Editor:
In response to the letter Thermography for breast cancer detection (Coast Reporter, May 18) I appreciate the opportunity to clear up some misconceptions about the mobile clinic recently offered at Gibsons Chiropractic, Health and Wellness Centre.
Thermography is a non-invasive, radiation-free risk assessment. It has been FDA approved as an adjunctive tool for breast cancer screening since 1982. It is not a stand-alone test for breast cancer screening nor is it an alternative to or a competitor of mammography.
Thermography cannot and does not diagnose breast cancer. This is also true for anatomical tests such as mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs.
Such tests provide information on the different aspects of the disease process and identify the need for further investigations. A biopsy of the breast and accompanying histological evaluation is the only definitive diagnostic test for breast cancer. Thermography can identify areas of abnormal thermal symmetry, which are often associated with underlying pathology. When functional abnormalities are detected early, there is an opportunity for early intervention. Younger women with dense breasts, women with implants and those with fibrocystic conditions are among those who find great value in the information that thermography provides.
Since the 1990's, major advancements in infrared technology, coupled with sophisticated computerized software programs, have resulted in a significant increase in the accuracy of thermal images. There have been many studies done in the past 30 years showing that combining thermography with mammography increases the sensitivity rate for the detection of breast cancer.
Women who want to be proactive with their health see thermography as an early warning system, empowering them to speak with their health practitioner about making a plan to lower their risk for developing breast cancer.
Glenda Neufeld
Clinical Thermography Technician
Thermography Clinic Vancouver Island
