October is Breast Health Awareness Month

Instead of the well-known Breast Cancer Awareness Month title, it is time to rename October “Breast Health Awareness Month” since other issues of the breast are also very important.  The most important is prevention of cancer. Clinicians and researchers agree it is easier to prevent cancer than cure it.  So is the obvious answer to maintain a healthy lifestyle, learn the best ways to take care of the body, and use diagnostic tools that are more beneficial than harmful.

 

Fibrocystic, calcification, fluid cysts and other types of nodules could be the first symptoms that should be monitored. Most lumps will be non-malignant fibrocystic or calcification. Therefore, with an additional screening tool many unnecessary biopsies and lumpectomies could be avoided when trying to determine if any of these types of lumps are malignant.

 

Infrared Thermal Imaging for Earliest Detection

 

What if women were aware that there is a non-invasive test called breast thermal imaging that could detect irregularities, particularly endocrine imbalance in the very earliest stages?  Since 80% or more of breast cancer is estrogen receptor (ER) positive, this is an important breakthrough to determine a hypervascular pattern 5-7 years prior to seeing a dot on a mammogram or feeling a lump.

 

Through regular self exams, women will become familiar with their breasts and notice changes that should alert them to seek medical advice.  If they have a history of lumps and tenderness that occur regularly every month, this signals an endocrine imbalance that can be corrected through stress reduction, maintaining a healthy immune system, healthy eating, exercise and bio-identical hormones, as well as, proper thyroid function.  Acupuncture and lymphatic massage are also beneficial to create proper energy flow and correct stagnate lymphatic drainage.

 

An individual’s best chance for surviving breast cancer is early detection. When found early, the survival rate is 96% (American Cancer Society).  The earliest detection will be to monitor functional changes with infrared thermal imaging at the beginning stages of angiogenesis—when the tumor begins to receive its own blood supply—before it can grow to size, and have a chance to spread. It takes approximately 150 days for a lump the size of a poppy seed to grow to the size of a sesame seed. Therefore, monitoring changes of vascular patterns and hot spots can support any natural, noninvasive therapies for endocrine balance to slow down or stop the blood supply that feeds a tumor.

 

Women may begin having thermograms and clinical breast exams as early as 20 to establish a baseline, with follow-up at the recommendation of the physician. Infrared thermal imaging eliminates the negatives such as squishing or radiation.  If a thermogram detects irregular spots the patient is then referred for an ultrasound or MRI.

 

Ways to Best Protect Breast Health:
To achieve optimal health for prevention of most diseases, including breast cancer, a healthy lifestyle is crucial and includes:

• Stress Reduction—both physical and emotional—through prayer time and relaxation

• Avoid using synthetic hormones for menopause or birth control

• Choose healthy foods and eating habits—plenty of fruits and vegetables preferably organic to maintain ideal weight

• Supplement when necessary—vitamins, minerals antioxidants and especially thyroid support (iodine)

• Quality sleep

• Proper exercise, if not every day, at least 3 to 4 days a week for 30 to 45 minutes (exercise stimulates the lymphatic system which is essential for maintaining the immune system)

• Last, yet most important; maintain proper endocrine balance of estrogen to progesterone.

Additional Facts and Breast Health Information:

• Every woman is at risk for breast cancer.

• The single most important marker of high risk for developing breast cancer is an abnormal Thermal Image, far more significant than a family history of the disease.3

• Breast tumors can take 6 to 10 years to grow before they are large enough to be detected on a mammogram.

• Out of 3 million women in the U.S. living with breast cancer only 2 million are diagnosed while 1 million do not even know they have breast cancer.5

• A dime size tumor can take 8 to 10 years to grow. Breast Thermal Imaging can be the first signal that a tumor is developing.3

—By Leilani Tejeda

Sources: William Hobbins, M.D. Breast Specialist and Pioneer in Thermal Imaging
Learn about thermography www.optimalnh.com and www.iact-org.org
References

1. American Cancer Society—Breast Cancer Guidelines and Statistics, 1996

2.  I. Nyirjesy, M.D. et al; Clinical Evaluation Mammography and Thermography in the Diagnosis of Breast Carcinoma. Thermology 1986; 1:170-173

3. M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Themobiological Assessment of Benign and Malignant Breast Diseases. Am J. Obstet. Gynecol., 1983: V147, No. 8:861-869

4. C. Gros, M.D., M. Gautherie, Ph.D.; Breast Thermography and Cancer Risk Prediction. Cancer, 1980; V45, No. 1:51-56.

5. L. Vahdat, M.D., A. Joe, M.D.; Breast Cancer Screening: The Latest Methods and Recommendations. The Breast Cancer Site

6. National Breast Cancer Coalition—Facts About Breast Cancer in the United States Year 2001-2002