Breast Thermography

I just had my third thermography after my lumpectomy a year ago. And the lumpectomy area is still ligthing up--  12 months after the procedure!The feedback they gave me was upsetting, but after reading this post I feel much better. Thank you!

Carina,

Yes, my lumpectomy site lit up a year after lumpectomy as well. This is apparently to be expected.  The following week I had a diagnostic US, which was clear.  I was told that the thermography results I had this year (my first) would be used as a baseline for future ones.  FWIW, I had the thermogram done via my gyn's office-- my BS, who monitors me every 6 months, was incredibly dismissive of thermography in general. 

PS now im gettting surgery in 10 days  in Europe.With diagnose- ductial carcinoma.

So for few months the prblem was so big that need surgery.Thermogramm didnt  give me a good report....

How could you trust thermography if it misses a 3cm lump as Himalaya has. An MRI would be better to alternate with Kaara - no radiation.

Breast MRIs typically use gadolinium as a contrast agent, which carries it's own risky side effects such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.  They recommended that I get one annually, but I've decided against using MRI as a screening tool and save it for an emergency instead.  They *think* NSF only occurs in patients with renal impairment, but the disorder is new since 1997 and still somewhat mysterious.  It's unknown what will happen to someone after, say, 10 years who gets these every year as told. We are guinea pigs here...

I had two MRIs with contrast 5 months apart.  My kidney tests were fine and so theoretically I should have quickly excreted the agent, but almost 8 months later a heavy metals test showed my levels of gadolinium to be still in the extreme range!  They are finally better, but I am very careful about any imaging with contrast now.  Unfortunately, MRIs without contrast aren't terribly useful for BC, or so they say.  

teeballmom, thanks for sharing this

The thermograms I had in Nov 2011 and in March 2012 did not pick up the 5 cm IDC that I was just diagnosed with on April 12, 2012.  

That seems like a big one to miss, esp. since thermograms are supposed to be detected suspicious areas earlier. How did it miss a 5cm tumor?  I would definitely need to do more research before considering this.

BTW, my understanding is that MRIs have the best resolution, to 0.2 or 0.3 cm. My tumor was 0.5cm and was barely detected by the mammogram; it was not seen from the side, only from the top and that's because it was about 1 cm from the skin. I feel lucky that it was caught so early. And just a reminder that, unfortunately, the location of the tumors can make it harder for some of these screening tools.

wilson33:  The interesting thing about thermography is that it is supposed to find suspicious areas years before a mammogram can detect them, thus, you have an opportunity to watch the area and maybe let the immune system handle it.  It will show "hot spots" where there is a possibility of blood vessel development which is needed for tumor formation.

Mine was completely clear...no hot spots...just the area of the surgery which will show up that way for a while.  There is no radiation involved so the procedure is completely safe. 

If you read the first couple of pages of this thread you'll find one woman's post about how thermography helped to detect her thyroid cancer and I believe there is also info about the sonocine too.

wow o2bhealthy that is amazing news, I have had an ultra sound scan and all was clear the breast centre told me there was nothing more they can do for me as it wasn't a breast issue, so dermotology, through his x-ray, ultra sound, mri eyes told me everything it wasnt. I have had my thermography test done and the test is sent to doctors trained in reading them and because everyone's breasts are like their fingerprints you need another to compare it with.  Their initial findings were fibrocystic action possibly but won't know until the second one. The ultra sound didn't pick it up.  My next appointment is in August which I am most intregued by it - I did however get a burnt chest in the car driving 1 hour 20 mins to get there it took me an hour to cool down and calm down as I was worried they wouldn't be able to do the tests.  I have since spoken with my doctor who was going to refere me back to the dermatologist - I sharn't bore you with what I said nor can i think I can reapeat it but bottom line, err no! Doctor will look at thermography and I shall see her in 2 weeks. It has given me some peice of mind but hasn't helped with the pain, burning and disscomfort but in time and with some help I am sure all will be good

I will be alternating thermographies with mammograms in the future.  I am reluctant to completely give up mammos because that is what detected my bc in the first place at a very early stage.

I personally know a doctor who recently received chemo. So there goes your theory.

Where there is one, there is many.

There was a Dr. Soram on the Dr. Oz show in December.  I signed up for his newsletter and just received the most recent one. 

His opinion of BC screening is that he believes that mammos can cause the spread of cancer cells, and while not perfect, and none of the detection systems seem to be, thermography was an extremely effective alternative to mammograms.  Just his opinion.  He is a very interesting doctor.   

I have had a bilateral and I get thermography every year. There have been no changes in the breast area, but it has definitely picked up changes in certain lymph areas, mainly my neck. I made some changes on the advice of my nutritionist/D.C., such as lymph drain massage. I will see in June whether things have improved.

My experience with thermography

I did a full body scan. It showed a lump in my left breast that I already knew about. No new blood vessels - so they told me it is not cancer. And it was all. But - biopsy come back with cancer. Also, PET/CT scan showed an additional  smaller lump in my lymph node - thermogram did show hyperactivity there aswell but they did not point it out as a concern, just an incidental lymphatic congestion and recommended dry brushing.

Also, I asked biopsy nurse how does she feel about thermography - she said she personally saw so many false positive and false negative results that she thinks it is just waste of money.