Thermography Overview

Why Breast Thermography?

There are several differences between breast thermography and a standard mammogram.

Safety! There is no radiation involved with the technology

Why radiate breast tissue early (which is cancer promoting) if it's less accurate than getting a thermogram?

Certain circumstances often interfere with mammography accuracy

This often leads to more mammography, ultrasound, or tissue biopsy. Fibrocystic breasts, young and/or dense glandular tissue, breast implants, and scarring from previous surgery can all seriously interfere with the accuracy of mammography, yet do not interfere with thermography.

Ideal for patients that are getting early mammography

Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer can benefit more from early thermography.

As a non-invasive technology, there is no contact with your body

Invaluable 15-minute non-invasive test that involves no radiation or breast compression. One woman that came to The Cometa Wellness Center for her upper body thermogram explained that "because it was dark in the room and she (the thermographer) never touched my breasts, I felt that my privacy was being respected. I was proud and happy to have breasts, not terrified that they were unhealthy."

What Can You Expect When You Get a Thermogram?

If you have a thermogram scheduled, please download our detailed thermography preparation instructions here.

You will complete some simple paperwork while you sit in a temperature controlled room to allow your body temperature to equilibrate.

You're positioned in front of a Thermal Imaging Camera, and the thermographer takes digital images. Thermal imaging only takes 10-25 minutes, depending on the type of test being done.

Your images are sent to a certified physician called a Thermologist. Thermologists are trained to analyze and report the results of your personal thermogram. Dr. Cometa is a trained Thermologist, and has been using Thermography in her Integrative Medicine practice since 2004. Although trained in reading thermography, she is very busy clinically with patient care as well as virtually educating the community. For this reason, Dr. Cometa no longer personally reads the thermography reports but defers this to one of her medical colleagues in the field of Thermology.

Once interpreted by a physician trained in reading thermograms (a Thermologist), your full thermography report is emailed directly to you.

At anytime after you have received your Thermogram, you are welcome to schedule a virtual thermography consultation appointment with Dr. Cometa to review the report and how it relates to your health or health concerns. Please email her directly at ariane@yourholisticdoc.com for more information about the cost and value of this service she offers.  

Dr. Cometa likes to encourage a 3-month follow-up of the breast area for health reasons:

• It's an area of the body that tends to see a lot of thermal change
• It's good to have two initial exams to give the thermologist multiple reference points to compare all further readings to
• To make sure there haven't been any acute or worrying thermal changes in that 3 month time span