Coming to Art of Acupuncture this Summer

Mammogram vs. Thermography?

Do I have to get a mammogram, or can I get an ultrasound or thermography instead?

That’s a question we get a lot in the treatment room and we get why you would be asking. Getting your tatas squeezed between metal plates once a year is pretty low on the list of Things I’d Like to do Today.

Like most things, the answer is multi-faceted.

While thermography can be helpful to understand where your body holds inflammation and the possibility of cancer, it is expensive and it is not diagnostic. Meaning, if something does show up ‘hot’ indicating inflammation in the breast tissue, your next step is likely a mammogram. Let’s explore the ins and outs as we see them as holistic health providers and women.

What is Thermography?

According to breastcancer.org Thermography, also called thermal imaging, uses a special camera to measure the temperature of the skin on the breast’s surface. It is non-invasive test that involves no radiation. Thermography is based on two ideas: Because cancer cells are growing and multiplying very fast, blood flow and metabolism are higher in a cancer tumor. As blood flow and metabolism increase, skin temperature goes up. Thermography has been available for several decades, but there is no evidence to show that it’s a good screening tool to detect breast cancer early, when the cancer is most treatable.

What is a Breast Ultrasound?

According to Johns Hopkins A breast ultrasound is most often done to find out if a problem found by a mammogram or physical exam of the breast may be a cyst filled with fluid or a solid tumor.

Breast ultrasound is not usually done to screen for breast cancer. This is because it may miss some early signs of cancer. An example of early signs that may not show up on ultrasound are tiny calcium deposits called microcalcifications.

Ultrasound may be used if you:

• Have particularly dense breast tissue. A mammogram may not be able to see through the tissue.

• Are pregnant. Mammography uses radiation, but ultrasound does not. This makes it safer for the fetus.

• Are younger than age 25

• Your healthcare provider may also use ultrasound to look at nearby lymph nodes, help guide a needle during a biopsy, or to remove fluid from a cyst.

Who should be getting a mammogram?

• Any woman over the age of 40 that has not had a yearly 3D mammogram done

• Women with family history (mother, aunt, sister) should begin screening earlier. This is usually decided with your PCP based on your history and age of familial history.

Recently we have seen an increase in the number of 40 something year old patients that are turning up with breast cancer. It is devastating as we think of you each one of you as family and we know you have led “healthy” lives. The truth is cancer can happen to any of us. No one is immune.

We have decided to try and be part of the solution by bringing the Mobile 3D Mammography Bus to Art of Acupuncture, Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 9-noon. (If all 10 minute appointments fill, we will extend to 4).

We’ve chosen to pair with 3D Mobile Mammography for a few reasons.

• A malignancy easily missed with conventional 2D Mammography is clearly seen with Hologic 3D Mammography. Early detection saves lives.

• What appears to be a suspicious lesion in a standard 2D mammography image is shown to be normal in a 3-D screening mammography, making a follow-up diagnostic exam unnecessary and decreasing patient anxiety and costs.

• Your appointment is literally 10 minutes with results in a fraction of the time compared to other testing facilities with results in an online portal for you to access anytime you need them.

• No referral from a primary care physician is needed if you are over the age of 40. (you can get a script and come if you are 35-39 from your PCP and have history).

• ALL insurances are accepted and there is no co-pay at all. NONE.

• If you don’t have insurance you can easily cash pay $180 at the time of service.

• You can learn more about the importance of having a Fellowship Trained Breast Imaging Radiologist like Dr. Ryan Polselli here.

Schedule your 10 minute appointment by clicking here or taking a picture of this image on your phone. And if it stresses you out, schedule yourself for some acupuncture just before so you are as cool as a cucumber.

If you are over the age of 40 and haven’t had your yearly mammogram we highly encourage you to grab your slot with us, or one of the many, many locations Dr. Polselli is bringing his bus to this summer. Breast cancer screenings don’t have to take long. They shouldn’t require multiple doctors appointments and we could all probably do with renting less mental real estate to keeping a mammogram on our to-do-list.

This endeavor is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Kristy Boss. You are missed beyond measure.