Whenever you hear or read about a new breast cancer screening or test, the first question on the minds of most women is, should I be having this done? And in the case of breast thermography, the American Cancer Society states on their 2009-2010 Breast Cancer Guidelines and Statistics, that a woman should have her initial infrared scan (or thermography scan) by age 20. Women between the ages of 20-30 should get a thermography scan every 3 years, and then annually starting at age 30 and beyond. The reason thermography is being recommended for younger women is because the breast cancer statistics show that 15% of breast cancers occur in women under the age of 45- and cancer in younger women is typically more aggressive cancers.
Thermography advocates recommend that every woman add breast thermography to their regular breast health routine. Even though thermography is a fast developing and evolving science, and with each new infrared scan, doctors are able to learn more, it does not replace mammography, or regular self exams, and physical exams with your regular physician. However, when you add thermography to the existing breast cancer screenings, you increase the likelihood that if something serious should develop, you will get the earliest possible diagnosis! Which is essential to get the best chances of full recovery.
So what is it like to get a breast thermography scan? It's really simple, and less uncomfortable than a mammogram. In fact, it's really a pretty touch free exam- even though that seems hard to believe. The most important thing is getting in touch with your thermography center well before your appointment, because there are some guidelines that need to be followed closely to ensure an accurate screening. You'll want to contact your specific thermography center also, because depending on where you live, and the climate, the guidelines might vary slightly. Remember, breast thermography is an infrared image- so it is picking up on heat signals inside the breast tissue- this is one reason you might want to bring a book or magazine, because you will need to spend time inside the office to balance your body's temperature to the room's temperature.
So, for example, if you were to lay in a tanning bed within 24-48 hours before your appointment, your breast tissue will be giving off more heat as a result of your tanning bed trip. Your thermography center will give you a complete list of what not to do, and what you need to do to prepare for your appointment. Once you get a baseline scan on your first visit, your following scans will be compared to it- this allows physicians to identify any areas of change in the breast tissue. Since tumors or cysts need blood flow in order to develop, thermography allows physicians to see the change in blood vessels and blood flow with the heat signatures seen in thermal imaging. If any areas of concern are identified, your doctor may then order additional tests to confirm of deny a diagnosis.
Remember, even if your doctor does see an area they want to monitor, or test further, this does not mean you have a serious health problem- thermography can show areas of concern well before a problem develops- and in the best cases lifestyle changes that reduce your risk factors can help your body fight off a potential threat- without it ever developing into anything serious or life-threatening.
Author Resource:-
Breast thermography is becoming a popular procedure for determining the physiology of the breast tissue. It is recommended that you visit your local thermography center for your baseline scan by age 20- with a follow up scan every three years, and then annually starting at age 30. With thermography and mammography you greatly increase your chances of the earliest diagnosis, which increases your chances of recovery greatly.
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