According to many neurologists, if we can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours into an emergency room we can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. The trick is getting a stroke recognized; diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

Jim was only 32 
and like most men his age, he was spunky, spontaneous, moody, rebellious, preoccupied with love, radiating energy, full of life, healthy, fit, goal-oriented, driven, narcissistic, the list goes on and on. But most importantly, he was unprepared. The night before he had a severe headache, which was assumed to be a migraine, but the next morning he was relatively okay. So he went to work, spent a couple hours in the office and then went to a function with his wife. He suddenly felt very peculiar and he knew something was radically wrong. 
Jim felt embarrassed and hoped whatever was happening to him would go away. He can only describe it as feeling as if life was draining away. There wasn't any pain; he didn't feel sick, but he became aware that if he didn't hold onto the table he was going to fall off the chair. 


Subsequently, he realized that he was paralyzed down the left side. It was a most unusual and terrifying experience of his life. Luck would have it, Jim was married to Sarah who was a registered nurse and recognized the symptoms of an acute ischemic attack (stroke), called 911 and saved his life. Not everyone is so lucky, because even if a stroke victim survives they usually suffer the consequences and impairment for the rest of their life.

How to recognize a stroke?

There is an acceptable method of stroke recognition, called FAST:

If you or your loved one has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.

Arm Weakness  - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "the sky is blue and it’s a sunny day." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Another very important sign of a stroke, ask the person to stick their tongue out. If the tongue is crooked or if it goes from side to side, it is also could be an indication of a stroke.

Time to call 911 - If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Beyond F.A.S.T. — Other symptoms you should know

•   Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg
 

•   Sudden confusion or trouble understanding 
 

•   Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes 
 

•   Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination 
 

•   Sudden severe headache with no known origin

Thermography imaging and evaluation can help in evaluating risk when it comes to some potential stroke situations. In the following image one can clearly see that the left side of this patient is much warmer suggesting some occlusion in the area that can with time potentially lead to a stroke.

!

Remember that prevention is the key, once someone is identified as high risk they can follow up with a Doppler ultrasound and if confirmed positive can take preventive measures. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a stroke can certainly save someone’s life, however identifying someone who’s at risk of a stroke can potentially prevent this in the first place.

Please remember the FAST method and the non-invasive thermography evaluation that can be an early warning system and lead to prevention. Please share this information with as many people as possible; you could be saving their life!

Wanted to share this letter we received recently in support of breast thermography. In fact, we have received many and all of them are positive and supportive. We got permission to post it on our blog here:

Recent media reports on thermography show differing opinions.  When there are opposite views on an issue, the ethical thing to do is to present open and equal information on both viewpoints.  Linda Venus is presented on the CBC News website as a “breast cancer survivor” - information not given is that she is also a Senior Director of Public Affairs for the Breast Cancer Society and a professional lobbyist for that organization.  Nancy Wadden of the Canadian Association of Radiologists is quoted as saying thermography is “actually useless” - she is neither an expert on thermography, nor an unbiased resource.  Where is the information from experienced experts in thermography, like Alex Mostovoy of the Thermography Clinic in Toronto?

The media has recently reported that a number of private clinics providing procedures such as endoscopy and colonoscopy have been found to giving substandard care.  No one is questioning the validity of the procedures themselves, but rather the competence of the people doing the procedure. Why then is the focus on the validity of thermography rather than identifying the issue as the training and experience of those providing the procedure? 

I have had annual thermography for several years.  On each occasion I have been given a detailed written report and a one-on-one discussion to explain the results.  At no time was a diagnosis given; had there been any area of concern I would have been referred for further investigation.  Thermography is a valid, non-invasive procedure which women can use as part of their health care, and I will continue, with complete confidence, to use this.

Judy Horsley

Many of you remember the hatched job from CBC last week presented as "Investigative Journalism about Thermography". As always, there is more that meets the eye in this well orchestrated campaign that aims to discredit thermography, influence the public and demand crackdown from regulators. However as this story unravels it becomes more and more clear that it is all fabricated by several interest groups to promote their agenda of destroying thermography and denying this service to women.  

