What is Breast Thermography?

Digital Infrared Imaging (DII) uses ultra-sensitive medical infrared cameras and high technology computers to detect, analyze, and produce high-resolution diagnostic images of temperature variations that occur in pre-cancerous tissue. Because of the extreme sensitivity of DII, these temperature variations may be the earliest signs of breast cancer or pre-cancerous state of a breast.

Although there is no absolute way to prevent breast cancer to this date, advanced technology brings us closer to detecting it at the earliest stage. It is this technology that gives women an additional choice among the current methods of mammography and physical examinations. Adding DII (Breast Thermography) to the options of preventative care brings hope for women.

FOX NEWS INTERVIEWS DR TIRZA DERFLINGER ABOUT BREAST THERMOGRAPHY SCANNING.

HOW IS DIGITAL INFRARED IMAGING DIFFERENT?

DII (Breast Thermography) does not require compression, radiation, injections or contact like mammography and other imaging procedures. Not only is breast thermography a procedure that poses NO health risks, it is very comfortable for the patient.

Unlike mammography, DII detects metabolic changes which occur in pre-cancerous and cancerous cells, rather than the physical tumor itself. This provides the opportunity to detect heat and determine any risks at a much earlier stage than traditional examinations, mammography or other types of imaging.

If a woman is on hormone replacement, nursing, or has dense, large, fibrocystic or enhanced breasts, there may be difficulties in reading mammograms. With breast thermography, there are no difficulties in the reading results because of the advanced technology of the infrared scan.

TRACKING YOUR HEALTH

With the monitoring of breast health using breast thermography, self breast exams and physical examinations, a woman increases her chance of detecting cancer at its earliest stage.

Breast thermography provides each patient with a “map” of the temperature of their breasts, with any changes from scan to scan being documented. If there is any suspicion of cancer, the documented history of this “map” can provide vital information for further examinations.

Studies have shown that an abnormal breast thermogram may be the single most important finding in those at higher risk of developing breast cancer. It has been suggested that this finding may be 10 times more significant than any other factors.

EARLY DETECTION EQUALS BETTER CHANCES

Statistics show that breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer found in women, ranking behind skin cancer, with 1 in 8 women at risk to develop breast cancer. The risk increases with many factors including women with relatives that have had the disease, age, women without children and those women giving birth for the first time after the age of 30. Although there are risk factors, the truth is that every woman is at risk. Research shows that one in every eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer*. DII does not have the ability to pinpoint the location of a tumor; it assists in locating metabolic changes that occur when a tumor is present. Because of this, breast thermography is not meant to replace mammography and physical examinations; its purpose is to complement them. With the high rates of breast cancer, we must do everything possible to detect cancer at an early stage. If treated in the earliest stages, cure rates may increase to greater than 95%.

Did you know? It can take 8 to 10 years for a dime size tumor to grow?

*American Cancer Society – Breast Cancer Guidelines and Statistics, 1999-2005