For the modern patient seeking a new generation of screening options, the benefits of Medical Infrared Imaging also known as thermography are clear. Not only is Medical Infrared Imaging a painless, non-contact imaging modality, its radiation free. Even more exciting, Medical Infrared Imaging is ideal for imaging demographics conventionally unsuitable for nuclear imaging such as X-Ray mammography, including: young women with dense breasts, women with small breasts or implants, women who are pregnant or nursing, women with fibrocystic breasts and women who have undergone lumpectomies or mastectomies.
Arguably the most important benefit of Infrared Mammography lies in its unique ability to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages of development. Modern breast oncologistsŐ calculate a breast cancerŐs development in terms of five incremental stages. As the stage in which the cancer is found increases so does the negative and sometimes life threatening dangers of the cancer as well. In recent studies Infrared Mammography has been shown to detect cancers up to eight years before they are detectable using X-Ray Mammography. The American Academy of Thermology recommends patients begin a protocol of annual Infrared Mammograms at the age of 25. For information on where you can find an imaging center near you type in your location information in the physician finder panel to the right.
The graph to the left comes from the American College of Surgeons National Cancer Data Base, based on women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1995 and 1998. There are some important points to note about these numbers:
The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after being diagnosed. Many of these patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. Five-year relative survival rates (such as the numbers below) don't include patients who die from other causes. They are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the outlook for patients with a particular type and stage of cancer.
These numbers were derived from patients treated several years ago. While they are among the most current numbers we have available, improvements in treatment since then mean that the survival rates for people now being diagnosed with these cancers are likely to be higher.
While survival statistics can sometimes be useful as a general guide, they may not accurately represent any one person's prognosis. A number of other factors, including other tumor characteristics and a person's age and general health, can also affect outlook. Your doctor is likely to be a good source as to whether these numbers may apply to you, as he or she is familiar with the aspects of your particular situation.
