Breast Cancer Information

My First Thermographic Experience


Home | Site Map | 101InfoLinks.com | Best Book Shop | Sports Fans ONLY
     .
© 2007

I had been a bit nervous all day wondering what my thermogram procedure would entail. Would I need to undress completely? Would I be given one of those paper gowns that opens in the front and barely covers me? Would there be any heat coming out of the camera? I had been avoiding a mammogram after reading the latest information about the risks associated with X-ray; knowing that I was potentially putting myself at greater risk by not taking charge of my health. It was my massage therapist who told me about thermography as an adjunctive tool for breast cancer screening and now I find myself lost in my thoughts as I am driving to my thermographic appointment.

As I entered the lobby, I noticed that the temperature was cool and refreshing. The paintings on the wall were bright and cheerful with many colors that caught my eye. I felt at ease right away.

I was quickly greeted by the thermographer. She guided me to her office and there I felt all the tension melt away. She showed me around the office explaining the need for a cool temperature and allowing me to browse her collection of literature, leaflets, handouts and brochures. It smelled like my grandmother's garden in the spring. Just a hint of orange blossom, honeysuckle, green apple all mixed with a light touch of rain forest greeted my nose. The plants were lush and healthy and soft music was playing in the background. The lights were dim and I could almost imagine myself back in grandma's Arizona room.

The thermographer asked if I had any questions and of course I said no, trying to show her that I was calm, relaxed and not a bit nervous. She smiled knowingly and asked me to please step behind the room divider and change into a robe she set out for me. The robes were soft cotton and tied in the front. She then asked that I fill out the paperwork. She explained that I would need to do my best to keep my arms away from the side of my body so I could cool down and she could get a more accurate image. She then read over my information and asked me questions about my health in general and specifically breast health. All the while, I was grateful for the full coverage of the cool, cotton robe and remembered to keep my arms away from my body.

Next, I moved to the scanning area where I was shown the six different positions required for the scan. She then asked me to sit on the stool and turn my back to her. At this point, she asked me to drop my gown. I was told to keep my hands on my waist while she took my thermal picture. I learned that it usually takes 12-15 minutes for the temperature of my skin to come to equilibrium with the temperature of the room. Once my temperature stabilized, the scanning began. During the scan, she asked that I raise my hands above my head and remain still; allowing me to rest my hands back on my waist between the different poses. The camera did not emit any heat and never touched my body. The total scan time was about 5 minutes.

Once we were done, I changed back into my clothes and thanked the technician for a soothing and comforting experience. Before I left the office, I picked up a few of the breast health brochures to share with my family, friends and colleagues.

Thermographic screening is not covered by most insurance companies but is surprisingly affordable for most people. For more information or to find a certified clinic in your area, go to www.proactivehealthonline.com.

Brenda Witt is co-owner of Proactive Health Solutions in Southern California. She is an American College of Clinical Thermology (ACCT) certified thermographer in the Orange County area.


MORE RESOURCES:

BBC News

Breast cancer gene-free baby born
BBC News, UK - 2 hours ago
The first baby in the UK tested before conception for a genetic form of breast cancer has been born. Doctors at University College London said the girl and ...
Does family history affect the risk of breast cancer? TheMedGuru
Britain's first cancer-free designer baby born after being ... Daily Mail
Baby 'selected' without cancer gene The Press Association
all 146 news articles


Chemistry World

Hauptman closer to breast cancer cure
Bizjournals.com, NC - Jan 7, 2009
Breast cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer death in women. Though there are different types, more than 75 percent of all breast cancer tumors ...
Structure Of Key Breast Cancer Target Enzyme Unraveled Science Daily (press release)
Structure Of Key Breast Cancer Target Enzyme Unraveled Examiner.com
Tremendous breast cancer WIVB
WKBW-TV - Chemistry World
all 34 news articles


TriCities.com

Even with Breast Cancer, Healthy Diet Counts
Medfinds, WA - 2 hours ago
By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD Healthnotes Newswire (January 8, 2009)—For women with a history of breast cancer, information on healthy nutrition for cancer ...
Healthy Diet Can’t Hurt, May Help Breast Cancer Patients Cancer Consultants
Budget crisis may shut Adelphi breast cancer hotline Newsday
Race May Not Affect Survival of Women with Triple Receptor ... Cancerpage.com
TriCities.com - The Jewish Chronicle
all 29 news articles


Scientists developing breast cancer 'vaccine'
Foster's Daily Democrat, NH - 3 hours ago
Thomas Kieber-Emmons, director of basic breast cancer research at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, said the vaccine was developed over a ...


Breast cancer in men often detected late
Reuters - Jan 7, 2009
Among 244 men with breast cancer, only 57 underwent preoperative mammography or sonography, and that was because of clear signs of a problem: 54 had a ...
Breast Cancer in Men: One In 100 eMaxHealth.com
Healthy Living: detoxing your system, and screening for breast cancer KSBY
Breast Cancer Detection KARK
Examiner.com - Beaumont Enterprise
all 14 news articles


Canada.com

Newly identified gene plays major role in breast cancer metastasis ...
HemOncToday, NJ - 20 hours ago
“This is probably one of the first examples of a novel class of dual functional breast cancer genes that cause both metastasis and chemoresistance,” said ...
Study links breast cancer spread, gene Baltimore Sun
Gene Linked to Poor Breast Cancer Outcomes Ivanhoe
Researchers Find Breast Cancer Gene, Spur Hope for New Drugs Bloomberg
Science Daily (press release) - Princeton University The Daily Princetonian
all 116 news articles


Breast cancer in men often remains undetected
TopNews, Arkansas - 7 hours ago
Breast cancer, which affects one in every hundred men, is often detected at a later stage. Even the mammography detects them as benign. ...


Breast Cancer’s Hidden Side Effect: ImpediMed Aims to Spot Slow ...
Xconomy, MA - 3 hours ago
One of the ugly side effects of breast cancer treatment is lymphedema. This condition can happen when surgeons cut out a tumor in the breast, ...


Everolimus Promising in Heavily Pre-treated Metastatic Breast Cancer
Cancer Consultants, ID - 18 hours ago
These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Everolimus is an oral targeted therapy that works by ...


Sequoyah to raise money for breast cancer awareness
Muskogee Daily Phoenix, OK - Jan 7, 2009
TAHLEQUAH — Sequoyah Schools will again participate in a nationwide breast cancer awareness event by wearing pink shirts and holding events to raise money ...
Teams to help raise cancer awareness at Friday ball game Murray Ledger and Times
all 3 news articles

Breast-Cancer - Google News

     Home | Site Map | 101InfoLinks Directory | You'll LOVE This! | Sports Fans ONLY          
© 2007
.