Breast Thermography is a risk assessment process that uses an infrared (heat sensing) camera to detect heat variations in the breasts. Because infection, inflammation, fibrocystic and fibroglandular tissue, and breast cancer can cause excess heat in the breast tissue, thermography can detect these areas before any other type of breast screening. These patterns can indicate a risk for breast cancer, either now or in the future.

Absolutely not! While locating these areas can aid in the early detection of breast cancer and inflammatory breast disease, more often these areas indicate unhealthy tissue, infection, stagnant lymphatic flow, cyst activity, inflammation, an injury, scar tissue, fibrocystic or fibroglandular tissue, or a hormonal imbalance.

Although breast pain can be troubling and uncomfortable, 90% of breast pain is benign, and usually associated with cysts, fibrocystic/fibroglandular tissue or hormonal fluctuations. Symptoms that are more commonly associated with breast cancer are sudden nipple discharge and/or bleeding, sudden nipple inversion on only one breast, finding a lump that is hard, irregular in shape and unmoveable, or noticing dimpling, puckering or bulging on one breast that doesn’t match the other breast. Also inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is becoming more common, usually starting with what might look like an insect bite that doesn’t heal, can turn into a patch of hives that can cover that breast, the breast can become swollen, tender and red, and be hot to the touch. IBC is usually a very fast-growing type of breast cancer that is frequently mis-diagnosed as a skin condition, and can progress quickly.

First, check with your health care practitioner and follow their advice regarding your thermography report. Also, many of our clients have cleared up their thermograms by adopting some simple lifestyle habits. We provide you with a copy of our Breast Health Tips during your appointment and discuss how to implement them. Once you have used these Breast Health Tips for a period of time, we recommend that you have a comparison scan to note any changes, as most clients who commit to these proactive breast health tips experience an improved temperatures on their follow-up scan. You may also choose to work one to one with a preventive health care practitioner who specializes in breast health.

YES! Breast Thermography is as safe as having your picture taken. There is no radiation exposure or anything invasive about the test.

It was FDA approved in 1982 as an adjunct to mammography. It is safe for any woman 20 years or older, pregnant or lactating women, women who have had breast implants or reductions or who have had previous cancer surgeries.

YES! Breast Thermography is as safe as having your picture taken. There is no radiation exposure or anything invasive about the test. It was FDA approved in 1982 as an adjunct to mammography. It is safe for any woman 20 years or older, pregnant or lactating women, women who have had breast implants or reductions or who have had previous cancer surgeries.

No. The two screening tools complement each other. Mammography is specifically looking for the anatomy of the breast, while thermography is looking for physiology, or thermal changes, in the breast. In other words, as far as breast cancer, a mammogram will show a lump, where a thermogram will show heat patterns created around the lump and feeding into the lump.

Breast thermography is a very important risk assessment tool for the 25-49 age group before an annual mammogram may be recommended. This is extremely important for younger women because breast tissue tends to be more dense making it more difficult for radiologists to see a tumor on a mammogram. Breast cancer in younger women also tends to be more aggressive making thermography critical in detecting any early signals.

Some women, despite their doctors recommendation, for their own personal reasons, will choose not to regular mammograms. We respect each person’s right to choose their health care options, and encourage women to do their own research on the risks of mammography.

Unfortunately, western medicine has thousands of diagnostic codes, and even 57 for various breast tests, but none for thermography. For this reason, insurance usually doesn’t reimburse for thermal imaging. Many clients are able to utilize their flex or health savings accounts for thermal imaging, and Aflac often covers thermography.

It is vital that diagnostic thermographic images are interpreted by well-trained and experienced personnel in the health care field (MD, DC, DO, etc.).

Interpretation of thermographic images for a clinical impression should only be made by health care providers who are licensed to diagnose. The doctor should also be board certified as a clinical thermographer, diplomate, or fellow from a reputable authority.

At Sierra Thermography Center, our images are read and interpreted by Dr. Robert Kane, DC, DABCT, FIACT. Dr. Kane brings 30+ years of experience to the field. He holds Diplomatic Certification through the American Board of Clinical Thermography (ABCT). He also achieved Diplomate certification through the International Academy of Clinical Thermology (IACT) and was recognized as a “Fellow” by IACT for contributions to the field of thermal imaging. Dr. Kane is the owner of Kane IR Interpretation Services, currently providing thermal imaging interpretation services for 35 centers across the United States, Israel, Canada and the Philippines.

It is recommended that women in their twenties get a thermogram every three years. In their thirties and beyond the recommendation is one thermogram per year as long as they remain low-risk. The report accompanying your initial scan will indicate what follow-up is necessary for you. With no suspicious findings, most follow-up recommendations will be to return in 12 months. Scans that warrant closer monitoring typically will ask you to return in 3 or 6 months. Baseline cannot be established with only one study because we have no way of knowing if this is your normal pattern or if it is actually changing at the time of the first exam. A follow-up scan will show if your temperatures are moving in the right direction.

Depending on the center you visit, infrared breast scans can range from $175-$275. At our center, a breast thermogram is $250. We ask for payment in full using check, cash, credit, debit or health savings card at the time of the visit. (We do offer a 60-day payment plan to anyone who needs it.)

Prior to your appointment, we will email you all the necessary paperwork. Most of these forms can be completed prior to your visit, and you will bring all of them with you. Once at our office, we will review the paperwork for accuracy, then you will be asked to acclimate, bare from the waist up, in a cool room for 15 minutes. This allows your skin temperature to cool down, so that your scan will be accurate. Once the acclimation period has passed, the actual photographs take only a few more minutes. Once the technician has captured all 7 views, you will get dressed, and she will offer to show you the images to see areas that the thermologist will inspect on your scan. The entire first visit is usually completed within one hour.

We are happy to answer any questions via email or telephone: you can contact us or email us at info@sierrathermography.com or by phone at (916) 878-1181.

You may also want to search online for: Breast Thermography to see a variety of websites, including Dr. Mercola, Dr. Christiane Northrup and others who endorse and provide information about breast thermal imaging.