| Digital Infrared Themographic
Imaging helps detect breast cancer Whole Life Research Clinic, a comprehensive, holistic natural health center made up of dedicated health-care professionals with the goal of helping consumers discover and monitor breast health concerns, contributes to saving lives of Twin Cities-area women forced to deal with breast cancer. They offer the latest technology in breast health monitoring, referred to as Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging (D.I.T.I.), the first equipment of its kind to be permanently based in the Twin Cities. Lauded as a powerful disease and breast cancer screening option, consumers say that Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging (D.I.T.I.) has afforded them the earliest possible detection of disease -- long before traditional tests discover abnormalities. "The thermographic scan not only showed the process of cancer in my left breast," says one regional consumer," it showed increased activity in my right breast as well. Thermography is absolutely valid -- it is a powerful tool for dealing with disease. My surgeon and my oncologist both state that the thermogram matched what they found out with the pathology report." D.I.T.I. is a 15-minute, non-invasive, image-screening procedure that detects the subtle physiologic changes that accompany breast pathology, whether it is cancer, fibrocystic disease, an infection or a vascular disease. In the early stages of breast cancer, for example, a tumor develops additional capillaries to supply blood, a process that can be picked up in its earliest stages by a thermogram. Once the screening is complete, qualified doctors read the images and provide a report, often as quickly as 24 hours later. When D.I.T.I. is used in conjunction with mammography, the likelihood of early detection and treatment options increases dramatically. "Thermography is the piece of information I was seeking that was missing in my personal breast health care," says another patient. "Thermography is a future risk indicator -- a tool that can detect the potential for a cancer to form -- so there's no need to wait until something actually happens. Combined with a mammogram, thermography is critical to getting the absolute best information possible." In addition to being approved by the FDA and American Medical Association, qualified doctors interpret all of Whole Life Research Clinic's breast-screening results, and the clinic provides individualized attention and emotional support to its clients. The clinic's staff is comprised of a qualified naturopathic practitioner who is able to explain the clinical reports, as well as guide patients through treatment options. In some individual cases, although it is not the norm, insurance may cover the screening fee of approximately $150. D.I.T.I is very comfortable -- there's no clinician, physician or instrument contact -- and there is absolutely no radiation involved. Women at almost any stage of their lives can benefit from the information derived from a thermogram, and thermograms are particularly useful in continuing to monitor a previously diagnosed condition. Even after a lumpectomy, clients rely upon thermography to monitor their breast health. "I depend upon thermography to monitor my breast health and healing process," says another patient. "With thermography it is possible to monitor abnormal processes that could indicate new tumor growth. I will continue to use thermography to maximize my options should another cancer develop. Whole Life Research Clinic, based in Burnsville, Minn., is a clinical thermographic breast-screening center that helps healthcare professionals and consumers discover and monitor breast health concerns, providing evaluation of physiological processes to identify potential pathology. It offers digital infrared thermal imaging, which provides a completely non-invasive and safe clinical imaging procedure for detecting and monitoring disease at its earliest stages. Jeffery Essen, N.D., is on the staff at Whole Life Research Clinic of Burnsville, Minn. Appointments are being taken on Mondays and Thursdays of each week. Informational meetings are being held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. Contact Whole Life Research Clinic at (952) 890-7282 or toll-free 1 (866) 569-WLRC. Whole Life Research Clinic is located at 2999 W. County Rd. 42, Suite #110, at the intersection of Southcross Drive and County Road 42, two blocks West of County Road 5, next to the Associated Bank drive up. |
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Sept 2004 |
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