Medical Thermal Imaging - Why Thermal Imaging

Thermal Imaging's Place in Modern Medicine

The rapidly growing problem of breast cancer is beginning to have an effect on more people as friends and loved ones are sadly touched with this unforgiving disease. Traditionally, most cases occur in women over fifty years of age, but the greatest increase in incidence has been in younger women.

The usefulness of mammography as a stand-alone method of detecting breast cancer has been decreasing over time as larger numbers of women are entering groups of lower sensitivity to X-ray. Women with dense breasts (usually pre-menopausal) , fibrocystic disease, implants and use of Hormone Replacement Therapy have diminished the sensitivity of mammography.

In addition, mammography has been implicated as a potent factor in the dramatic rise in breast cancer. Numerous studies in recent years have now established the effects of DNA damage caused by low-dose radiation, consistently used in mammography. The fact that exposure and damage are cumulative means that each exposure increases the risk of the initiation of cancer. One study reveals a probable 5% increase of risk with each exposure.

In addition to mammography, there are other factors that raise risk. The use of oral contraceptives for more than four years prior to first full term pregnancy or extended use of Hormone Replacement Therapy make breast cells more sensitive to carcinogens and toxins that we are exposed to everyday. Environmental factors are a major cause of carcinogens that affect the breasts. Migrants from countries with low incidence of breast cancer to countries of high incidences will increase to match the higher incidence rate.

What all this means is that our lifestyles put us a risk. Our society and lifestyles have changed dramatically over the last 30 years. We must be flexible to change to the needs of our culture. Diagnosing breast cancer early is of critical importance to surviving the disease. The survival rate of stage one disease is approximately 91% while survival of stage three drops to approximately 40%.

For anyone who is dedicated to the protection of women’s health, there is a demand to provide the most effective combination of diagnostic methods and to develop every method with demonstrated potential. High-resolution radiometric digital infrared imaging (thermography) has demonstrated its potential and will soon take its place among conventional modalities. The only question is how many more women must die before conventional medicine dedicates the resources necessary to more fully develop that potential.

Image of Health offers the benefits of safe screening without the risk of radiation with the use of high-resolution thermal imaging. Earlier detection will make the difference. If your doctor does not recommend the advanced technology of thermography, it is available without a prescription. Until thermography takes its rightful place in the fight against breast disease, you can be proactive and take advantage of this advanced, safe, painless and proven screening technique at Image of Health.