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Try Thermography for Safe & Painless Breast Screening


By Ingrid LeVasseur, BA prevention. W One method of prevention that everyone should consider is


thermography. For those of you not familiar with the term ther- mography, it’s a means of assessing any area of the body via a heat-sensitive camera. The human body constantly gives off heat to maintain a stable body temperature. An infrared camera detects and translates that heat into an image. The camera operates much like a regular camera but instead of capturing light, the camera captures heat, creating an image that looks quite like a colored topographical map; hot areas displayed in white and red, warm areas appear orange and yellow and cooler areas in various greens and blues.


There is so much in the media today on the effects of infl am- mation on the body but there doesn’t seem to be a great way to locate that heat...enter thermography: a safe, painless, noninva- sive tool that is highly sensitive to subtle differences in skin surface temperature.


Unlike most screening modalities, thermography is non-inva-


sive. It uses no radiation, injections or compression to achieve its images. It is a sensitive and reliable means of graphically mapping and displaying skin surface temperature. Thermography can be used to screen, evaluate, monitor and document a large number of injuries and conditions such as: endometriosis, pre-diabetes, back injuries, arthritis, fi bromyalgia, vascular disease and digestive disorders to name a few.


Breast Screening The benefi t of thermography in breast screening is that it offers the opportunity of earlier detection of breast disease than has been possible through breast self examination, doctor examination or mammography alone. Thermography detects the subtle physiologic changes that accompany breast pathology, whether it is cancer, fi brocystic disease, an infection or a vascular disease.


elcome to the New Year! For me, it’s a time for re- fl ection and assessing which path I’d like to be on in regards to my health, especially when it comes to


The protocol for breast screening includes fi ve images: one from the front, one from each side (arms raised to include armpits and lymph area), and one from each oblique angle. The procedure is quick and painless, comparable to being photographed. Initially, two screenings 3 months apart generally establish a thermal base- line. After that, an annual screening is suffi cient.


All women can benefi t from thermography. Younger women can start screening safely in their 20’s and 30’s, older women who still have dense breast tissue will fi nd this means effective, and women who have already had a mastectomy can safely and ac- curately continue to monitor the affected region.


Some women have serious concerns about the cumulative


effects of radiation and want to limit their exposure. Thermography allows them to monitor their breast health without the risk of ad- ditional radiation exposure.


Thermography or Mammography Thermography is not meant to replace mammograms. Mam-


mograms and thermograms are completely different screening tools; one does not replace the other. The mammograms are a means of anatomical screening; they are looking for densities such as calcifi cations, lumps, and cysts.


Thermograms are a physiological assessment; looking for lymphatic congestion in the region of the arm pits, estrogen domi- nance or simply providing insight for women with dense breasts. Lymphatic congestion and estrogen dominance are early indica- tors that the breast is not in a healthy state. The good news is that something can be done about both of these breast issues.


• Lymphatic congestion is frequently seen via thermal indica- tions and if this diagnosis is made then it’s a comfort to know a referral can be made to a handful of specially trained experts in lymphatic drainage therapy in the state. Fortunately, we can determine if the treatment was effective with follow-up thermal images after lymphatic therapy sessions.


12 Essential Living Maine ~ January/February 2017


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