Thermography

Thermal imaging is called thermography, to help the woman discover breast cancer in its earliest stages. Breast thermography, medical thermography, and infrared thermography all work on the principle that metabolic activity and the vascular circulation of the breast area is always higher than in normal breast tissue. Presently, mammography and physical examinations have been the front-runners for early detection of breast cancer. But unfortunately, with these traditional techniques, the traditional mortality rates have remained unchanged also. Breast thermography, or Digital Infrared Imaging, has improved these statistics.

Thermography, as a relatively new field in breast cancer imaging, has brought about thermography training. Levels I, II, and III Certifications can be studied online or through direct-hands on training, depending on where you live. Several thermography sites can be found, with specific information and training information with comprehensive lists of links for worldwide thermography web sites. Thermography is used for breast cancer, and also for all areas of they body—with firefighters and electricians also utilizing it for their fields.

The use of top notch infrared imaging machinery is through thermography FLIR, the global imaging infrared wide range manufacturing of cameras. FLIR stands for a Sweden manufacturing company that is the number one global leader. They describe thermography as "the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to see and measure thermal energy emitted from an object." Not visible to the eye, it is part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is professed as heat—both heat and cold emit infrared. IR radiation is emitted the higher an object's temperature is. The main point is that infrared picks up what we cannot see with our eyes.

A thermography case study regarding breast cancer is used for research statistics. It is fairly new and recent technology; so as much information on each case needs to be looked at carefully and very accurately in order to gather data for further research. Some case studies use breast thermography video tapes for documentation of the research information for each individual case, with the effects of distance on thermography or the mortality rates of thermography. Many areas need to be researched, as the field is so new.

There are certain steps to follow before a thermography screening can be done:

• No prolonged sun exposure to the breast area 5 days prior to the screening.
  
• No lotions, creams, powders, or makeup to the breasts on screening day.
  
• No shaving or hair removal of the area to be screened.
  
• No use of deodorants or antiperspirants on screening day.
  
• No treatments of certain areas (chest, breast, neck, or back) 24 hours before the screening.
  
• No exercise 4 hours or less before the screening.
  
• Nursing cannot be done one hour or more before screening.
  
• No bathing closer than one hour before the screening.
  
• No pain medications 4 hours or less before the screening.
  

Disrobing from the waist up is necessary for the breast imaging, and also for the body to equilibrate with the room. All techniques will be done by a female. Pregnancy or nursing are not harmed by the thermography screening.