Pricing and FAQ
How Much Does A Thermogram Cost?
$250. The United Breast Cancer Foundation will reimburse any qualified applicant up to $150.00 for thermography services. The application process is seven simple questions that you can complete here.
Is Thermography safe?
Yes. A medical infrared camera does not emit anything to capture an image like most imaging modalities (such as x-ray). It is safe for all ages and during all stages of pregnancy. Thermography also involves no compression. In essence it is no different than getting your picture taken.
What Makes Thermography Different Than My Mammogram?
Thermography measures subtle temperature variations in body tissues, like the breast. The technology detects heat, which can be produced by increased blood vessel circulation, inflammation, or other metabolic changes. Unlike mammograms and ultrasounds, which detect structural changes in the body, thermograms detect functional changes.
Functional changes in blood flow and metabolism can be among the earliest signs of cancer or pre-cancer, making thermograms ideal for the early detection of breast cancer risk. That means you don’t have to wait for a tumor to grow large enough to detect on a physical exam or mammogram to take proactive and preventive action.
Does My Insurance Cover Thermography?
By detecting risk and allowing time for real prevention, thermograms could help you avoid costly medical bills and lost income that often follows a serious diagnosis like breast cancer. Although thermograms are not covered by standard health insurance policies, you can use funds from health savings accounts (HSAs) and health sharing plans to cover the cost. Because routine thermograms are recommended only once every 1-3 years, they are an extremely affordable part of your overall healthcare. To make thermography affordable for nearly everyone, we also offer a 90 day payment plan.
In addition, the United Breast Cancer Foundation will reimburse any qualified applicant up to $150.00 for thermography services. The application process is seven simple questions that you can complete here: https://www.ubcf.org/programs-services/breast-screening/
Why Hasn’t My Doctor Told Me About Thermography?
Historically, thermography was criticized for its high rate of false positive and false negative. However, major advances in thermal imaging technology alongside computerized software development in the 1990’s dramatically increased the accuracy and reliability of thermography. For example, a 4-year clinical trial by Parisky and colleagues demonstrated 97% sensitivity in the detection of breast cancer with the use of dynamic, computerized, thermal imaging. In another recent trial, modern digital thermography was also able to detect 97% of biopsy-confirmed breast malignancies.
It’s baffling that thermograms have not become mainstream. Thermograms are complementary to other breast imaging techniques and provide information that is impossible to get any other way. Thermograms are cleared by the FDA to be used in addition to mammograms and other imaging techniques for breast cancer screenings. We encourage you to talk with your doctor about the benefits of thermography, but you do not need a doctor referral to have the imaging test done.
If your doctor has questions, please refer them to the For Physicians page found here.
What Happens If You Find Something Suspicious?
In the event that we find an abnormality we will encourage you to follow up with a structural imaging technique such as a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI. Depending on the results of structural imaging we will schedule you for a follow up thermogram to monitor any changes.
How Often Do I Need A Thermogram?
Assuming your thermograms are normal these are the guidelines for frequency of thermograms:
Age 20-30: Every 3 years
Age 30 and Older: Annually
I Have Implants/Augmentation, Mastectomy, Or Dense Breast Tissue. Can I Still Get A Thermogram?
Unlike mammograms, the accuracy and usefulness of thermograms are unaffected by any changes in breast density, presence of implants, or a history of mastectomy.