If there was a technology that could evaluate your risk of developing breast cancer years before it showed physical symptoms, wouldn’t you want to get it done? This type of technology is exactly what medical thermography accomplishes and it’s been around since the 1950’s.

Thermography is a safe, comfortable and easy procedure. This risk assessment test can aid in the early detection of breast cancer with absolutely no radiation or compression. Not only is there no harm in getting this test done, but if you see you are at risk, you have the opportunity to change your diet and take other natural steps to reverse the damage.

Never heard of thermography? This, unfortunately, is the case for many Americans because it hasn’t been accepted as a mainstream screening tool and many medical practitioners still advise patients against it, despite the ample research supporting it.

In this article we will discuss some thermography misconceptions and how you can take charge of your health by scheduling a screening!

Five percent of all cancers are genetic and less than 3% of all breast cancers are genetic. The highest risks are related to environment, diet, stress, and lifestyle. There is a field of study called epigenetics which literally means “above” or “on top of” genetics. It refers to the external modifications to DNA which turn genes “on” or “off.” These modifications do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells “read” genes.” This means breast cancer is preventable! It also means that just because your mom or sister had breast cancer does not mean you will have it too.

While the mammogram is still valuable for detecting cancer, it is important to know that most breast cancers take 8 to 10 years to develop. That means that while you may have had years of negative mammograms, there may be microscopic cells growing that will need to reach a significant size before they will be detected in your annual screening. When you add thermography to a mammogram you can detect cancer 95% early. This number is a significant difference and can save your life.

Thermography is a screening tool. It shows you where the abnormal heat patterns are and evaluates your risk for breast cancer based on those heat patterns. If your thermogram comes back as high risk this does not mean you have breast cancer. The next steps would be to get an adjunctive screening to rule anything out at this time. Then you work on lifestyle changes and natural interventions so that when you come back for your follow up screening, your high risk thermogram has decreased.

I have seen many patients who have come back for follow up screenings and lowered their risk for breast cancer through lifestyle changes. I also always recommend for each patient to follow up with their doctor. The most important thing to know is that thermograms give you the early warning signs that can be reversed naturally. The earlier the detection, the easier it is to make changes.

You do not need a referral from a doctor in order to get a thermography screening. Unfortunately, many doctors do not know about medical thermogrpaphy or the research which supports it. Also many doctors do not deviate from the mainstream screening tools. As we’ve seen time and time again, many natural remedies take decades before they’re accepted into mainstream practice.

Since the 1980’s Thermography has been extensively studied. There are over 800 published peer review articles discussing the benefits of thermography as a screening tool. A 2008 study at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Cornell, published in the American Journal of Surgery, showed it had 97% sensitivity. The research is accessible to us.

This is false, and I feel many practitioners do not recommend thermography for this reason. Mammography and thermography are two totally different screening tools. Mammography is an anatomical test that can evaluate structures in the breast such as a calcification, or a lump. Thermography evaluates the physiological changes occurring in the body, looking at the abnormal heat patterns to track activity that may indicate risks. Studies have shown that when you receive a mammogram, thermography screening, and self breast exam you can catch cancer 98% earlier! The FDA has recognized thermography as an adjunct to mammography. Mammograms and thermograms both have their place. Due to the fact that women can’t receive a mammogram until age 45, thermography is also an excellent tool for younger women.

There are also full body screenings available. The thermal activity can show root causes of allergies, dental pathologies, carotid artery disease, breast cancer, digestive dysfunction, thyroid disease, skin cancers, and musculoskeletal conditions, pain, and circulatory issues.

As a thermographer I am constantly educating people on understanding how thermography works, and showing people how to reduce their risk of developing cancer. Thermography is a highly misunderstood medical screening tool. I feel it is my job to educate the public and spread awareness. If someone has a high risk thermogram I help them make nutritional lifestyle changes and send them to the practitioners and therapies that can best help them. Thermography is not intended to diagnose disease but to enhance our ability to help you achieve optimal health.