Q. What is a thermogram?
A. When you have a Meditherm Scan, the camera takes a picture of your body’s temperature. This picture is called a thermogram.
Q. What does a thermogram show me?
A. A thermogram shows your body’s warm and cooler thermal patterns in colors and temperatures. These thermal patterns are your “thermal signature” and are unique to you, much like a fingerprint. Healthy thermal signatures or patterns are symmetrical, the same on the right and the left side of the body. Changes in thermal patterns are indicative of the development of pathology, evidence of acute injury or trauma. Your thermogram can also show evidence of long term chronic conditions. With specific areas of concern identified, your report will include suggestions for follow-up testing with your health care provider according to the thermal evidence seen in your scan.
Q. Who reviews my Meditherm Scan?
A. All Meditherm Scans are reviewed by medical doctors who have taken special training and are all qualified as Certified Thermologists. Only Meditherm offers scan interpretation at this extremely high level of quality.
Q. How long before I get my report?
A. Reports are normally available within three days, but an urgent request (fee applies) guarantees a turnaround within 24 hours.
Q. If there is a suspicious finding what should I do?
A. The report will recommend if the patient should follow-up with their health practitioner and what type of further investigation is recommended.
Q. Will my doctor know what the thermogram means?
A. The reports are shown in a standard medical format. If your health practitioner needs any clarification, he or she can contact the thermographer or interpretation service for direct contact with the doctor who interpreted your scan. (Please note that the interpreting doctor cannot legally consult with the patient, but a doctor-to-doctor consult is allowed.)
Q. Should I have a thermogram instead of a mammogram?
A. A Meditherm Scan can provide additional information about your breast health, but it does a different job from a mammogram. Mammogram is a study of anatomy or structure and thermography is a study of physiology or activity. For example, though a thermogram will not show lumps, it can show vascular and thermal changes in the breasts at a very early stage. These thermal markers can be indicative of a future issue and will allow for the opportunity of monitoring any suspicious activity taking place. A thermogram can justify further investigation with your health care practitioner and help detection by pointing the mammogram in the right direction.
Q. Why are two breast screenings vital?
A. The first breast screening establishes a baseline – the thermal fingerprint that is unique to your breasts. A second screening after three months will tell us whether your breast thermal fingerprint is stable (that is, it’s the same as the first scan), giving us a baseline from which to compare from that point onward. Then, on a once-yearly basis we can monitor for any changes that might give concern.
Q. Does it matter what time of the menstrual cycle the test is performed?
A. No. Hormonal changes do not alter the temperature differentials or patterns.
Q. Will I feel anything, is it like a mammogram?
A. The procedure is radiation free, completely painless and there is no contact with the body. You will not feel anything at all.
Q. Do I need to remove all of my clothes?
A. You disrobe only as needed for the area being scanned. For a breast screening, you will be given a gown to wear. You will be asked to undress down to your briefs allowing areas of pressure such as bra strap marks and waistbands to equalize, giving an accurate temperature reading.
Q. Do I need a doctor referral to get a Meditherm Scan?
A. No you do not need a referral. Simply contact the nearest Meditherm clinic to book your scan.
