Greta Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 The thread about mammography got me wondering. I've heard a lot of people talking about thermography, where they basically take an infrared image of the breast, completely non-invasive and a whole lot less uncomfortable. But is it as accurate and reliable? Anyone had this done or researched it? Is it a viable alternative to standard mammography? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I'm 40 and in the beginning stages of research. So, I'm hoping others chime in here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I started using thermography last year (41yo). You have to have a baseline to start with. A thermogram can show possible problems developing much earlier than mammography. I have irregular vessel patterns and some temperature variations. So we are keeping a close on things. If something doesn't seem right on the thermogram you can then decide if you want to do further testing. The nice thing is that if you catch it early before cancer develops, you can use preventative means instead of reactive treatment. I think much of whether they are accurate or not boils down to the person taking and reading the thermogram pictures. If someone is skilled and experienced it can be an awesome tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 A thermogram can show possible problems developing much earlier than mammography. Wow, I did not know that! I think much of whether they are accurate or not boils down to the person taking and reading the thermogram pictures. If someone is skilled and experienced it can be an awesome tool. I guess that will be the next step: finding someone in my area that truly knows how to do it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I'm 44 and most likely will not have a mammogram for a while. Hopefully. Unless, of course, if I see a need to. I do daily self-checks and try to have a thermogram once a year. I've had one so far. There were some heat irregularities, but nothing to be really worried about. I love thermograms and spent a few years researching the pros and cons of mammograms, thermos, etc. This is often a very controversial subject. This is what I decided for me. Everyone needs to make their own decision that seems best for them. There are quite a few threads here on this. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=353916&highlight=thermogram http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245444&highlight=thermogram http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244324&highlight=thermogram and lots more. I've posted on these threads with all the info that I came up with on my research. I can post it all again if you wish. Let me know if you have any more questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted May 5, 2012 Author Share Posted May 5, 2012 I've posted on these threads with all the info that I came up with on my research. I can post it all again if you wish. Let me know if you have any more questions. I should have searched before posting! Thank you so much for the links. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I should have searched before posting! Thank you so much for the links. :001_smile: Greta, you're most welcome. :grouphug: I'm glad that you didn't search before posting. I like seeing threads like this from time to time. Good reminder for us all, plus, hopefully others might post also. :) The center was so nice and woman oriented. It smelled good and was so calming. I wish every doctors office was set up this way. Carol, :iagree:. I wound up finding a lump last month and went in for a mammo/sono and it was big cyst. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: The screening wouldn't bother me if they didn't have so many freaking false positives. It seems like everything gets biopsied as well. I don't like that approach. Some are fine with it, I'm not. Just because you catch something early does not mean the outome is better. Some "cancers" are precancers and never turn into anything but they are so quick to treat instead of watching.This is my personal bugaboo. I don't mean to diminish anyone's cancer survival story. Everyone must make up their own minds and take your health into your hands. This. :iagree: This is a good book http://www.amazon.com/Overdiagnosed-Making-People-Pursuit-Health/dp/0807021997/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336259904&sr=8-2 written by a doctor whose wife got breast cancer. Thank you. I'm going to look into this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 Sorry for my very delayed rely -- I didn't have much time to spend here over the weekend. I really didn't want to be radiated on an already cancer prone area. This has been one of my concerns as well! I made up my mind after reading a TON (internet and books) that I would not go back unless something came up. I wound up finding a lump last month and went in for a mammo/sono and it was big cyst. I probably won't go back in for another couple of years. :grouphug: I'm so glad it was benign. What, if anything, do they do about cysts? This is a good book http://www.amazon.com/Overdiagnosed-Making-People-Pursuit-Health/dp/0807021997/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336259904&sr=8-2 written by a doctor whose wife got breast cancer. Thank you! Greta, you're most welcome. :grouphug:I'm glad that you didn't search before posting. I like seeing threads like this from time to time. Good reminder for us all, plus, hopefully others might post also. :) :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/04/mammograms-beat-thermography-for-breast-cancer-detection-study I'm just adding this link because it's current news and I thought it would add to the discussion. I have no personal opinion (yet). :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/04/mammograms-beat-thermography-for-breast-cancer-detection-study I'm just adding this link because it's current news and I thought it would add to the discussion. I have no personal opinion (yet). :001_smile: Thermography is only a tool. If there are irregular findings, the individual must decide if and what further testing to get. I would not use a thermogram in place of a biopsy if there were tumors shown. (And I use thermography exclusively at this point as mammograms do not make sense to me.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara R Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/04/mammograms-beat-thermography-for-breast-cancer-detection-study Thermograms have been around about as long as mammograms. They have been well tested over the years, but mammograms give better results based on the science. Mammograms are far from perfect, especially for pre-menopausal women. But that's what we have now. Digital mammograms do a better job at detecting breast cancer with a far less radiation dose compared with film mammograms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Thermography is only a tool. If there are irregular findings, the individual must decide if and what further testing to get. I would not use a thermogram in place of a biopsy if there were tumors shown. (And I use thermography exclusively at this point as mammograms do not make sense to me.) :iagree: with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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