Thermography versus Mammography: Which is Better to Detect Breast Cancer?

By Candice Russell

Women dread having mammograms for several reasons, not the least of which is the pain of having their breasts tightly compressed for the brief process. Then there is the fact of having radiation go through their bodies. But having mammograms is a necessary part of life, recommended by the medical profession. The subject comes center stage each fall as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the time when women participate in fund-raisers for breast cancer research and marketers hype their products with advertisements in pink lettering.

Is there a reasonable alternative to mammography? Donna Braun, a clinical thermograph who runs Thermography First, LLC with locations in Broward and Palm Beach County, certainly thinks so. Her description of the process is likely to make some women instant converts. "With the thermal imaging camera, there is no radiation and no compression of the breast," she says.

"Nothing touches you. Cancer is an inflammation process. Many years before a tumor is detectable, it develops its own bloody supply in order to grow, which in turn creates heat. Thermography is more than 95 per cent accurate in detecting early stage breast cancer. Yet a mammogram detects tumors that have grown to four billion cancer cells. Radiating the body with mammography can cause cancer. Personally, I wouldn't do mammography. There are hundreds of studies stating it's dangerous."

It seems baffling that the medical community doesn't promote thermography instead of mammography. And in this age of patient empowerment, with more and more people turning to the internet to do their own research into medical issues, thermography isn't a topic of conversation in the general public. Braun says, "Most doctors don't know about it, yet it has been around since 1982 when the Federal Drug Administration approved this method. A lot of insurance companies don't cover thermography because it is considered an alternative process like something homeopathic. The medical industry isn't interested in prevention."

As a breast cancer survivor herself, this former property manager had her right breast removed. She decided to heal herself the holistic way with simple nutrition and hormone balancing by ingesting fifty supplements a day sold to her by a nutritionist in Fort Lauderdale. "I also gave up meat, sugar, wheat and dairy products," says Braun. "I took Indole 3 Carbinol, which is a very concentrated form of cruciferous vegetables. It was hard, but I kept thinking: what's the alternative? So I swallowed these supplements with a smile. I saved my left breast and monitored my progress with thermography every few months. It's a lot of work to have cancer and endure a mastectomy and chemotherapy. I don't want to go through it again."

Seeing the benefits of thermography, Braun decided to train for a year and open her own business last December. She knows she did the right thing because she is helping women and saving lives. It costs $175 for a breast screening at any of her offices in Fort Lauderdale, Plantation and Delray Beach. "I send the images to a group of doctors who analyze the information," says Braun, adding that women have answers in less than a week. "There are a few thermographers in South Florida and some chiropractors have thermography in their offices."

Braun's clientele consists of women of all ages, from all walks of life. "They're really concerned about their breast health," she says. "Breast cancer is an epidemic. It's so commonplace. Women are taking drastic measures like removing both their breasts in order to forestall cancer developing."

Don't expect the widespread use of thermography as a diagnostic screening tool any time soon. "It's sad to say but it's all about money," concludes Braun. "Think about all the mammography X-ray equipment out there along with the loads of drugs to fight breast cancer. If we end breast cancer, who would benefit? The people, not the drug companies."

Yet she remains optimistic. "We'll probably see a shift in attitude about thermography in five to ten years," says Braun. "More and more women are definitely more open to this procedure as they are taking control of their own health. The fact that thermography is better than mammography and people don't know about it is very frustrating. If I won the Lotto tomorrow, I would pay Oprah Winfrey to get on her show and talk about it. My mission is to get the word out. My passion is to inform as many people as possible about thermography."

To make an appointment with Braun or to learn more about the subject of thermography,

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