home
Search the site:
search

Recommendations For Early Breast Cancer Screening


Women need to empower themselves about the benefits and risks of mammography and examine the additional screening tools available today. One current philosophy suggests breast health screening should begin at age 25. Where does this recommendation come from and why is this valid?

For MOST women, the recommendation for annual breast cancer screening begins at the age of 40. Unfortunately, the American Cancer Society stated that the number one cause of death in women between the ages of 40-44 is breast cancer. So what does this mean for women? It means that we screen at age 40 and potentially find tumors that have been growing for an estimated 8-10 years. Mammography, like most conventional tests, evaluates structure.

There exists a technology that can detect an 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.

There are very strict protocols both for testing and interpreting. Perhaps due to these guidelines, thermography (as with all digital technology) has exploded in its technique and capabilities. 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. Tumors or other breast diseases measures warmer than surrounding tissue and can thereby alert a physician to a problem before a tumor is actually palpable.

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, women begin thermographic screenings at age 25. As previously mentioned, the number one killer of women ages 40-44 is breast cancer. Therefore, a woman diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 possibly had the cancer as early as age 30. Since most women do not have a mammogram until age 40, there is a critical time period from age 25 to 39 that thermography could be especially beneficial. Thermography, because it analyzes function, may identify a problem years earlier. DITI may allow women time and opportunity to support their immune system, change their lifestyle and give their body the best chance to alter their fate.

By combining both technologies, the detection rate increases to 95-98%, surpassing either technology as a stand-alone therapy. Thermography, like mammography, is a personal choice for women. This decision ideally should be made in collaboration between you and your physician. However, thermography does not require a physician's order.

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.


MORE RESOURCES:

TheMedGuru

Researchers Find Breast Cancer Gene, Spur Hope for New Drugs
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago
6 (Bloomberg) -- Researchers discovered a gene involved in the spread of breast cancer, which may lead to new treatments for a disease that kills about 1 in ...
Study links breast cancer spread, gene Baltimore Sun
Breast Cancer Gene Linked To Disease Spread Discovered Science Daily (press release)
Study: Gene plays large role in breast cancer metastasis SmartBrief
MedPage Today - GenomeWeb News
all 84 news articles


Issaquah Press

New breast cancer treatment promising
MSNBC - 3 hours ago
Breakthrough breast cancer research is giving one Delaware woman another chance at life. Doctors say the treatment brought amazing results in just a matter ...
Breast cancer survivors unite to build homes for others Dallas Morning News
Cancer survivor bares her story for calendar Issaquah Press
all 6 news articles


eFluxMedia

Scientists Developing Breast Cancer 'Vaccine'
FOXNews - Jan 5, 2009
Thomas Kieber-Emmons, director of basic breast cancer research at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, said the vaccine was developed over a ...
Breast Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trials MSNBC
Some hopeful news on a breast cancer 'vaccine' Examiner.com
Scientists Move One Step Closer in Developing Breast Cancer Vaccine eFluxMedia
I Really Should Study - dBTechno
all 34 news articles


Healthy Living: detoxing your system, and screening for breast cancer
KSBY, CA - 5 hours ago
Two methods may be better than one when screening for breast cancer. Most women at high risk for breast cancer get both an MRI and a mammogram around the ...
Breast Cancer Detection KARK
ACS Guidelines for Breast Screening with MRI May Be Excluding Some ... Cancer Consultants
all 4 news articles


Retreat raises funds to support women fighting breast cancer
Indianapolis Star, United States - 35 minutes ago
"Everyday issues become even more overwhelming for women who are literally fighting for their lives going through breast cancer treatment and dealing with ...


Breast cancer risk : High insulin levels increase breast cancer risk
Entertainment and Showbiz!, India - 4 hours ago
An American study has revealed that high levels of insulin increase the risk of breast cancer in women. Lead researchers Marc Gunter and Howard Strickler, ...
Fruit and veg can prevent breast cancer recurrence Freshinfo
Diet tied to survival in breast cancer patients Reuters India
Diet may affect women with cancer ABC7Chicago.com
SmartBrief - Philippine Information Agency
all 19 news articles


Denosumab Improves BMD in Breast Cancer Patients Taking Aromatase ...
Cancer Consultants, ID - 23 hours ago
These results were presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) December 10-14, 2008.[1] Aromatase inhibitors have become ...
Hormone cuts down cancer risk ChronicleLive
High-dose Faslodex® Improves Time to Progression Compared with ... Cancer Consultants
all 3 news articles


Chromosome 17 Polysomy May Help Predict Responses to ...
Cancer Consultants, ID - 5 hours ago
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that chromosome 17 polysomy may predict whether breast cancer patients will benefit from anthracycline ...


Sydney Morning Herald

Pink Test to benefit all breast cancer charities
ABC Online, Australia - 21 hours ago
ELEANOR HALL: The pink clad cricket fans at Jane McGrath Day yesterday raised more than $300000 for breast cancer nurses. And while the crowd is likely to ...
Jane would have been tickled pink Sydney Morning Herald
Awareness of breast cancer: pink stumps in Sydney Test Geo TV
SCG becomes a sea of pink to support breast cancer research LIVENEWS.com.au
ABC Online - ABC Online
all 246 news articles


Gene Helps Breast Cancer Spread And Resist Chemo
Examiner.com - 10 hours ago
Scientists in the US looking for genomic changes in breast tumor samples found that a gene called metadherin (MTDH) appears to play a dual role in both ...

Breast-Cancer - Google News