Many of you know that thermography has been under a vicious attack by the media here by CBC News.
After a well orchestrated campaign to discredit the efficacy of thermography by blatant disinformation of the public we are faced with heavy handed health regulators who want to deny women the right to chose.

We believe that women deserve a choice when it comes to their breast health. Thermography provides that choice and saves many lives!

Please go to this link and sign our petition and if you believe in this as strongly as I do. Please send this to as many friends as you can.

http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/petition-for-thermography-in-canada

Breast thermography is widely used around the world but here is a story from BBC how it is used in a UK hospital setting with great success.

An infra-red screening device has proven to be particularly successful at detecting breast abnormalities in younger women.

Cambridge researchers said using both the scan and mammogram "significantly increased" cancer detection rates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgeshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8691000/8691622.stm

POSITION STATEMENT ON THERMOGRAPHY

Responding to a report issued by CBC news November 27, 2012, representatives from Thermography Clinic Inc. want Canadians to be accurately informed about breast thermography, its benefits and limitations.

Thermography, as a whole, should not be discredited simply because of the misinformation and low integrity of one company. We at Thermography Clinic Inc. and its affiliates have been consistently cautious and strict not to sell fear, and to stay true to fact. We do not embellish thermography, nor do we use aggressive marketing techniques.

Accountability and Regulation:

The use of Thermography has internationally established protocols and procedures that, when adhered to, provide women with further information that may be useful to their health. We will be submitting an application for regulation with provincial authorities across Canada to ensure that thermography is available and held to the highest standards.

Studies:

Please refer to http://www.thermographyclinic.com/study-index for a list of thermography studies.

FDA Approved:

The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medical thermography an adjunctive test in breast cancer screening in 1982. We agree with the FDA position that thermography is not a stand-alone technology and have never deviated from this position in our practice.

Right to Proactive Health Care:

We believe that women deserve choice when it comes to their health. Thermography provides women and their health care practitioners with additional information. It is not intended to replace mammography. Studies have shown that Breast Thermography, combined with structural testing (mammography) and self-breast examination, provides women with information they can use to make their health decisions.

Over many years, we have helped thousands of women with breast health and prevention. We work with utmost integrity and care. We believe many women would not be alive today if we did not have this knowledge and technology. Unfortunately, many women will suffer immensely if the use of thermography is prohibited.

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY – AN OVERVIEW

Breast thermography is a physiological test that provides information on temperature and infrared heat patterns of the breast. Because the skin naturally emits thermal radiation (heat), it is well suited to infrared imaging. Thermography differs from mammography in that it provides information on the biological activity of the breast versus the gross internal anatomy. Infrared imaging is a functional test, whereas mammography is a structural test.

As a functional test, thermography can detect breast abnormalities that other screening methods cannot identify, namely thermal and vascular changes. The increased metabolic activity seen on a breast thermogram can be an indication of injury, mastitis, fibrocystic breast disease or cancer. These functional changes are thought to take place before the onset of structural changes that can occur in diseased or cancerous states. A persistent abnormal thermogram can alert the physician to the need for further investigation and identify women who need to be more closely monitored.

Because thermograms in a healthy woman remain remarkably constant, serial thermograms can assess tissue changes over time. A healthy initial thermogram serves as a baseline to compare future thermograms against.

Recognizing the Limitations of Thermal Imaging

Thermography cannot, and does not, diagnose breast cancer.This is true also for anatomical tests such as mammograms, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging. Such tests provide information on the different aspects of the disease process and identify the need for further investigations. A biopsy of the breast and accompanying histological evaluation is the only definitive diagnostic test for breast cancer.

Understanding the Strengths of Breast Thermography

Thermography is a non-invasive, contact-free procedure that doesn’t require compression of the breasts. There is no exposure to radiation, which means repeat tests are safe and without risk. One of the key benefits of thermography is its effectiveness in women with dense breasts, making it suitable for:

Younger women – approximately 18% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women during their forties. Women who develop breast cancer at a younger age tend to have more rapidly growing cancers that are more likely to metastasize.

Women taking hormone therapy – results from the Women’s Health Initiative trial revealed a significant increase in invasive breast cancer when taking synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Serial thermograms can also help monitor the effects of hormone treatment for fibrocystic breasts.

