community spotlight
Discovering Better Breast Health Community Spotlight on Karla Watkins, Founder of Insight Thermal Imaging in Spokane
K
arla Watkins, founder ing available,” she explains, of Insight Thermal adding that women deserve Imaging in Spokane, to have all of the best FDAfinds it hard to believe how approved tools available when much thermography has it comes to taking charge of changed her life and that of their own health. so many other women taking To illustrate this efficacy of charge of their own breast thermography, Watkins shares Karla Watkins health. “Thermal imaging the story of a 35-year-old clitechnology is so simple, completely safe, ent named Cindy (not her real name) who and pain-free. It is a powerful tool in the heard about this technology from a friend. risk assessment of breast disease,” says “Cindy discovered the many benefits of an this passionate practitioner, who has a ‘early warning system’ for cancer and was 35-year history in Spokane as a radiologic intrigued as her family had a history of technologist certified in both radiology breast cancer. She knew the sooner someand computed tomography (CT). She is thing was found, the better, so she schedalso certified as a thermography techniuled a thermography appointment.” cian and a certified MammaCare clinical When Watkins scanned Cindy’s breast breast examiner. tissue, it became clear there was a concern. Watkins’ first thermogram around 13 “You can see in the image an increased years ago offered her remarkable insight level of heat in the left breast. That heat into her own breast tissue concerns. is often indicative of a disease process “Thermography reveals the earliest stages underway. The doctor, a specialized of inflammation in the body. Having spent thermologist who reviewed the image my entire career in the medical imaging gave it a risk assessment of TH5—the industry, it became clear to me that this highest risk level of breast cancer risk. is a tool that women need. From that first After performing a MammaCare Certified day until now, I’ve worked to provide the Clinical Breast exam, a very small nodule most advanced medical infrared imag(.03 centimeters) was discovered.”
It was clear to Watkins and the doctor that Cindy needed advanced care. Soon afterward, an ultrasound and biopsy revealed that the tumor was cancerous. “But there is good news here,” affirms Watkins. “By detecting the disease in its earliest stages, Cindy was able to fight back.” According to Watkins, Cindy firmly believes that the technology saved her life as she wouldn’t have started screening until she was in her forties. “Her story is all too common. Most breast disease screening doesn’t begin until women are at least 40 years old. Cindy also had dense breast tissue—the same as nearly half of all women—which can often hide problems from other imaging technologies.” Watkins feels grateful to have the opportunity to provide this lifesaving technology to women. “I go to work every day knowing that I can help women see problems early. Often, these problems call for us to make changes in our lifestyles to help reverse the disease process. Other times, it triggers advanced warnings of more serious threats,” she explains. “Early Risk Assessment Thermal Imaging empowers women to be proactive with their breast health.” Karla Watkins, RT (R)(CT), CTT, CMT, is the founder of Insight Thermal Imaging located at 1801 W. Broadway Ave., Spokane. For more information or to make an appointment, call 509-315-4154 or visit InsightThermography.com. See ad, page 3. October 2021
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