Frequently Asked Questions

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Pink Image is a certified breast thermography clinic founded with the mission of providing radiation-free, non-invasive breast health assessments using high-resolution thermal imaging. The clinic is led by experts in holistic health, acupuncture, and breast thermography interpretation.

William Hobbins, M.D. – Pink Image Advisor

• Pioneer of breast thermography since 1971.
• Scanned over 100,000 women.
• Created the breast thermography model and certification protocols used today.
• Co-founder of AAT & IACT – the only two nationally recognized thermography boards.
   

Wendy Sellens, L.Ac. DACM WABT-BTI

• Co-founder & President of Pink Image Breast Thermography Clinic.
• Founder of Pink Image Analysis and The Pink Bow Company.
• Author of multiple books on breast health and hormone balance.
• Doctorate in Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine.
• Completed a 10-year externship with Dr. Hobbins.
   

Martin Bales, L.Ac. DAOM WABT-BTI

• Vice President of Pink Image Clinic.
• President of Bales Photonics, Inc.
• Doctorate in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.
• Electrical Engineering background and 3-year externship with Dr. Hobbins.

Breast thermography is a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging technique that detects heat patterns and blood flow in breast tissue using infrared cameras. It's designed to identify physiological changes that may indicate the early development of breast abnormalities. 

Breast thermography has gained wider attention in recent years due to advances in technology. It is now a more reliable and effective tool than it was in the past. Pink Image proudly offers the latest in high-resolution, highly-sensitive infrared thermographic imaging. 

Yes. Breast thermography was approved by the FDA in 1982 as an adjunctive breast cancer screening method. 

Breast thermography:

• Uses infrared technology to detect heat patterns and vascular changes
• Is radiation-free, non-contact, and pain-free
• Can detect physiological changes potentially years before a tumor becomes dense enough for other modalities
   

Mammography:

• Uses x-rays to detect density-based abnormalities
• May be less effective in women who are younger, on HRT, or have dense/fibrocystic breasts
   

Best approach:

➝ Thermography detects signals
➝ Mammography locates
➝ Ultrasound confirms
➝ Biopsy diagnoses

Yes! Thermography is especially useful for women with implants, as it poses no interference with the results. 

Yes. There is no radiation, no compression, and no physical contact. It is one of the safest screening tools available for breast health monitoring. 

• Takes about 20 minutes
   
• Conducted in a cool, temperature-controlled room
   
• You'll disrobe from the waist up to normalize skin temperature
   
• Six views of your breasts and lymph areas will be taken
   
• No pain, no radiation, no contact—just comfort and peace of mind!

Modern thermographic cameras vary in resolution and sensitivity:

• Minimum standard: 240 optical lines & 0.05°C sensitivity
   
• Pink Image proudly uses the Bales TIP infrared camera:
  ➤ 600 optical lines & 0.025°C sensitivity
  ➤ Exceeds certification standards for breast imaging

Only two recognized boards certify interpreters in the U.S.:

• American Academy of Thermology (AAT) (est. 1971)
   
• Women's Academy of Breast Thermography (WABT)
   

Pink Image is certified by both boards. Our interpreters trained under Dr. William Hobbins, a pioneer in thermographic interpretation with over 175,000 scans reviewed.

Always ask:

✅ Who interprets your scan?
✅ Are they board-certified?
✅ Who did they study under?

A complete report should have:

• A TH score (TH-1 to TH-5), not just “normal/abnormal”
   
• Full thermographic images
   
• Explanation of findings
   
• Clear follow-up recommendations
   

Pink Image offers free consultations to discuss your results.

Yes. Thermography is ideal for detecting IBC, the most aggressive type of breast cancer. Because IBC causes inflammation, it emits significant heat that is easily captured with infrared imaging.
Mammograms often miss IBC because it doesn’t form a solid mass. 

Depending on your results, we may recommend:

• Ultrasound
• Mammography
• MRI
• Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)
• Lifestyle adjustments & frequent self-checks (BSE)

Yes. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer today are the first in their family to receive the diagnosis.

No test is 100% accurate—but using multiple screening methods improves your chances of early detection. 

No. Thermography cannot “see” into internal organs. However, referred patterns of inflammation may appear on the skin and can sometimes indicate deeper issues, but this requires advanced interpretation and should be confirmed with other imaging methods. 

Unfortunately, no. Despite FDA approval, most insurance providers do not cover breast thermography.
Pink Image has kept the cost affordable—around $200—so that it remains accessible to most women. 

Over 20 years of research shows that thermography improves early detection, especially when combined with other screening tools. Here are highlights:

• Cancer, 1980: 38–44% of women with normal mammograms but abnormal thermograms later developed breast cancer.
   
• Biomedical Thermology, 1982: 33–41% of women with TH3 thermograms developed cancer within 3 years.
   
• Thermology, 1986: Thermography had highest reliability among 3 methods.
   
• Breast Journal, 1998: Sensitivity increased from 85% to 98% when thermography was added.
   
• American Journal of Radiology, 2003: 99% sensitivity in identifying cancer with thermography alone.
   

🔍 See our Research Page for more in-depth studies.

For further imaging, you can contact:

Pacific Interventionalists
📍 4501 Birch Street, Newport Beach, CA 92660
📞 (949) 221-0128
💲 MRI with contrast: $650
🌐 www.pacificinterventional.com