Thermography Saved my Life! How I Became Involved with Thermography...
There have been GIANT strides in thermography in the past 5 years. I performed thermography 30 years ago when it was used in addition to mammography on patients with symptoms; this was before screening mammography was approved by the FDA. (Thermography was approved for breast cancer screening several years before mammography in 1982; mammography was approved in 1989). The technology at the time wasn't very good, and we had to mail - (remember that?) polaroid pictures of the images from here out-west, to somewhere back-east for interpretation. By the time we got the results back, the patient would have already had surgery! So, thermography proved to be useless to me at that time, and I abandoned it in favor of mammography. After performing mammography for over 35 years, it became apparent that I was not detecting breast cancer early enough to save lives. Changing to digital mammography did not significantly reduce the radiation dose to breast tissue as it was supposed to do. Corporate medicine, of which mammography is a mainstay, will not allow these truths to be told. * * * Acting on a suggestion from a medical colleague, I started researching Clinical Thermal Imaging near the end of 2008; I could not believe the changes in technology! I quit performing mammography, and in the Spring of 2009, Northern Arizona Thermal Imaging was born.
In the Summer of 2009, in July, I found a lump in my left breast. A second (follow-up) thermogram showed a "suspicious change" from my first thermogram. I then had a diagnostic digital mammogram, which showed NOTHING. Luckily, an ultrasound showed the mass, so I was able to have an ultrasound guided biopsy; which came back positive for an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. If I had relied on annual mammography, it would have taken 2 or more years to find my cancer... ...Thermography saved my life!
As a Medical Professional, I am now committed to providing the highest quality medical thermography to people of all ages. Thermography is safe, (no radiation involved) and painless, (no physical contact). It only takes a few minutes in a pleasant environment, and you and your health care provider receives a full report with copies of all images within 48 hours on average. Carol Conti, RT, CTT Northern Arizona Thermal Imaging |