About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

This project will review the diagnostic outcomes of two groups of 1,000 women each that had an evaluation of the infrared features of their breasts using a four-part analytic system pioneered through thermology.

The first group - a control - had normal thermological results and the second group presented abnormalities. We will review the medical records of both groups to correlate the results of their thermological analysis with a diagnosis of breast cancer or not over a period of at least 6 years after their thermological studies. A statistical analysis of these results will determine diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values.

A review of the relevant literature will allow us to compose and publish a powerful study of the effectiveness and accuracy of thermology as a diagnostic method for breast cancer.

What is the significance of this project?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women and the second most common cause of cancer death for women. The inadequacy of mammography as a singular means of screening is clear. Thermology has been controversial for many years because of poor technique and inadequate clinical studies. It is our hope that our research will establish the viability of thermology as an adjunctive means of detecting breast cancer in order to provide earlier detection and enable earlier and more effective treatment to save lives.

What are the goals of the project?

Over the past 6 years, we have enrolled over 2,000 patients into this study and recorded relevant thermological and other medical data from each one. We are now ready to begin statistical analysis of these data and synthesize meaningful results. We will employ objective analysis to determine the effectiveness of thermology as a diagnostic method in breast cancer detection.

The funding is necessary to fund an independent statistical analysis to review our data and derive meaningful statistical results in an objective manner. Additionally, the funds will be used to pay for a review of the medical literature for the preparation and publication of our results.