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New Advances In Early Breast Cancer Detection
In November 2003, the American Cancer Society stated that breast
cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of
40 and 44. In the United States, there are approximately 200,000
new cases of breast cancer and more than 40,000 deaths; making the
U.S. one of the countries with the highest death rate due to breast
cancer. Perhaps the most alarming statistic is 1: 8 women will
eventually develop breast cancer over their lifetime.
One of the most powerful steps a woman can take to reduce her
risk for developing breast cancer is to educate herself about the
petrochemicals, or xenoestrogens that are in her environment and
work to eliminate or reduce them. Petrochemicals are "hormone
disruptors" and it is through the unbalancing of your hormone
system that can lead to problems. These xenoestrogens are found in
cosmetics, lotions and fingernail polish and polish remover. They
are obviously found in pesticides and insecticides. What you may
not be aware of is that petrochemicals are found in plastics. If
food is placed in a plastic container and reheated in the
microwave, the plastic melts into your food and you ingest it. The
harder the plastic, the more resistant it is to this process but
the potential for accidental xenoestrogen ingestion is still
present. Simply put, do not reheat food in plastic containers in
the microwave.
Conventional screening methods all examine structure. For
example, mammography uses X-ray to examine breast tissue. Any
structure that has grown large enough to be seen by X-ray could be
detected by mammography. However, mammography can have a high false
positive rate. In fact, only 1 in 6 biopsies are found to be
positive for cancer when found by mammography or clinical breast
exam. This leads to increased psychological stress, physical trauma
and financial concerns.
Other risks of mammography include the radiation exposure,
although this has been debated by doctors for many years. Recently
published in Radiation Research, 2004 the author suggests that the
risks associated with mammography screening may be FIVE times
higher than previously assumed and the risk-benefit relationship of
mammography needs to be re-examined.
There exists a technology that can detect a breast issue YEARS
before a tumor can be seen on X-ray or palpated during an exam.
This technology has been approved by the FDA as an adjunctive
screening tool since 1982 and offers NO RADIATION, NO COMPRESSION
AND NO PAIN. For women who are refusing to have a mammogram or
those who want clinical correlation for an existing problem,
digital infrared thermal imaging may be of interest.
Thermal cameras detect heat emitted from the body and display it
as a picture on a computer monitor. These images are unique to the
person and remain stable over time. It is because of these
characteristics that thermal imaging is a valuable and effective
screening tool.
Breast thermography has undergone extensive research since the
1950s. There are over 800 peer-reviewed studies on breast
thermography with more than 300,000 women included in large
clinical trials. An abnormal thermogram is 10 times more
significant as a future risk indicator for breast cancer than a
first order family history of the disease. A persistently abnormal
thermogram carries a 22-fold higher risk of future breast
cancer.
Medical doctors who interpret the breast scans are board
certified and endure an additional two years of training to qualify
as a thermologist. Thermography is not limited by breast density
and is ideal for women who have had cosmetic or reconstructive
surgery. It is recommended that since cancer typically has a 15
year life span from onset to death, that women begin thermographic
screenings at age 25.
Thermographic screening is not covered by most insurance
companies but is surprisingly affordable for most people. For more
information or to find a certified clinic in your area, go to
www.proactivehealthonline.com.
Brenda Witt is co-owner of Proactive Health Solutions in
Southern California. She is an American College of Clinical
Thermology (ACCT) certified thermographer in the Orange County
area.
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