Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start breast thermography?
Answer: When possible, thermal breast imaging should begin at age 20 to establish a baseline reading. Screening should continue every three years between the ages of 20 and 30. After age 30 it is suggested that women receive one screen per year.
What if I've had breast surgery, such as mastectomy or breast enhancement?
Answer: There are no contra-indications to having a breast thermogram. Clear and accurate images can be obtained regardless of any history of breast surgery, including mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast reduction or breast enhancement. In fact, breast thermography is the initial screening method of choice for women who have had breast surgery of all kinds due to the limitations of mammography.
How much does it cost?
Answer: The cost for a breast thermogram is generally under $200.00, depending on radiologist reading fees.
When will I get my results?
Answer: Results are usually conveyed within 2 - 4 days.
Why is ThermaScreen a better choice than mammography for initial breast screening?
Answer: ThermaScreen provides breast screening with no pain, no compression and no radiation, so it a less invasive, safer procedure than mammography. Furthermore, and most importantly, breast thermography can identify changes in the breast that are likely to lead to breast disease (cancer) 5-8 years before a tumor would appear in a mammogram.
Can breast thermography be used to diagnose breast cancer?
Answer: No. A positive thermography study is not a diagnosis of breast cancer, nor is a positive mammogram or ultrasound a diagnosis of breast cancer. Rather, all of these tests indicate a likelihood that breast cancer is present. The only true objective means of determining breast cancer is a biopsy and pathology report.
Why is a thermogram so effective?
Answer: Prior to a tumor being formed, cells in the breast begin to create a cancer-friendly environment. Part of this process involves angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels. These blood vessels provide a blood supply to the area for the cancer to grow. The process of angiogenesis creates heat patterns. Thermography, being sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, can detect these changes in the breast far earlier than other screening methods.
What is the purpose of putting the hands in cold water?Answer: Under normal conditions when no breast disease is present, putting hands in cold water causes the brain to constrict blood flow to the peripheral blood vessels, including those in the breast, favoring blood flow to the major organs. When an abnormal breast process is occuring, the abnormal cells exert chemical control over the peripheral blood vessels in the breast, ensuring that blood flow to the area is not restricted. The heat generated by these blood vessels would be evident in a thermogram.
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