Breast cancer is one of the biggest fears most women have and for some a yearly mammogram just is not enough. That is why a growing number of women are turning to thermography.
Acupuncture physician Carol Chandler said, "The breast cancer itself actually puts off a nitric oxide, which causes heat around the tissue, but the most important thing is the blood supply that actually feeds the tumor that allows it to grow over the years is visible to thermography even from the beginning."
Thermography works like this: An imaging camera takes a picture of the skin. Even though it does not look deep in the body, it does shows internal hot spots.
"The pores open and close and we are infrared beings, so when they open, of course, our heat shows through," Chandler said. "We're looking at Jennie's carotid arties and she's a little hot right here, but the artery itself looks fine."
Chandler says those hot spots are often indicative of future diseases, such as breast cancer, carotid artery disease, cardiovascular disease as well as neurological problems.
Chandler says that even though this can detect hot spots in the breast, this is not a replacement for a mammogram. Even so, Jennie Joseph gets a thermogram every year.
Licensed midwife Jennie Joseph said, "You can look at photos of your breast. You can see for yourself, okay there's something here, there's something I need to get checked."
That gives women like Joseph piece of mind.
That's a look at Your Health,
Nancy Gay Central Florida News 13.