| I had been a bit nervous all day wondering what my | | | | relaxed and not a bit nervous. She smiled knowingly |
| thermogram procedure would entail. Would I need to | | | | and asked me to please step behind the room divider |
| undress completely? Would I be given one of those | | | | and change into a robe she set out for me. The robes |
| paper gowns that opens in the front and barely | | | | were soft cotton and tied in the front. She then asked |
| covers me? Would there be any heat coming out of | | | | that I fill out the paperwork. She explained that I would |
| the camera? I had been avoiding a mammogram after | | | | need to do my best to keep my arms away from the |
| reading the latest information about the risks | | | | side of my body so I could cool down and she could |
| associated with X-ray; knowing that I was potentially | | | | get a more accurate image. She then read over my |
| putting myself at greater risk by not taking charge of | | | | information and asked me questions about my health in |
| my health. It was my massage therapist who told me | | | | general and specifically breast health. All the while, I |
| about thermography as an adjunctive tool for breast | | | | was grateful for the full coverage of the cool, cotton |
| cancer screening and now I find myself lost in my | | | | robe and remembered to keep my arms away from |
| thoughts as I am driving to my thermographic | | | | my body. |
| appointment. | | | | Next, I moved to the scanning area where I was |
| As I entered the lobby, I noticed that the temperature | | | | shown the six different positions required for the scan. |
| was cool and refreshing. The paintings on the wall | | | | She then asked me to sit on the stool and turn my |
| were bright and cheerful with many colors that caught | | | | back to her. At this point, she asked me to drop my |
| my eye. I felt at ease right away. | | | | gown. I was told to keep my hands on my waist while |
| I was quickly greeted by the thermographer. She | | | | she took my thermal picture. I learned that it usually |
| guided me to her office and there I felt all the tension | | | | takes 12-15 minutes for the temperature of my skin to |
| melt away. She showed me around the office | | | | come to equilibrium with the temperature of the room. |
| explaining the need for a cool temperature and | | | | Once my temperature stabilized, the scanning began. |
| allowing me to browse her collection of literature, | | | | During the scan, she asked that I raise my hands |
| leaflets, handouts and brochures. It smelled like my | | | | above my head and remain still; allowing me to rest my |
| grandmother’s garden in the spring. Just a hint of | | | | hands back on my waist between the different poses. |
| orange blossom, honeysuckle, green apple all mixed | | | | The camera did not emit any heat and never touched |
| with a light touch of rain forest greeted my nose. The | | | | my body. The total scan time was about 5 minutes. |
| plants were lush and healthy and soft music was | | | | Once we were done, I changed back into my clothes |
| playing in the background. The lights were dim and I | | | | and thanked the technician for a soothing and |
| could almost imagine myself back in grandma’s | | | | comforting experience. Before I left the office, I picked |
| Arizona room. | | | | up a few of the breast health brochures to share with |
| The thermographer asked if I had any questions and | | | | my family, friends and colleagues. |
| of course I said no, trying to show her that I was calm, | | | | |