Breast Thermography instead of a mammogram to diagnose breast cancer?
When it comes to a breast cancer diagnosis, a breast biopsy is the gold-standard for diagnosing breast cancer. Breast Thermography is not a substitute. It complements mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, blood testing, and genetic testing. However, thermography plays an important role in both assessing risk and confirming a cancer diagnosis.
Are all breast thermography reports the same?
There is a difference between medical thermography and popular thermography. The American Academy of Thermography recommends certified interpreters that provides a TH1-TH5 score, if this score is not on the report then I wouldn't consider it a valid report. Dr. Eric Ehle is certified by the AAT and helped create the updated international guidelines last year.
How does the camera work?
The camera uses an infrared sensing technology to map heat variations within the sensor’s range and field-of-view.
How long until results come back?
Results take 1-2 weeks to be read.
Why do I have to put my hands in ice water?
The cold stress test is to cool the body down before retaking the images. We want to make sure everything cools down, as problem areas tend to heat up.
How do I prepare beforehand?
Please see the intake form for details.
Does insurance cover breast thermography?
Most insurances do not cover breast thermography; however, grants are available to cover the cost of this screening. Find more information on grant funding here.
If you’re ready to add breast thermography to your arsenal in the fight against breast cancer, get in touch with Well Life Family Medicine to schedule an appointment today.
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