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Thermography, when used in a clinical setting, is a non-invasive procedure that detects, records, and produces an image (thermogram) of a patient's skin surface temperatures and/or thermal patterns. 

Research is ongoing into this field of breast health screening, here is some of the most relevant information.

Case Study - young women should have thermograms

Breast thermography imaging

2014

2015

This 23year old newlywed discovered her breast inflammation because her mother insisted she have a baseline thermogram before having children. She had no symptoms, no concerns about her breast health and may never have realised there was an issue until the very likely development of a breast cancer in her late 20's-30's.

 

It's a very sad story when a young Mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast health monitoring could do a lot to help this age group prevent cancer, by identifying women who are at risk at the earliest stage possible.

 

Thermographic breast screening can monitor the effect of excess estrogen in breast tissue. It could provide a useful monitoring tool for GPs prescribing oral contraception to young women. How else can we know if the pill is contributing to breast problems?


The initial image shows heat in the left breast that is 2º hotter than the right breast, even after 10 minutes cooling in the thermography room.

 

Following the advice given, she stopped her pill, supplemented daily with Iodine, DIM (Indol-­3­Carbinol), and antioxidants and the second image from a year later shows a healthy picture where both breasts are within a normal range of temperatures.


Obviously, not all thermally abnormal breasts will be due to a developing cancer. However, if a thermally abnormal breast does not improve following naturopathic interventions and especially if it
deteriorates, this is a strong indication that further investigations are needed.

Case Study

Author References

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43.       Ikeda T, Abe O, Enomoto K, Kikuchi K, Fujiwara K. [Contact thermography as a prognostic indicator of breast cancer]. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. May 1989;16(5):2103-2108.

44.       Ciatto S, Palli D, Rosselli del Turco M, Catarzi S. Diagnostic and prognostic role of infrared thermography. Radiol Med. Oct 1987;74(4):312-315.

45.       Mustacchi G, Milani S, Sandri P, et al. Telethermography and axillary node status as predictors of early relapse in breast cancer: preliminary report. Tumori. Oct 31 1984;70(5):455-458.

46.       Sterns EE, Zee B, SenGupta S, Saunders FW. Thermography. Its relation to pathologic characteristics, vascularity, proliferation rate, and survival of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Cancer. Apr 1 1996;77(7):1324-1328.

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References
Image by Luke Southern
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