Is breast thermography an alternative to mammograhy screening?

I still remember that many years ago, I wanted to go for Mammography Screening as I felt that something not right with my breast. I requested for it during a regular health screening, but was rejected as it was only recommended for women aged 40 and above. I was puzzled as to why it was not given. Isn't it better to have it detected early. Although I was not given the approval for screening, I still choose to believe that the experts in medical fields has made the best recommendation for me then. As in the world of medicine, it is too profound for a layman to understand the side effects and condition requirements in order for the machine/ technology to produce the accurate results.

In recent years, I came across a new word, Breast Thermography. It promotes having the advantages of no radiation, no compression, painless, non-invasive, no age restriction, and effective for all breast sizes. Although such method is approved in United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned women not to substitute breast thermography for mammography to screen for breast cancer. It is considered as an experimental technique in Singapore (based on year 2010).

Mammography Screen Vs Breast Thermography

Mammography screening is a low-dose x-ray examination of the breast that can pick up very small breast cancers. During mammography screening, the breast is gently flattened between two plates of the X-ray machine for a few seconds, to spread the tissue apart and get a good image of the breast. Images of the breast are taken and developed by a radiographer (a technician) who then hands the X-ray films to a radiologist (a doctor) to check for abnormalities. It is recommended that women aged 40 - 49 should go for mammography screening once a year, and women above 50 should go for one, once in 2 years.

Breast Thermography is diagnostic imaging procedure that detects and records an image called thermogram of a patient's skin surface temperatures. It does not utilise ionizing radiation or venous access, or other invasive procedures. It is a non-touch technique, which measure the blood flow in the breast. It is suitable for younger women from 18 to 50 years of age.