William Hobbins, M.D. - Pink Image Advisor

William Hobbins, M.D. started breast thermography in 1971 after being a mammographer in the 1960s. He realized the limitations of mammography and wanted to offer women an additional imaging technique. From 1971 to 1974 he scanned over 100,000 women throughout the Midwest. He has conducted countless studies in breast thermography and compiled the breast thermography model, by which all certified interpreters are trained. He was a founding member of the only 2 nationally certified thermography boards (AAT & IACT). Because of Dr. Hobbins perseverance, women have a greater chance of prevention and early detection.

Wendy Sellens, L.Ac. - Licensed Acupuncturist | Board Certified Thermologist

Founder and President of Pink Image Breast Thermography Clinic

Pink Image's Breast Thermographic Consultant

Founder of Pink Image Analysis - Breast Thermography Interpretation Services

Founder of Protect the tee tees foundation.

Wendy owns whiteRAVEN studioACUPUNCTURE where she practices orthopedic acupuncture and hormone balancing.

Wendy's background has allowed her to integrate acupuncture, hormone balance and breast thermography to test and treat women's health issues. She is currently conducting several pilot studies on breast risk and hormone balance with breast thermography.

Her pilot studies, research and clinical experience has provided evidence as to what is actually causing breast risk and hormone imbalances in women. This has allowed her to educate women on what is causing their breast risk and hormone imbalance along with the correct treatment method for them. She has been able to blend acupuncture, massage, herbs, qi gong and supplements to reduce breast risk and create balance for many women.

Masters of Science, Traditional Oriental Medicine
Bachelors of Science, Psychology

Wendy completed a 3 year Breast Thermography Externship/Certification under William Hobbins MD.

Wendy has thus far completed 4 years of breast health and hormone balance education with William Hobbins MD.

Wendy is also a certified medical Qi gong instructor, esthetician and massage therapist for the past 12 years.

Martin Bales, L.Ac. - Licensed Acupuncturist | Board Certified Thermologist

Co-founder, Vice President and Director of Engineering, Pink Image Breast Thermography Clinic

President of AcuPhoton therapy, a revolutionary approach to chronic pain management

Director of Complimentary Medicine at Center for New Medicine in Irvine, CA

Martin grew up working with his father, Maurice Bales, at Bales Scientific, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of medical devices. Maurices first two machines were infrared cameras. Practitioners around the world purchased these cameras for breast thermography and other diagnostic applications. Martin is proud to use the latest model high-resolution camera at Pink Image to ensure outstanding image quality. He has been utilizing thermography for pain management and industrial applications for the past 14 years.

Ph.D Candidate of Integrative Medicine
Masters of Science, Traditional Oriental Medicine
Bachelors of Science, Electrical Engineering

Martin completed a 3 year Breast Thermography Externship/Certification with William Hobbins, M.D.

William Hobbins MD imaged over 100,000 women in the "Mass Breast Cancer Screening with Thermography," studies from 1971-1975. Dr. Hobbins with a group of MD's created the first thermography academy, The American Academy of Thermology, to monitor the efficacy of breast thermography. Below are the minimum standard requirements created by Dr Hobbins' based on the results of breast thermography studies. (Please see "Research" page for list of studies).

Thermography is a superficial screening procedure which is able to monitor small changes or abnormalities in the fat and muscle layers by analyzing vascularity or blood flow in the breasts. Thermograph's sensitivity makes it ideal for breast cancer screening and breast health treatment as it can detect minute changes in the breast tissue which can be compared between reports.

Thermograms are not standardized, meaning anyone can open a breast thermography clinic or start an academy. Be sure your breast thermography clinic is at least meeting these minimum requirements so you can receive the best possible imaging for your breasts. (See accredited academies on "FAQ's"page for clinic lists) Other areas of the body, such as the neck and back, are much easier to diagnose and therefore requirements are not as strict. Internal organs such as lungs, kidneys, and cervix are too deep and cannot be monitored by thermography.

