• An abnormal infrared image is an important marker of high risk for problems in the tissues. The marker is said (by some) to be 8 times more significant as a marker for disease than a family history of the cancer.

• A person with a persistently abnormal thermogram has a 10 times greater risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

• When added to regular clinical breast exams by "highly trained fingers" of a professional, survival rates (if cancer is detected) are increased by up to 61%.

• A positive infrared scan does not mean you have cancer. The increased heat may be suggestive of presence of many different breast abnormalities such as mastitis, benign tumors, fibrocystic breast disease, and cancer.

• In a study from 1998, 100 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ were diagnosed pre-operatively using a clinical breast exam, mammography, and infrared imaging. The number of tumors diagnosed with mammography alone was 85%; the number of tumors diagnosed by including a breast exam and breast thermography increased to 95%. Reference: The Breast Journal, Volume 4, Number 4, 1998, 245-251

Who Will Benefit Most from Thermography

Women of all ages can benefit from breast thermography screening. However, it is especially useful for younger women (ages 20-40) whose denser breast tissue makes it more difficult for mammography to be effective. It is also useful in women who, for many reasons, are unable to undergo routine mammography.

Why Thermography is Not Routinely Used

Thermography can be used in sports medicine, dentistry, podiatry, rheumatology, and neurology. In the past, thermography was used to identify and isolate the location of the injury when no other test could. As these findings were often used in lawsuits, the insurance industry took steps to diminish the value of thermography in courts of law. For example, if someone was claiming that they were still in pain from an automobile accident or through a Workers Compensation claim, thermography was used to locate the pain. Pain is a subjective complaint; if thermography did not identify areas of inflammation, the lawsuit was often lost.

Through lobbying efforts to the AMA, Medicare councils, and Trial Lawyers Association, the value of thermography was discounted and not allowed as "evidence" in Court. This resulted in loss of confidence by insurance companies who began to deny payment for the test. Since the early 1990s, thermography has falling out of favor and use has been limited for this fabulous medical tool.

Breast Thermography at OsteoMed II

Breast imaging is offered at OsteoMed II by Certified Clinical Thermographers, Gail Singer and Carol Kilbane. State of the art breast thermography at OsteoMed II uses an ultra-sensitive, digital, infrared camera to produce a high resolution diagnostic image. Temperature differences can be detected as small as 0.1 degree centigrade. Trends can be monitored for improvement after a program has been established.

+   +   +   +   +   +

Call today to schedule a free, 15 minute phone consultation with Sandi or Paula to discuss what Osteomed can do for your breast health! 440-239-3438

+   +   +   +   +   +

Why Haven’t I Heard of It?

When breast thermography was first explored, thermographic abnormalities in younger women were detected many times but mammograms did not detect any tumors. These results were considered "false positives," and placed suspicion on thermography. Years later, in re-call studies, 35% of these women had developed breast cancer. In addition, 41% of the women diagnosed with benign breast disease (such as fibrocystic breast disease) also developed breast cancer, thus validating its early warning role. (REF: Guthrie, M, Thermobiological assessment of benign and malignant breast disease, Ann J. Obstet Gynecol 147:461, 1983)