Editor:

I would like to say that I 100 percent agree with your statement that “a mammogram is the best way to detect cancer.” I also agree that thermography should not be used as a substitute for a mammogram. Thermography and mammography are two completely different tests. In a recent article that I wrote, I spoke of the benefits of having a breast thermography scan. In my opinion (and each woman needs to make their own decision on this), detecting breast cancer once it is already full-blown cancer is not ideal. I am an advocate for prevention. This is why breast thermography is one of my recommendations. Please understand that a thermography scan detects changes in metabolic processes that can lead to (and often end up as) cancer. Having a scan that shows these processes happening in your body gives you enough time to still do something about it. This way, there are many options to stop the progression before it is actually cancer! A mammogram will detect a physical lesion. So it could tell you if you currently have cancer, but it does not detect any metabolic or physiologic changes before cancer starts. I don’t know about you other women out there, but I certainly don’t want to wait until cancer shows up!

Dr. Ida Allen-Bergman, DC, Rhinelander