1. Thermographic score, or TH, of each breast with temperature differences (delta T) reported, if applicable:
- TH-1 Non-Vascular - Normal
- TH-2 Vascular Uniform -Potential Risk
- TH-3 Equivocal
- TH-4 Abnormal
- TH-5 Severely Abnormal

2. TH score determined by temperature differences and reported major and minor signs as seen in reverse gray scale.

3. Personal health risk is added up for each individual. The health risk index is a nationally accepted risk for breast cancer. It was determined by a culmination of studies from The American Cancer Society and The National Cancer Institute. Increased risk of breast cancer is determined by: age of individual, age at time of first child [with 30 and above higher and no children highest], family history, weight, race, exposure to estrogen by birth control pill and hormone replacement therapies.

4. An infrared camera with an optical line resolution of 240 is the minimum accepted optical line. The higher the optical line resolution the more detailed the breast image and therefore the greater possibility of earlier detection. Examples of images from one camera which has an optical line resolution under 240 is on "About Pink Image" page.

5. Pink Image and a few other certified thermography clinics can monitor hormone levels between estrogen and progesterone. Since thermography can monitor environmental estrogens, estrogen therapies and the body's naturally occurring estrogen, it is an ideal tool for hormone and breast health treatments. Due to excess estrogen therapies (bio-identical estrogen, soy and flax) and environmental estrogens most women are progesterone deficient. Scales are therefore graded on a progesterone deficiency from mild to severe or 1-3 (relative). TH-1 is normal, or non-vascular, and hormonally balanced. Please note hormone levels are just for breast health assessment and are not FDA approved for breast thermography.

Breast thermography may be able to measure differences in infrared heat emission from normal breast tissue and benign breast abnormalities (such as fibrocystic disease, cysts, infections and benign tumors) thus possibly differentiating them from breast cancers. This adjunctive procedure is performed with a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy, possibly providing a non-invasive measurement of the physiology of breast tissue.

Pink Image uses a high resolution, highly-sensitive infrared camera to possibly differentiate and measure minute differences in infrared heat emission from tumors and the vascular structure they require. Because tumor tissue does not have an intact sympathetic nervous system, it cannot regulate heat loss. When the breast is cooled in a temperature controlled room, blood vessels of normal tissue may respond by constricting to conserve heat while tumor tissue and its blood vessels may remains hot. Thus, the vascular patterns that may be associated with tumors may emit more heat than their surrounding tissues allowing them to be detected by Pink Image's heat sensing infrared camera.

Breast thermograms show highly specific thermal patterns in each individual woman. They provide a unique "thermal signature" that remains constant over years unless there is a change in an underlying condition. Thus, over time, it is possible to differentiate between cancers and benign conditions. Since the technology has the ability to accurately detect cancers over time, it becomes important to have a baseline early on in a woman's life. For this reason, women should have breast thermography performed as early as age 25.

Unlike many other imaging modalities, breast thermography does not emit any radiation, require any injections, and is completely non-contact and pain-free.

No. The two screening modalities are a great complement to each other. Since it has been determined that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer, we should use every possible means to stop the epidemic! This is best accomplished with early detection through screening.

Breast thermography can also provide the necessary screening for the 25-49 age range before an annual mammogram may be recommended. This is extremely important for younger women at high risk because breast cancers are particularly aggressive in this age range.

Breast thermography does not emit any radiation, require any injections, and is completely non-contact and pain-free. Breast thermography is based on possibly detecting tumors through minute changes in vascular structure. These tumors and vascular structure may emit more heat than normal tissue possibly making them detectable with a high resolution, highly-sensitive infrared camera.

Mammography uses x-rays to differentiate normal tissue from physical tumors and other breast abnormalities based on their densities. In many cases it detects tumors that are already of significant size (>1cm in most cases). There is a fair amount of difficulty in reading the mammograms of women who are on hormone replacement, are nursing, or have fibrocystic, large, dense, or enhanced breasts. These conditions do not cause difficulty in reading breast thermograms.