Women with fibrocystic changes – fibrous breasts are very dense and can mask early cancers, particularly if no micro calcifications are present. Research shows that approximately 40% of women with fibrocystic disease and an abnormal thermogram develop breast cancer within 5 years. Conversely, women with fibrocystic disease and a normal thermogram have a less than 3% likelihood of developing breast cancer. Thermography can also provide early warnings of breast abnormalities and highlight potentially suspicious cases particularly when mammographic and clinical exams are equivocal, or non-specific.

Thermography as an Independent Risk Marker 
An estimated 60-70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have none of the obvious risk factors. For this reason, breast cancer has been considered an equal opportunity killer. According to researchers, a persistent abnormal thermogram is thought to be the single greatest indicator of breast cancer risk and is considered 10 times more important than a positive family history for the disease.

The Value of Thermography as a Complementary Tool 
An increase in the detection rate of breast cancer has been demonstrated in a number of peer- reviewed studies with the combined use of clinical breast examination, mammography and thermography. In one study using high-resolution thermography, an abnormal thermogram coupled with a positive mammogram and clinical breast exam was associated with a 98% sensitivity rate for breast cancer detection. Results from a recent 2010 trial showed an 89% sensitivity rate for the detection of breast cancer in women under 50 when thermal imaging and mammography were combined. The increase in sensitivity relates to the fact that mammography and thermography do not always identify the same lesion.

Summary

Thermography is not a competitor to, nor a replacement for mammography.  Rather, it is an adjunct tool that can identify areas of abnormal thermal symmetry, which are often associated with underlying pathology. When used together with mammography, thermography may contribute to the best possible evaluation of breast health.

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Berg WA. Benefits of screening mammography. Jama. Jan 13 2010;303(2):168-169.

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Gautherie M, Haehnel P, Walter JP, Keith LG. Thermovascular changes associated with in situ and minimal breast 
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I have been following this case with some interest for a while because it is the first of it's kind. A woman being injured by mammography developed swelling and hematoma right after her exam. Six months later she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. Is it possible that her trauma and injury accelerated her breast cancer?

Perhaps legally it is hard to prove but everyone knows that trauma causing swelling will aid in the process of inflammation and in turn cause a cancer prolific environment. It is not uncommon that trauma from compression causes injury in many women. Please read the following article and make your own conclusions...

http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Mammogram+injury+suit+nets/7566374/story.html

What is Medical Infrared Thermography?

Thermography is an example of infrared imaging science.  According to the electromagnetic spectrum, thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in the infrared range and subsequently produce images of this radiation.  These images are called thermograms.  Thermographic imaging is used in a wide range of applications including governmental, public service, maintenance, building and construction, and medical.

What is the Methodology Behind Medical Infrared Thermography?

Thermographic technology is based on the fundamental principle that elevated temperatures in the body can be caused by increased blood vessel and chemical activity.  These forms of increased internal activity are present in tissues with precancerous cells and developing cancer.  Before a precancerous or malignant tumor can develop, it requires an abundant supply of nutrients that can only come from elevated blood flow causing an increase in temperature.  Affected tissues are metabolically more active requiring a greater supply of nutrients for continued rapid growth.  Chemical messengers are sent to the body to keep existing blood cells open, to recruit dormant vessels and to develop new vessels (the latter of which is referred to as the process of angiogenesis).

Medical Infrared Thermography is capable of detecting the early signs of suspicious blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), thereby opening the doors to a more preventative rather than curative approach to the disease.

Thermographic Imaging and Risk Assessment

Unlike other medical procedures in breast pathology, thermographic imaging is conducted without the use of painful breast compression, radiation and invasiveness.  The tool is ideal for mass screening and risk assessment not only in older women over 40, but also in younger women who have dense breast tissue, who live with a fibrocystic condition or who have breast implants.  A high-risk thermographic breast assessment shows irregular patterns of heat.  In this case, the clinician is alerted to a possible problem in the physiology of the breast (i.e. infection, inflammation, trauma, hormonal imbalance or malignancy).  Today, denying the value of thermal imaging as an adjunctive diagnostic procedure to detect the early signs of breast cancer is nothing less than a grave error. 

