Thermography
Despite raves about the mammography exams, experts still feel the need for a far more efficient method of detecting breast cancer early.
Thermography, or sometimes known as digital infrared imaging (DII), is said to be able to detect breast cancer long before it actually happens. Digital Infrared Imaging is driven by the idea that both the vascular circulation and metabolic activity in the breast tissue and in the areas around a breast cancer growth are most often greater than those in normal breast tissue. Since cancerous tumors necessitate higher level of nutrients, they pump up the circulation towards their cells by keeping all blood vessels open (existing and dormant), and producing new ones as well. This process usually brings about a rise in the temperatures of the breast’s regional surface.
Breast Thermography, and its very sensitive infrared cameras and innovative computers, serve to detect, study, and create diagnostic images which were results of the temperature changes. And because Digital Infrared Imaging is intensely sensitive, it can capture the various images which are believed to be the earliest symptoms of breast cancer and/or the breast’s pre-cancerous stage.
Unlike the more common breast cancer detection methods such as mammography, ultrasound, and others, infrared thermography does not involve breast compression, intravenous injection, or radiation. Hence, medical thermography is a procedure that does not expose the patient to any health risk.
The difference between mammography and thermography is that the former works to find physical tumors in the breast, while the latter detects increase in metabolic changes and blood vessel circulation which are linked with the possibility of a tumor growth. Through the detection of such changes, the infrared imaging provides the breast’s pre-cancerous appearance or the tumor’s development when it is still just small to be seen or felt by the traditional breast cancer detection methods.
Most people are not aware that there are certain types of breast cancers (around 20% of all breast cancer cases) that do not display symptoms or are not detected by mammograms. However, a lot of these cancers are detected by breast thermography.
The major advantages of choosing thermography over other means of detecting breast cancer include: timeliness, comprehensiveness, precision, absence of health risks and pain. Breast thermography is capable of discovering abnormalities in the breast, such as growth of tumors and cyst, way before symptoms can be seen physically or through x-rays. It is even said to be able to offer warning to women of possible breast cancer growth up to ten years prior actual symptoms.
Breast thermography also comprehensively examines several areas where breast cancer is likely to develop like breast, armpit, and the whole chest area. Moreover, this is convenient regardless of the patient’s breast type. Thus, young women whose breast are thicker, or those who are on HRT will still find this method effective.
Thermography also boasts of precise results. That is, it will show all areas with potential abnormalities, allowing other diagnostic tests like mammogram, ultrasound, and MRI to focus on them.
Other techniques have been in question for years because of their alleged health risks. However, with thermography, this is not an issue. Since it does not necessitate exposure to harmful rays, thermography may be done as often as required without the fear of any side effects.
Pain is another factor that makes people skip necessary medical procedures. But they need not be scared about undergoing breast thermography. Since the procedure does not involve touching of breasts, putting pressure, or squeezing, this should be a good option for them.
Breast cancer can be a silent killer if we allow it to be. But since we now have better ways to “outwit” it, we are actually giving ourselves a better chance at life.