Breast thermography signals, mammography locates, ultrasound confirms, and biopsy establishes diagnosis.

As with any other imaging modality, the resolution of the equipment is a major factor in its effectiveness. In this case, the resolution of the infrared camera is crucial to detecting the minute changes in vascular activity that are associated with breast cancer. Pink Image's infrared camera records 600 optical lines of resolution while most other infrared cameras record only 240. When converted to a 2-dimensional image, Pink Image's camera has about 4 times the resolution of the cameras our competitors use making us leagues ahead of anyone else.

The optical resolution of a camera is correlated to the amount of information the camera is able to capture in each image. For example, a digital camera that captures 6 megapixel images produces higher quality prints than a digital camera that only captures 2 megapixel images.

Other widely available cameras only offer around 200 optical lines of resolution. While these cameras are acceptable for imaging other parts of the body, Pink Image believes they do not provide the quality or sensitivity needed for breast thermography. It is imperative to ask a breast thermography clinic what type of camera they use and how many lines of optical resolution it scans.

There are only 2 recognized thermography boards in the United States. In 1971, the American Academy of Thermology was established by a group of M.D's. In the late 1980s, a group of Chiropractors set up the International Academy of Clinical Thermography. All respected breast thermography clinics and interpretors are members of only these boards. Pink Image is a member of both boards. There are other boards, academies, and colleges out there. Don't be fooled by fancy names!

Pink Image interpreters received all training and were certified under Dr. Hobbins. Dr Hobbins is the original interpretator of breast thermography and all the respected interpretors in the United States studied under him. He has 40 years of breast thermography experience and has read over 175,000 scans to date! Make sure to ask who is interpreting your scans and who they studied under, and if they are board certified with the International Academy of Clinical Thermography or the American Academy of Thermology.

All reports should provide a clear dignosis graded on a scale from TH-1 (Normal) to TH-5 (Abnormal). This is the most important aspect of the report. Make sure the clinic provides a TH grade, not just a "normal" or "abnormal" reading. This is not a complete diagnosis for breast thermography. It should also include clear printouts of all infrared scans, explanations of criteria used to determine findings, and clear recommendations should follow-up be required. We are available to discuss your report at any time.

IBC is the most malignant form of breast cancer. While rare (less than 3% of all breast cancers) it metastasizes quickly and widely. Due to the inflammatory nature of the disease, thermography is the ideal detection modality because of the large amount of heat emitted by the inflammation. Mammography has great difficulty in detecting this type of breast cancer because there is no real detectable mass. Thus thermography is a perfect first line of defense against IBC especially for women 25-40 where breast cancer can be most aggressive. For women over the age of 40, thermography as an adjunct to mammography helps to ensure that no woman falls through the cracks.

While breast thermography was approved by the FDA in 1982 as an adjunct to mammography, it is still not covered by health insurance. Pink Image has kept the cost around $200 to make breast thermography available to most women.

A typical breast thermography session involves a simple 20 minute non-invasive, no-radiation, completely painless procedure. You will be welcomed into a cool, temperature controlled room where you will be asked to disrobe from the waist up. This allows your body to shed false heat patterns from clothing. Six image views will be captured to ensure all angles of the breast and lymph are scanned. This is a significantly more thorough imaging technique compared to traditional imaging where only a smaller portion and angle of the breast are recorded, thus allowing for breast and lymph tissue to be completely ignored altogether. Its that simple!

Following an abnormal breast thermogram, Pink Image usually recommends an ultrasound, mammogram or, in more abnormal cases, an MRI. Something as simple as a CBE (Clinical Breast Exam) is also a possibility.

Changes in lifestyle, increase frequency of CBE or BSE (breast self exam), and close monitoring are all courses of action that can help avoid or detect breast disease early.

Yes. Breast thermography is very helpful for women with breast implants as it does not affect the accuracy of the exam.