Breast Thermography and its Capabilities

Given the sensitivity of breast thermography, we are able to screen women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer and intervene early with more vigorous structural testing and preventative therapeutic treatments.  The temperature variations and vascular changes detected by thermographic imaging may be among the earliest signs of breast cancer or a pre-cancerous state of the breast. 

Researched for over 30 years, breast thermography studies have examined some 250,000 women participants and have followed patients for up to 12 years.  Study results conclude:

         Breast thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%

        The single most important marker that indicates a high risk of developing breast cancer is an abnormal infrared  image

        The risk of developing breast cancer is 22 times higher in women who have persistent abnormal thermograms

        When a thermography scan is added to women’s regular breast health checkups, a 61% increased survival rate is realized

        When used as an adjunctive procedure (clinical examination + mammography + thermography) 95% of early stage cancers are detected 

Uses of Breast Thermography

Breast thermography plays an important role as an early cancer risk indicator and as a treatment monitor.  After an initial baseline evaluation, clinicians should be prompted to take the following measures: evaluate the patient’s diet, her exposure to environmental pollution and toxins, and overall lifestyle; do blood work and when necessary, conduct ultrasound and mammography examinations.  If results align across all procedures, it is recommended that thermograms be taken every 9 to 12 months to monitor changes.

Technological Implications 

Thermography empowers us to be proactive with our health.  Passive and reactive attitudes are not good enough anymore.  Today’s statistics state that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  As clinicians and as patients, we must take every possible measure to effectively evaluate risk and to use tools that play a role in earlier detection methods for breast cancer in order to improve our chance for survival.  Thermography is part of this initiative.  In conjunction with self breast examinations, clinical examinations, and mammography, breast thermography can help us reach an early detection rate of up to 95%.

For additional information about breast thermography please see more articles on our web site.

I’ll get straight to the point – breast cancer, for the most part, is a preventable disease. Yes, you heard it right - surprised?

   How do we know this? Well, let’s take a look at the following statistics. Breast cancer rates in North America are twice as high as in South America, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. In fact, AICR scientists estimate that about 4 out of every 10 breast cancer cases in the US and Canada could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol and being more physically active. There is also convincing evidence that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.

   Obesity rates throughout South America are considerably lower than in North America. In fact, according to WHO statistics, 55% of Brazilians, for example, are within the Body Mass Index “healthy” range of 18-24. Only 36 percent of North Americans are within this range.

   WHO figures also show that the average adult in Brazil consumes about 1.2 gallons (5.3 liters) of pure alcohol per year. The average American adult consumes 2.1 gallons (8.1 liters) per year.

   When it comes to physical activity, the difference gets a bit more startling. The percentage of Brazilians who are highly active is 9 times the number of Americans -37% vs. just 4%.

   And finally, according to La Leche League, 93 percent of Brazilian mothers breastfeed their children, compared to 74 percent of American mothers.

   The fact that breast cancer rates in South American countries such as Brazil are nearly half that of the US and Canada is a clear reminder that the everyday choices we make about our diet and level of physical activity are completely relevant.

   We have spent decades creating awareness about breast cancer, including billions of dollars promoting screening and early detection - yet cancer incidence has continued to rise every year.

   Perhaps we should focus our resources on promoting prevention instead of fear. Each October we are inundated with Cause-Related Marketing when a nebulous “pink tide” rolls over North American retail establishments. Product manufacturers, from vacuum cleaners to fast food producers to the cosmetics industry - even wine producers - embellish their products with pink ribbons, promising to donate a small portion of their profits to research. For a fraction of the cost of this ‘awareness’ campaign, we could get the message out that a better prevention prescription looks like this: Women can reduce the risk of breast cancer by making basic lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, moving about more, staying lean, and drinking less alcohol.

   I propose that we change our focus in the month of October from Breast Cancer Awareness to Breast Cancer Prevention by providing more relevant and realistic information that will assist women in developing a more healthy lifestyle, thereby proactively reducing their risk and incidence of breast cancer.