“A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.” – Albert Einstein
What if you could screen for breast cancer earlier — before a tumor is large enough to appear on a mammogram? What if that screening involved no radiation, no compression, and no physical contact with your body at all? That technology exists. It is called clinical thermography — and Precision Thermography, a division of Vance Medical, is proud to offer it to patients throughout the Treasure Valley.
What Is Clinical Thermography?
Thermography — also known as medical infrared imaging — uses specialized heat-sensitive cameras to detect electromagnetic energy (infrared light) emitted from the surface of the body. Because metabolic activity generates heat, thermography can detect subtle changes in tissue temperature that may indicate inflammation, abnormal blood vessel growth, or other early markers of disease — often before structural changes are visible on other imaging.
Vance Medical’s Precision Thermography uses high-resolution infrared cameras and sophisticated computer processing to produce detailed, accurate topographic heat maps of the body. These images can detect minute changes in skin surface heat emissions and alert us to potential underlying problems at an earlier stage than many other methods.
Who Should Get Thermography?
Clinical breast thermography is an excellent tool for:
- Women with dense breast tissue, for whom mammograms may be less effective
- Women with a family history of breast cancer seeking earlier detection
- Women who prefer a radiation-free, pain-free screening option
- Women under 40 for whom routine mammography is not yet recommended
- Women who want to add a complementary layer to their existing breast health plan
- Anyone seeking a proactive approach to breast health monitoring
How Thermography Complements Your Breast Health Plan
Thermography is not a replacement for mammography, ultrasound, or MRI — and we want to be clear about that. The most effective approach to breast health is multimodal: using multiple complementary technologies together significantly increases the chance of early detection.
Thermography detects thermal and metabolic changes — things that other imaging cannot see. Mammography detects structural changes and mass density. Together, they provide a more complete picture than either can alone. The FDA has approved thermography as an adjunctive imaging tool, and Vance Medical’s Precision Thermography adheres to all national standards for clinical infrared imaging.
Your Thermography Appointment — What to Expect
Preparing for Your Screening
To ensure accurate results, patients are asked to follow specific pre-imaging instructions (outlined below). The thermography room is environmentally controlled — cool, draft-free, and thermally stable — to ensure that body surface temperatures accurately reflect internal metabolic activity.
Acclimatization Period
Upon arrival, you will disrobe from the waist up and spend 15 minutes acclimatizing to the room temperature. This step is essential: allowing your skin to equilibrate with the ambient temperature ensures that the thermal images accurately reflect your body’s own metabolic patterns rather than external temperature influences.
The Imaging Process
During imaging, nothing touches your body. Our thermologist uses a high-resolution infrared camera to capture detailed heat maps of the breast tissue from multiple angles. The process is completely painless and takes approximately 15–20 minutes.
Your Results
Images are analyzed by a trained, certified thermologist and a detailed report is generated for your physician. All treatment recommendations and follow-up decisions are made by your doctor, not the thermologist. If additional imaging such as mammography, ultrasound, or MRI is indicated, your physician will advise you.
Pre-Imaging Instructions
8 Weeks Before
Wait at least 8 weeks after a lumpectomy or surgical breast biopsy before scheduling a thermogram.
4 Weeks Before
Wait at least 4 weeks after a fine needle or core biopsy before your appointment.
5 Days Before
Avoid prolonged sun exposure or sunburn to the areas being imaged.
24 Hours Before
Avoid chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS, physical therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, and hot or cold pack use. Avoid physical stimulation of the breasts. If you are nursing, please nurse as far from 1 hour before the exam as possible. Notify our office of any surgical procedure within the past 12 weeks.
Day of Appointment
Do not shave the areas to be imaged. Do not apply deodorant, lotions, creams, powders, or makeup to areas being scanned.
4 Hours Before
Avoid exercise. Avoid prescription pain medication (consult your prescribing physician before making any changes to your medications).
1 Hour Before
Do not take a bath within 1 hour of your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is thermography safe?
Yes. Thermography uses no radiation, no compression, and nothing touches the body during the procedure. It is completely safe, painless, and FDA-approved as an adjunctive imaging procedure.
Does thermography replace mammograms?
No. Thermography is a complementary tool, not a replacement for mammography. The two tests provide different types of information and are most effective when used together as part of a comprehensive breast health protocol.
How accurate is breast thermography?
Thermography detects thermal and metabolic markers that other imaging cannot see. While no single screening method is 100% accurate, adding thermography to your breast health plan significantly increases the likelihood of early detection. The false negative and positive rates of any single test — including mammography — are too high to rely on alone, which is why a multimodal approach is recommended.
Is a doctor's referral needed for thermography?
A referral is not required to schedule a breast thermography screening through Precision Thermography at Vance Medical. Contact our office directly to book your appointment.