The majority of women diagnosed today with breast cancer are the first members of their family to contract this devastating disease. No screening procedure is 100%, thus using 2 different modalities reduces your chances of possibly missing an abnomality.

Yes! Breast thermography was FDA approved for use as an adjunctive breast cancer screening procedure in 1982.

Some may have heard of breast thermography in past years. Breast thermography has become increasing widespread though tremendous advances in technology over the past 20 years. Pink Image is proud to offer the finest example of these advances with its high resolution, highly-sensitive infrared camera.

At least five important studies published between 1980 and 2003 document that breast thermography is a major advancement in identifying breast cancers not only with greater sensitivity and specificity, but also years earlier than with any other scientifically tested medical technology. Please refer to our research page for many more published studies & articles.

* Cancer, 1980, Volume 56, 45-51. (17) Fifty-eight thousand patients with breast complaints were examined between 1965 and 1977. Twelve hundred and forty-five patients with abnormal Th3 mammotherms had normal breasts by mammography, ultrasound, physical exam, and biopsy. Thirty-eight percent of women with normal breasts and 44% of those with mastopathy developed biopsy proven breast cancer within five years. Ninety percent of patients with Th4 or 5 had diagnosis of cancer made on their first visit.

* Biomedical Thermology, 1982, 279-301, Alan Liss, Inc, New York. Michel Gautherie, MD, followed 10,834 women over 2 to 10 years by clinical examination, mammography and thermography. (15) The study followed 387 people with normal breast examinations and mammograms but Th3 thermographic scores for an average of less than three years. In those without symptoms, 33% developed cancer. In those with cystic mastitis, cancer developed in 41%. These were predominately women between 30 to 45 years of age where breast cancer is the leading cause of death.

* Thermology, 1986, Volume 1, 170-73. (18) The effectiveness of mammography, clinical palpation, and thermography were compared in the detection of breast cancer. Thermography had the best reliability, but the best results were found when all three were used together.

* The Breast Journal, Volume 4, 1998, 245-51. (19) Keyserlingk et al documented 85% sensitivity in diagnosing breast cancer using clinical examination and mammography together. This increased to 98% when breast thermography was added.

* American Journal of Radiology, January 2003, 263-69. (16) The journal reported that thermography has 99% sensitivity in identifying breast cancer with single examinations and limited views. Thus, a negative thermogram (Th1 or Th2) in this setting is powerful evidence that cancer is not present.

Pre Imaging Instructions

Welcome to Pink Image! Before you arrive for your breast thermography, certain protocols must be followed in order to ensure that your images reflect accurate information. Please read the following instructions and strictly adhere to them.

You may download these instructions in Word format or read below:

No prolonged sun exposure (especially sunburn) to the chest and breast areas 5 days prior to the exam.

On the day of the exam, please do not use any lotions, creams, powders, or makeup on the breasts, and no use of deodorants or antiperspirants.

No shaving (or other types of hair removal) of the chest, breasts, or underarms for 24 hours prior to the exam.

No treatment (chiropractic, acupuncture, TENS, physical therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, hot or cold pack use) of the neck, back, chest, or breasts for 12 hours before the exam.

No physical stimulation of the breasts for 12 hours prior to the exam.

No exercise 4 hours prior to the exam.

No alcohol for 24 prior to the exam.

If bathing, it must be no closer than 1 hour before the exam.

If you are nursing, please try to nurse as far from 1 hour prior to the exam as possible.

If you are using pain medications, please avoid taking them for 4 hours prior to the examination. You must consult with the prescribing physician for his or her consent prior to any change in medication use such as this.

During the examination you will be disrobed from the waist up for both imaging and to allow for the surface temperature of the body to equilibrate with the room. A female technician will be performing all your imaging.

If you have copies of any other test results (eg. Mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies) please bring them with you. If you have any further questions, please contact our office.

Thank you for choosing Pink Image and we look forward to meeting you!