No Beth I have never had one but in my research after my diagnosis... while I was figuring out which choices I wanted to make, I bought many books and read online many articles from woman fighting breast cancer who do thermal imaging instead of mammograms and ultrasound. I don't think insurance covers this but that might have changed by now. It's supposed to be a much safer way to go. Is Breast Cancer .org the forum you are on? If so I am a member too but mostly read posts there.
I suppose "safer" is subjective. I want the screening that is going to give the most accurate depiction of what's going on in there and how to eradicate it. All cancer treatments are hazardous, so unless a person is going to try the alternative medicine route, the tried and true scans will always be my choice. (Plus thermography is not an option at MD Anderson.) From the MDA website...https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwi...phy--what-you-need-to-know.h00-159385890.html On a thermogram image, “hot spots” appear red compared to surrounding tissue that appears yellow, green or blue. Anything that is causing an inflammatory response from the body will show up on a thermogram image as hot. “There’s no way to follow up abnormalities with thermography,” says Cohen. “If someone has an abnormal thermogram, they have to start over and come back to us and get a mammogram.” ____________________ Yes, that's the forum I participate on. The Stage 4 group really makes me sad. A lot of very brave women on there.
Cancer is big business that brings in so much money that even though there are some really good Doctors out there trying to help us...alot of times their hands are tied as to what they can recommend or "approve". And since they can't recommend or approve it...they do no research into it. As long as you have peace with the choices you are making then that's the way you should go Beth...but don't think there aren't other options out there or that other people haven't been healed from the unconventional natural choices they are making. We just all have to be at peace with the choices we make...and if someone else is always making the choices for you...that does not always bring peace.
You must be mistaking me for someone else; I always participate heavily in my treatment decisions. I believe in science and proven medicine, and I'm absolutely comfortable that I have chosen the path for me. I couldn't care less what treatment others choose; it is their life and they are the ONLY one to make those decisions. So I am perfectly aware that there are "other options out there." I simply don't choose them. They are not for me. I would like to keep the "this is my choice" discussion out of this thread if that's OK. We seem to touch on this many times and it's always the same outcome. Each cancer patient must do the right thing for them. This discussion might be best served in a separate thread.
Beth, I'm very sorry that you misunderstood what I tried to say. I do believe you are making the choices you feel are the best for you and I am sorry if I said anything in my post that sounded like I didn't believe you were making the best choices for you. This battle is one we all have to fight individually but supporting one another in our choices is very important and I do support you in every way.
I will just post in my personal thread on cancer from now on so there aren't any more misunderstandings between us.
Babs, I'm certain you know how emotions run high with this horror we are dealing with. I apologize if I sound testy, but my emotions are all over the place and I just don't have the interest or energy to invest in arguing about treatment choices. You are certainly welcome to post anywhere you choose, and I absolutely wish only the best to you. I hope you remain happy and healthy for a very long time.
I never intended to cause any disagreements. I just know people who believe that thermal imaging is a good choice for those women who have dense breast tissue that makes a mammogram difficult to read. The idea would be to find the hot spots on the image in a 35 or 40 year old woman with a family history of breast cancer. I personally have no opinion on the subject but wondered if anyone had used one. Everyone has to make the choices they find appropriate for their comfort level and situation.
I have a question for you Beth. When they give you the dose of Chemo...do they also give you meds for the possible side effects at the same time?
Tuesday is my second AC treatment and I'm already dreading it. I have to admit that having one horrible week out of three isn't pleasant but doable. At least after Tuesday I'll be HALF DONE with this horror; only 2 more to go after this week. Oh... and I have to be at MDA for blood work at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday... gaaaah. Then an appointment with my oncologist at 9:30. Then a drive to League City MDA for the chemo infusion at 1:30 p.m. I really hate that but apparently as long as they are short-staffed (thanks, Covid!) they have to schedule chemo wherever there's a chair. So far my nails (fingers and toes) are still looking pink and healthy, so I'm hoping I won't have that problem of them lifting from the nail bed. Still a ways to go so who knows.