I had been a bit nervous all day wondering what my thermogram
procedure would entail. Would I need to undress completely?
Would I be given one of those paper gowns that opens in the
front and barely covers me? Would there be any heat coming out
of the camera? I had been avoiding a mammogram after reading the
latest information about the risks associated with X-ray;
knowing that I was potentially putting myself at greater risk by
not taking charge of my health. It was my massage therapist who
told me about thermography as an adjunctive tool for breast
cancer screening and now I find myself lost in my thoughts as I
am driving to my thermographic appointment.
As I entered the lobby, I noticed that the temperature was cool
and refreshing. The paintings on the wall were bright and
cheerful with many colors that caught my eye. I felt at ease
right away.
I was quickly greeted by the thermographer, Lynda. She guided me
to her office and there I felt all the tension melt away. She
showed me around the office explaining the need for a cool
temperature and allowing me to browse her collection of
literature, leaflets, handouts and brochures. It smelled like my
grandmother’s garden in the spring. Just a hint of orange
blossom, honeysuckle, green apple all mixed with a light touch
of rain forest greeted my nose. The plants were lush and healthy
and soft music was playing in the background. The lights were
dim and I could almost imagine myself back in grandma’s Arizona
room.
Lynda asked if I had any questions and of course I said no,
trying to show her that I was calm, relaxed and not a bit
nervous. She smiled knowingly and asked me to please step behind
the room divider and change into a robe she set out for me. The
robes were soft cotton and tied in the front. She then asked
that I fill out the paperwork. She explained that I would need
to do my best to keep my arms away from the side of my body so I
could cool down and she could get a more accurate image. Lynda
then read over my information and asked me questions about my
health in general and specifically breast health. All the while,
I was grateful for the full coverage of the cool, cotton robe
and remembered to keep my arms away from my body.
Next, I moved to the scanning area where I was shown the six
different positions required for the scan. She then asked me to
sit on the stool and turn my back to her. At this point, she
asked me to drop my gown. I was told to keep my hands on my
waist while she took my thermal picture. I learned that it
usually takes 12-15 minutes for the temperature of my skin to
come to equilibrium with the temperature of the room. Once my
temperature stabilized, the scanning began. During the scan, she
asked that I raise my hands above my head and remain still;
allowing me to rest my hands back on my waist between the
different poses. The camera did not emit any heat and never
touched my body. The total scan time was about 5 minutes.
Once we were done, I changed back into my clothes and thanked
Lynda for a soothing and comforting experience. Before I left
the office, I picked up a few of the breast health brochures to
share with my family, friends and colleagues.
Thermographic screening is not covered by most insurance
companies but is surprisingly affordable for most people. For
more information or to find a certified clinic in your area, go
to www.proactivehealthonline.com.
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