Why Thermography?
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women between the ages of 40 to 44 (American Cancer Society). Conventional medicine recommends yearly x-ray mammograms for women beginning at age 35. While mammograms are appropriate for some people, infrared thermography may be a good option if you identify with any of the following:
- Pre-menopause
- Dense breasts, large or small breasts
- Breast implants
- Pregnant or nursing
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Fibrocystic disease
- History of biopsies
Infrared Mammography can detect tumors with a 2mm diameter, the size of a grain of rice and ten times smaller than the size detected by a Manual Breast Exam.
How infrared thermography works
New blood vessel development must occur for tumors to grow. Angiogenesis begins when a malignant tumor is about 150 micrometers (0.15mm) in diameter and must be well developed by the time a tumor is 1 - 2mm or one eighth of an inch in diameter. The blood vessels of a malignant tumor are significantly different in structure and behavior from any other blood vessels in the body. Nitric oxide is produced by pre-cancerous as well as cancerous cells and acts as a potent dilator of blood vessels.
Because of what Infrared Mammography screens for, it can provide physiologic indications of malignant breast disease 5 to 8 years before specific anatomical features are detectable by X-Ray Mammography.
Supporting research
Combining clinical examination and X-Ray Mammography provided 85% sensitivity in diagnosing Breast Cancer. Adding Infrared Mammography increased the sensitivity to 98%. The Breast Journal, Vol. 4, 1998, 245-51 Infrared Mammography has a 99% sensitivity in identifying Breast Cancer with single examinations and limited views. A negative Infrared Mammogram study (TH-1 or TH-2) proved powerful evidence that cancer was not present. The American Journal of Radiology, January 2003, 263-69