Breast cancer is a common disease that affects women of all backgrounds. It does not spare the rich, the famous, vegetarians, or even women under forty. Although it occurs more frequently in women with a family history—such as daughters or sisters of breast cancer patients—it often appears in women without any known risk factors. Early detection offers the best chance for a cure, which is why screening is so critical.
Request an AppointmentBreast Thermography has more than 12,000 citations and studies in current medical literature. It is becoming increasingly popular for two major reasons: first, it is gentle—requiring no compression and exposing the body to no ionizing radiation. Second, thermographic signs of breast disease can appear long before abnormalities are visible on a mammogram.
Breast Thermography uses non-invasive technology to measure the temperature of the skin over the breasts. Because the nervous system regulates skin temperature, these readings reflect the temperature of the underlying breast tissue. This process, known as thermo-regulation, means that areas generating more internal heat show increased temperature on the surface of the skin.
This is the fundamental principle behind Breast Thermography. Cancers—and even pre-cancerous conditions—generate heat. They do this through angiogenesis, the creation of new blood vessels. Cancer cells grow rapidly, and to sustain this growth, they require an increased blood supply. Angiogenesis produces heat, and this heat can be detected through thermography.
Recent studies indicate that routine mammography may be ineffective at reducing breast cancer mortality and may even increase the risk of death in certain cases. For this reason, we do not recommend routine mammography for our patients. Instead, we rely on Breast Thermography, annual clinical examinations, and regular self-examinations at home.
In a study conducted by Professor Wagner in Germany, 63 known cases of breast cancer were reviewed. Clinical history and physical breast exams alone identified 54% of cases. When mammography was added, the accuracy increased to 76%. However, with the addition of Breast Thermography, the diagnostic accuracy rose to 92%—making thermography 20% more accurate than mammography alone.
Further evidence of thermography’s early detection capability comes from research by William Hobbins, MD. In a study of 37,050 patients, he found a rate of 56 cancers per 1,000 abnormal thermograms compared to only 5.6 per 1,000 in mammography-based studies—indicating thermography may be up to ten times more sensitive.
One major advantage of Breast Thermography is its ability to detect inflammation, something mammography cannot do. In a study titled The Future of Women With Isolated Abnormal Infrared Thermogram of the Breast, researchers found that 38% of women with thermographic evidence of inflammation eventually developed breast cancer. The study concluded that breast inflammation increases breast cancer risk.
When inflammation is identified on thermography, reducing it may help lower breast cancer risk. This is typically addressed by evaluating factors such as stress, hormonal balance, nutrition, diet, toxicity, and lifestyle.
Although Breast Thermography has significant advantages over mammography, neither method is flawless. Both can miss cancers. Research shows that most breast cancers are initially detected either by women during self-examination or by physicians during routine exams. All women should examine their breasts monthly and seek medical evaluation if changes are found. Additionally, all women should have an annual clinical breast exam performed by a healthcare provider.