Research Review Shows Breast Thermography Highly Effective
For immediate release, 7th November 2010
Research Review Shows Breast Thermography Highly Effective
A new review of research reveals good news for New Zealand women.
The information released by the New Zealand Breast Thermography Association www.nzbta.org.nz shows that breast thermography, which is used to help manage breast health, is a valuable tool for predicting breast cancer risk.
Medical Researcher Corene Humphreys BHSc, ND says, “The literature review shows that a persistently abnormal thermogram is an extremely strong indicator of breast cancer risk. In fact, a number of researchers consider a persistently abnormal thermogram to be the single greatest indicator of breast cancer risk,” she says.
Auckland gynaecologist, Chris Heron says the results of the research review paves the way for thermography to be used to identify women at a high risk of developing breast cancer so they can be monitored more closely.
“To help reduce the risk of a problem developing further, we can work with them using things like exercise, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol, and looking very carefully at diet and other risk factors, to improve breast health and help to move them out of that high risk category. An abnormal thermogram can act as an alert and a strong motivating factor for the individual to take better care of themselves.”
Jamie Newman, spokesman for Clinical Thermography which provides specialist breast thermography services in New Zealand, says Maria (not her real name) is a real-life example of this.
34 year old Maria had a thermogram in May ‘09 which highlighted irregularities in one of her breasts. She made changes to her lifestyle including exercising regularly, adopting a healthier diet and reducing her alcohol intake and six months later, a second thermogram showed a huge improvement. Another thermogram six months later revealed a return to full breast health,” he says.
Jamie Newman says thermography is similar to cholesterol testing or PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing which can be an early warning of prostate cancer. Results are not diagnostic but indicative of the need for further investigation. In the case of high cholesterol levels, it’s a warning to change lifestyle for the better. This can then lower the risk of diabetes, a coronary or other related health issues.
Jamie Newman says working hand in hand with other screening tools such as mammography is the aim of thermography, to help reduce the high incidence of breast cancer in New Zealand women.
ENDS www.clinical thermography.co.nz
For further information, please contact Ali Jones, Ali Jones PR and Communications, ph 027 247 3112
Additional information on Thermography:
• Breast Thermography works by looking at the heat at the surface of the skin, which gives an indication of the blood flow and physiology of the breast tissue.
• A breast cancer requires its own blood supply in order to grow; this creates additional heat to the healthy tissue surrounding it.
• A breast cancer has often been growing for a number of years before it is discovered through mammography. Thermography can offer an insight into the blood vessel and tissue activity during this time.
• Breast thermography is another tool in the breast assessment toolbox, it does not replace mammography or other testing.
• Breast thermography was approved by the Food and Drug Administration of America in 1982, and reapproved in 2003 for “adjunctive diagnostic screening for the detection of breast cancer”.
• Used alongside other testing has been shown to increase detection of breast cancers.
• Good breast health reflects good overall health which means women can monitor their overall health and improvement in their health, using thermography.