Breast Thermography
The state-of-the-art medical infrared equipment used at Mountain Acupuncture is registered with the FDA for "adjunctive diagnostic screening for the detection of breast cancer" and other medical applications. Breast thermography uses highly sensitive infrared equipment to detect the subtle variations in heat coming from the surface of the skin. It does not employ ionizing radiation or involve any contact with the body -- and is therefore completely harmless to the patient. More than 800 peer-reviewed studies, involving more than 300,000 women over a thirty year period, have clearly demonstrated that breast thermography aids in the early detection of breast cancer. Because developing tumors require a large amount of blood flow, the resulting neo-angiogenesis creates a heat signature that can be discernible on a breast thermogram as one of the earliest risk assessment markers that a cancer already exists or will exist. When thermography reveals that a pre-cancerous condition is present, it provides an opportunity to resolve the condition through holistic treatment, before an actual cancer manifests. It should be emphasized that thermography is NOT intended for use as the sole modality in breast cancer risk assessment. Rather, it is an adjunctive risk assessment tool, to be used in conjunction with clinical examination and other modes of diagnostic imaging. According to study results cited by the International Academy of Clinical Thermography, thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90% and, when used in conjunction with clinical examination and other modes of imaging, increases the early stage breast cancer detection rate to 95%, while increasing survival rate by 61%. Furthermore, studies have shown that a persistent abnormal thermogram is the single most important marker for the risk of developing breast cancer, representing more than eight times the risk of a first order family history of the disease. Your thermograms will be sent for interpretation to a nationally-renowned, board-certified thermologist, Dr William C Amalu, DC, DBACT, who has more than twenty-five years of clinical thermology experience. His comprehensive written interpretive report will explain the results to you in clear, non-technical language. Our center welcomes physician referrals for breast thermography. Patients may also self-refer (i.e., no referral is required). Your breast imaging can be woven into a comprehensive wellness and preventative program that includes Acupuncture, Bodywork, Chinese Herbology, Clinical Homeopathy, Nutritional Counseling and other holistic modalities. In his Oriental Medicine practice, Dr Kreitzer has specialized in women's health issues for more than a decade. His unique approach of alternating detoxifying and nourishing treatments is designed to help you regain and maintain balance and vitality. Our center adheres to the strict Standards and Protocols of the International Academy of Clinical Thermology, the most referenced guidelines in existence. (In order to view a copy of these guidelines, please click here.) |
