ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUE: A Malanda health business is under investigation. Source: News Limited
A MALANDA natural health business claiming to detect and cure cancer through thermal imaging is being investigated by the health ombudsman.
Medical experts across Australia have widely rejected the alternative technique which claims to pick up tumours by showing “hot spots” on images.
Total Health and Thermal Imaging owner Deidre Brophy claims to have cured one woman of brain cancer and said people came from across Australia to be scanned by her $46,000 machine.
The Queensland Health Ombudsman could not comment on the complaint but it is understood the department is investigating Ms Brophy’s clinic and has the power to close it.
Ms Brophy, who calls herself a doctor but is not registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, said she had spent more than 12 years studying the technique and was adamant her thermal imaging machine could detect cancers.
“It can pick up cancer as small as the tip of a biro,’’ she said.
“If you pick up that thermal heat we ask them to have a lymph drain massage then you can prevent the disease developing. We tell them they have it but then it’s up to them. They go on a treatment plan of natural medicine – no drugs.
“If they have breast cancer, they will go on immune and digestive support.”
Ms Brophy said she charged $11 per scan and up to $95 for natural medications.
“One patient drives from Bowen every Christmas to thank us,’’ she said.
Cancer Council Queensland spokeswoman Katie Clift warned against the use of thermal imaging for breast cancer detection and screening.
“There is currently no scientific evidence to support the use of thermal imaging in the early detection of breast cancer,’’ she said.
The National Advisory Committee to BreastScreen Australia also disapproved.
Thermal imaging has been deregistered for use in Australia and is not recommended by Cancer Australia, BreastScreen Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, and National Health and Medical Research Council.
Ms Brophy said her technique had cured her of cancer.
“I’ve had nine forms of cancer in the past 12 years,” she said.
It is understood the ombudsman could take several weeks to investigate