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Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,537
Registered: ‎03-15-2010

Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

At a charity event I had an opportunity to talk to a breast cancer specialist, VERY enlightening.......long story short, this was my take away-

 

Breast thermography is light years ahead of mammograms for safety and early detection of breast cancer.  This causes FAR LESS false alarms and scares.

When something is detected the next step is ultrasound.

 

 

She said for women with dense breasts (me!) thermography would be very helpful as mammograms are terrible for this type of breast tissue.

 

Every reaseach paper I have now read supports this concept.

 

I wonder why I do not hear more about this?  I assume it is because of insurance and availability of the equipment.   ??

 

I feel like I am the last to know about this new(er) screening protocol.

 

Unfortunately this was not a local doctor I was speaking with she was in the area as a presenter.

 

Is this what you are doing for your routinue breast cancer screening?

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,766
Registered: ‎06-15-2016

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

In my experience, Doctors don't talk about it and insurance would certainly not pay for it.  Don't know how many locations have that equipment. MO

 

Insurance operates on protocol for most everything, you would need to go through many hoops before that test would be allowed.  If it's too late at that point, oops, so sorry. MO

 

I wonder what she was trying to suggest patients do about getting that test instead of the normal mammogram?

 

I think, as a previous cancer patient, I should be allowed that type of test every year. MO

Doesn't happen.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,310
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

I have heard about this but never researched it. I am a breast cancer survivor and that procedure is available in a nearby town where I live in WA state, but I have never had one. . Doesn't look like there are alot of other places you can go for it. Would love to have that option available to me tho. I am going for my oncologist appt next week so will ask her about that. And I bet it is very pricey and NOT covered by insurance yet. That will be the huge draw back for many.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 33,580
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

[ Edited ]

I have done some research on this as well as spoken to my gyno about this.  I have a pamphlet that explains thermography and when it should be used.  It indicates that a thermograph is to be used in conjunction with, not in place of, a mammogram.  A mammogram is still the number 1 tool for detecting breast cancer. 

 

My gyno is a Cleveland Clinic doctor and they do offer thermography.  The day I spoke to her, she told me she had just been to a seminar the day before regarding thermography.  She said the research wasn't as promising as they had hoped it would be in terms of cancer detection. 

 

Even the International Accademy of Clinical Thermology states that it's a complimentary procedure to a mammogram. 

 

I checked the price at the Cleveland Clinic and it was $200.00 and insurance doesn't cover it.  Of course that was just the cost of the actual procedure. That probably doesn't include the reading and the Clinic charges for the facility also.  My best guess would be that it's the price of a mammogram.  My last mammo was around $900.00 total.

 

A co-worker has this done exclusively as she insists a mammo causes cancer.  She only pays $56.00 to have it done.  There is a company that is sort of like a traveling thermography business that goes to various doctor's office in my area like chiropractors and holistic offices, and they do a thermograph on patients.  I'm not sure I'd necessarily trust that.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,310
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

[ Edited ]

Such good info from all you about this. I appreciate it so much. The more we know about what is coming down the pike regarding cancer, the more we become empowered about our own health. I will continue with the 3D mammos as per my medical team's recs,  and look forward to new and better ways for detecting those nasty cancer zombies. Thanks OP, for bringing this subject to us. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,017
Registered: ‎06-09-2014

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

I'm one of those who constantly has second mammograms and then ultrasounds, so far, all for nothing.  But after thousands of dollars and the emotional toll alone, I would welcome anything else than what's out there now.  

 

Obviously the current technology available doesn't work for someone like me and I have seriously considered just skipping it altogether from now on.  Not ideal but I don't think I can take one more year of being scared to death.  

 

If it works and is safe, I volunteer!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,938
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

[ Edited ]

I have known about this for years. I have asked my doctor about it plus the staff at the hospital. The hospitals already have the mammogram equipment & are not going to fork out money for the Thermography equipment. IMO we should have the choice which we want. I think they should do the Thermography 1st to limit us to radiation. If it shows something you could have a mammogram, ultrasound MRI etc. I think this would help with all the false positives they have. It's all about money for them & they will go the route that brings in more of it. Just my opinion.

I don't have yearly mammograms because I'm one of those that truly believes all the radiation from them causes cancer. I had one done last year or year before that. They came in & asked me if I was sure I had a mammogram done there. I told them it is the only place I have ever had a mammogram. They left & came back after they found my records. They told me it had been 5 or 7 yrs since I had been in & I needed to come in yearly. I told them I would do it when I wanted to do it not when they said I should do it. My business.

You can see clinic locations & more info here. http://www.breastthermography.com/find-a-center.htm

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,513
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

[ Edited ]

I have discussed this with my dr and he is for this procedure. Zero radiation and he feels as others have said, less needless pain and anxiety.

 

I live rural and would have to travel 90 minutes to a stand alone clinic. Not a traveling setup at all. Cost is $250 for the procedure & interpretation. 

 

Not covered by insurance but what is covered any more?

 

As the OP said, when you talk to a dr who reads/participates in research, it's very enlightening.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,017
Registered: ‎06-09-2014

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?


@Snowpuppy wrote:

I have discussed this with my dr and he is for this procedure. Zero radiation and he feels as others have said, less needless pain and anxiety.

 

I live rural and would have to travel 90 minutes to a stand alone clinic. Not a traveling setup at all. Cost is $250 for the procedure & interpretation. 

 

Not covered by insurance but what is covered any more?

 

As the OP said, when you talk to a dr who reads/participates in research, it's very enlightening.


My call backs are double that price so I'm all for it.  Unfortunately, nothing in my state yet according to the list.  Smiley Sad

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,310
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Does anyone here have breast thermography done?

[ Edited ]

nightowlz---While I respect your decision not to have mammos, I am one who welcomes that vital tool for detecting it as that is how I found out I had cancer.  I truly hope you never get cancer; I also hope that if you do, it won't be too late to do much because it wasn't detected in time.

And yes, the bottom line is money, in the business end of it---but I believe my team saved my life with their knowlege and technology and yes, caring for me as a person. Whether or not radiation from all the scans they did on me is harmful, I don't know and I'm not really concerned about that. That issue has been debated and never fully resolved. I don't want anyone to NOT get mammos because of the what ifs. It is an important thing for every woman AND their families. You have been very lucky--I hope you pass it along. Cancer with the treatments and surgeries is not easy at a stage 1A---I can't imagine what it would be like at a stage 4 or worse, a terminal stage. IMHO, of course.