When is a Thermal Scan Appropriate?
Infrared imaging, or thermography, is a non-contact, non-invasive test that measures temperatures. Temperature information displayed by the body can assist in monitoring many actions in the body.
If you have a problem with undiagnosed pain — a thermal scan may provide information that will help your physician find the origin. Pain is often ‘referred’ or set from a place unrelated to where you ‘hurt’. This is what is meant by referred. Gall bladder inflammation can cause pain in the back next to the shoulder blade. Lung problems can cause pain in the shoulder. Kidneys often cause mid-back pain. Your nervous system is wired to send signals of distress — often prior to an acute attach. So that ‘back pain’ might just be your gall bladder acting up and that shoulder pain could signal lung disease. These are not “absolutes” but if your doctor is having trouble determining why you have pain and the x-ray doesn’t show anything, then a thermal scan may help.
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Many women have “fibrocystic” breasts and because they are tender do not want to have mammography. A thermal scan can help the doctor determine if the breast tenderness is related to hormones. Regulation of your estrogen and progesterone levels can relieve much of this pain and tenderness. A thermal scan will show if the breast tissue has increased circulation — that is related to estrogen levels. Cysts are cold — and usually the breasts are higher in circulation because of estrogen stimulus with cold spots that are the cysts. This picture is totally different than that of one suggesting other breast disease or even the possibility of breast cancer. Women who have breast implants can see if there are any signals relating to suspicious problems — often inflammation from the implant. Those who have had lumpectomies and mastectomies can look for signals that indicate new disease activity — or no disease activity, especially if you’re on medications to ward off the return of breast cancer. Infrared is an easy way to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Thermography does not replace mammography or ultrasound or MRI. Infrared measures the metabolic action in the breast tissue. But thermography used with these structural studies means you will have a more clear picture of your breast health. Monthly self-breast exam, annual physician exams, thermography annually, and structural tests — when indicated, will keep you aware of any changes in your breasts. Remember — ignoring our bodies can lead to disastrous results. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and monitor it consistently. Early detection saves lives.
June 17th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
More on Fibrocystic Breast Changes:
A good friend of ours just went through an ordeal with breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer has increased to 1 in 8 women, with 4,000 new cases weekly.
You might ask, could there be a preventive measure which is safe, cheap and widely available that has been overlooked?
The answer is YES , and it’s the essential mineral, Iodine , which was added to table salt in 1924 as part of a national program to prevent Goiter. It turns out that this same Iodine in table salt is the key to breast cancer prevention as proposed by the following list of prestigious doctors:
Guy Abraham, MD, Robert Derry MD PHD, David Brownstein MD, George Flechas MD, Donald Miller, M.D.
Dr. B.A. Eskin published 80 papers over 30 years researching iodine and breast cancer, and he reports that iodine deficiency causes breast cancer and thyroid cancer in humans and animals. Iodine deficiency is also known to cause a pre-cancerous condition called fibrocystic breast disease.
Ghent published a paper in 1993 which showed iodine supplementation works quite well to reverse and resolve fibrocystic changes of the breast, and this is again the subject of a current clinical study.
Despite its obvious potential, not much has been done with Iodine treatment over the past 40 years in the United States. Since iodine isn’t patentable and is therefore unlikely to be profitable to market, there is no money to fund studies for “FDA approval”. However, FDA approval is not required since Iodine is already an additive to table salt at the supermarket.
For more information see my newsletter:
http://jeffreydach.com/2007/05/05/jeffreydachdrdachiodine.aspx
Jeffrey Dach MD
http://www.drdach.com
June 18th, 2007 at 5:06 am
Thank you for your comments Dr. Dach. Education is KEY!