Frequently Asked Questions
The following are some of the questions that people often ask, however, if you have a particular concern not covered here, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What is thermography and how does it work?
Mammography and ultrasound are tests of anatomy – they look at structure. When a tumour has grown to a size that is large enough and dense enough to block an x-ray beam (mammography) or sound wave (ultrasound), it produces an image that can be detected by a trained radiologist.
Unlike mammography and ultrasound, thermal imaging is a test of physiology – it simply detects and records the infrared heat radiating from the surface of the body. It can help in early detection and monitoring of abnormal physiology and the establishment of risk factors for the development or existence of cancer, because for cancer to grow it needs to increase blood-flow and this creates a heat signature spike that is detectable well before any tumour can grow large enough to show up on a mammogram or ultrasound. Thermography is a non-invasive test. There is no contact with the body of any kind, no radiation and the procedure is painless. Also effective for all breast sizes.
Breast thermography is a way of monitoring breast health over time. Every woman has a unique thermal pattern that should not change over time, like a fingerprint. The purpose of the two initial breast studies (obtained three months apart) is to establish the baseline pattern for each patient to which all future thermograms are compared to monitor stability.
The vascular changes that take place with developing malignant pathology normally take around 3 months to be measurable, which is why it is necessary to establish a baseline with two studies 3 months apart. The ability to interpret the first breast study is limited since there are no previous images for comparison.
With continued breast health, the thermograms remain identical to the initial study. Changes may be identified on follow up studies that could represent physiological differences within the breast that warrant further investigation.
So, in a nutshell, mammogram and ultrasound show ‘structure’, tissue densities can be evaluated, lumps can be measured, calcifications can be located and opinions given before biopsy, none of which thermography can provide. There is no comparison or competition between mammography and thermography – they are two different tests providing different results.
Thermography can recognise changes to physiology, due to pain, pathology, injury and dysfunction, in any area of the body. It does not see structure or anatomy like MRI or X-Ray do. However, it can also see nerve problems, e.g. nerve entrapment, impingement or pressure, nerve root irritation, neuralgia, ruptured disc, temporal arteritis, trigeminal neuralgia, tendonitis and whiplash. It can also give early indications of potential problems in the future, such as strokes or cancers, thereby giving people inside knowledge of their body and subsequently creates opportunity for early intervention.
Please be aware that we can only work with the medical history that you provide to us. The thermal findings on your images are interpreted by our thermologists in correlation with the full history and symptoms given by you. Therefore, you need to fill in the medical history form that you can access through your confirmation form. This is required no less than 48 hours before your appointment. If this is not done, your scan result will be late.
Unfortunately thermography is not covered by private health insurance at this time. Full details of the cost of thermography are shown under the ‘Clinics and Pricing’ section.
Yes, it is used in the Royal Free Hospital, London, and Salford University Hospital, for assessment and monitoring of Raynaud’s Phenomenon and Scleroderma; in the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation; and in the burns unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, for improving patient care for burns patients. Also, the NHS Research Authority uses thermography for infrared imaging of surgical wounds and for evaluation of pressure ulceration. And recently, a Medical Thermography course in London was approved for CPD (Continuing Professional Development) credits by the London Royal College of Physicians, in which many of our UK doctors have attended.
Your medical history and images are sent to our team of doctors of thermology, who interpret your images and make a detailed report which they send via email to the thermographer; the thermographer then sends the report on to you. When compiling this report, the doctors generally provide advice on the next steps you can take; it is up to you whether you choose to follow their guidance. You have the opportunity to talk through the report with the thermographer for up to 30 minutes at no extra cost to you if you do not understand the medical terminology.
The information that the thermographer provides is limited to imaging. Any recommendations that the thermographer provides are not intended to constitute medical advice and you understand and acknowledge that the thermographer does the imaging; thermographers are not doctors of thermology and cannot give you an answer on your imaging. If you are in any doubt as to the information that you have been provided or you are unsure what to do, you should consult a qualified medical practitioner. Body Scanning Ltd cannot be held responsible for any harm, loss or damage that arises as a result of this investigation. The information provided to you by the thermographer or through this website does not constitute the provision of medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional judgment, consultation, advice, diagnosis or treatment.
The medical information provided on this website is provided without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
If you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 999 immediately.
The special report type WHC is a stand alone study that focuses on all gradable findings specific to a women’s health graded score, which can be monitored over time and is intended to show areas that justify investigation and treatment by their healthcare practitioners to improve the specific issues relating to their overall women’s health. The WHC cannot be combined with any other study types as the grading systems and report formats are different.
Who can have a thermogram?
No, you cannot have a thermal breast scan until 3 months after you have stopped breastfeeding. This is because the breasts are too active in pregnancy and in lactation. The thermologists would not be able to see any inflammatory process while pregnant or lactating; but you can have a thermal scan of other areas if you would like.
Absolutely, as there is no compression which can cause damage or rupture to implants. Thermography effectively and safely screens breasts with implants and it can detect if an implant is leaking.
Children (paediatrics and minors) are handled differently than adults for thermal imaging, due to findings that are affected by normal developmental changes, as well as hormonal changes. Thermal imaging of anyone below the age of 18 should only be conducted on referral by the child’s doctor, with requests relating to, and based on, specific areas of clinical concern and symptoms of dysfunction.
So, although completely safe for children, the results can be misleading because of the normal growing process. If required, as above, it is a perfectly safe screening procedure and is always carried out with parents present.
It certainly can and thermograms can be extremely helpful to physiotherapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths and medical doctors, to pinpoint problems for subsequent treatment and monitoring.
It is common for axillary (armpit) lymph nodes to become enlarged on the side where the covid vaccine was administered which can persist for several weeks after the vaccine has been given. Because axillary lymph node enlargement can also occur in breast cancer, this otherwise minor side effect can strike fear in many women after the vaccine. As a result, our thermologists are recommending that preferably women should get their breast scan before their first dose of the vaccine or wait four weeks after their second dose of the vaccine, to allow time for enlarged lymph nodes to subside.
If an urgent scan is required, the patient must advise us which arm the vaccine was given in and any symptoms suffered after vaccination, so this information can be given with the images to the thermologists. They will then correlate the unilateral findings/changes that may be related to a vaccine axillary adenopathy into consideration and grade accordingly with all history and symptoms.
This investigation can also detect health issues such as the following, but this list is not exhaustive. More information regarding what can be found is in the section on Full Body Scan.
- Dental disease – even before feeling any pain
- Back, neck, shoulder pain
- Nerve entrapment, impingement, pressure, trauma
Ruptured disc
Tendonitis
Stroke Screening
Detection of deep vein thrombosis
Evaluating injuries and monitoring the healing process
Unexplained pain
Whiplash
Early detection and prevention of various diseases – such as breast disease, strokes, heart attacks