Preparation for your Infrared Imaging screen

To help prepare for your visit please read the following guide as there are some steps for you to follow prior to the test.

You will be given some forms to fill in at home and these should be brought with you to the appointment. All information is confidential and is used to calculate your Risk Index. The Risk Index is used by the physician who will read your scan.

If you are premeopausal, when making your appointment please ideally make it in the first 2 weeks of your cycle.

• Do not shave underarm area on day of scan
• Do not smoke for 2 hours before the test
• Do not use lotions or powder on your breasts on the day of the test and avoid use of deodorant
• No sunbathing of the area to be imaged 5 days prior to the scan Do not drink coffee later than 3 hrs before your appointment
• No therapies eg; ultrasound treatment, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage No hot or cold pack use for 24 hours before scan
• No exercise 4 hours prior to the exam
• Bathing/showering must be no closer than 1 hr before scan
• If not contraindicated by your doctor, on the day of your Appt. withhold your dose of any pain medications and vasoactive drugs e.g. beta blockers until after your scan
• You will need to disrobe from the waist up and acclimatise to room temperature for 15 minutes prior to your scan
• The overall time required will be approximately 45mins

Infrared Imaging and Breast Evaluation

Infrared thermal imaging determines if abnormal or asymmetric thermal patterns are detectable in the breast tissue. This procedure is used as an adjunctive diagnostic procedure. Asymmetric thermal patterns in the breast are indicators of abnormal physiology. Abnormal findings must be correlated, by the treating physician, with additional diagnostic tools such as ultrasound, breast MRI and/or biopsy before a final diagnosis can be made. Ultrasound evaluation may aid in further clarifying the thermographic representation. Breast MRI is also proving to be a significant addition to further diagnostics. These are all options for structural evaluation.

Test Results

It will take approximately 1 - 2 weeks before your results will be available. We will mail you a copy, and where necessary we will make an appointment for you to see Dr Godfrey. Your results will include a recommended re-call period from 3mths - 24 mths. Your technicians are Pip Davies, Jude Tindall and Julie Harper who are Registered Nurses.

Thermal Indicator

TH-l TH-2 TH-3 TH-4 TH-5
Symmetric Bilateral - Non Vascular Symmetric Bilateral - Vascular Equivocal - One Thermal Factor Present Abnormal- Two Factors Present Suspicious - Three Factors Present

Recall Procedure (reminder is sent automatically)

An appropriate recall period for additional imaging is based on your results and your Clinical Risk Index. The latter is calculated from the data provided in your Breast Health Questionnaire. Recall procedure is important to monitor breast health especially if treatments such as hormones or lifestyle changes are being incorporated into your treatment plan.

Infrared Imaging increases the chance of early detection of breast disease. Like all procedures it is not a 100% guarantee of detection. A complete program of breast health includes: annual physician exam, annual thermal imaging and ultrasound if indicated (with an initial baseline of 35 years of age.)

Changes in Breast Health

It is important to note that most changes in breast tissue are not cancerous. Thermal changes can be indications of hormone imbalance, inflammation, ductal inflammatory responses, or a host of other NON-CANCEROUS problems. Thermal imaging is the least invasive way of detecting these changes.
Early detection provides the best way to monitor suspicious changes. Following up recalls increases the effectiveness of early detection to greater than 95%.