Thursday, September 19, 2013

Four Benefits of Breast DITI

As we move towards fall, we would like to review for all our new, and maybe some of our established clients, the four benefits of thermal imaging.

There are four main benefits to utilizing digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) for breast imaging:
  • Risk Assessment / Risk Reduction
  • Detection (not as a stand-alone technology)
  • Prevention / Early Intervention
  • Monitoring the Effects of Therapy

Risk Assessment

How healthy are your breasts?

2 Case Study #1
This client maintains good symmetry with no significant thermal findings. 
Embedded temperatures allow reading MDs to determine stable physiology and low risk for developing disease.

3 Case Study #2
This client had significant vascular activity in the left breast, not seen in the right breast which clinically correlates with fibrocystic changes. 
Thermal asymmetry is a risk factor for future disease.  This client is a good candidate for early intervention.

Risk Reduction

Case study #3:  A woman positively influences her breast health by making lifestyle choices to aid in decreasing risk factors. 
4 Initial scan:  Medical interpretation indicated client to be at “some risk for breast disease.” 
This T BI-RADS score would correlate with a letter grade of a “C” in the educational grading system.
This client began lifestyle modifications.
5 Follow up scan: Client initiated an anti-inflammatory diet, increased exercise and hydration and met with a professional to help manage stress and improve sleep cycle. 
Medical interpretation “at low risk for breast disease”which would correlate with a letter grade of a “B.”
6 Annual scan: Maintaining lifestyle changes reflected improvement and a lowered risk of breast disease.
Medical interpretation of “within normal limits and at low risk for breast disease.”
Letter grade would correlate to an “A/B” rating.
Traditional allopathic medicine reminds women to have their annual mammogram and hope that nothing is found.  This mindset is a reactive approach to disease.

However, every woman can utilize breast thermography to determine risk factors and make changes to diminish them.  This is a proactive approach to managing health.  Too many women aren’t aware that this technology is available and affordable or they are told by their doctor that “thermography doesn’t work.”  Unfortunately, many women stop their research when they hear those words. 

Disease Detection (but not as a stand-alone technology)

In the case of certain types of breast disease not seen with mainstream screening, DITI provides a valuable asset to women.
7 Case Study #4
Client, age 38 presented with no family history and no clinical symptoms.   Thermal findings were highly suspicious and follow up testing revealed Inflammatory Breast Cancer ~ a highly aggressive form of breast cancer not detected by mammography.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is rare, but has a poor prognosis.  The clinical symptoms are:
  • Rash or “bug bite” that won’t heal
  • Inflamed or reddened area on the breast
  • Feels “hot” to the touch
  • Found in younger women
  • No tumor or lump accompanies this type of breast cancer
This subject presented with NO clinical symptoms (listed above) and was having a routine breast thermogram when this pattern was seen.  Immediate clinical correlation revealed IBC and warranted aggressive actions be taken.  If you or anyone you know has any of these symptoms, please take action to have a thermal scan (or encourage someone to have a scan) as soon as possible to help rule in/out this very aggressive breast disease.

Prevention

9 Case Study #5
Client, age 32 established stable baseline breast thermogram. 
This pattern and all temperatures were deemed stable after her initial scan and the required 3 month follow up scan.
10 Annual visit:  A new vascular pattern in right breast was noted. 
Reported lifestyle:  poor diet, increased alcohol intake, decreased exercise and disturbed sleep all due to extreme stress associated with her career.
Consult with her health practitioner was arranged.
11 Follow up thermogram:   Negative for developing pathology. 
Client was motivated to make lasting lifestyle changes.  After leaving her profession and making other significant changes, follow up scans showed thermal patterns had returned to the previously established stable state.
Awareness of how the body is reacting to how you manage your stress, what food you choose to put in your body, what quality and amount of sleep you get and many other lifestyle choices is priceless.  Using breast DITI helps with “seeing” how your choices are affecting your physiology. 


Treatment Plan ~ How Well is My Treatment Working?

12 Case Study #6
A palpable mass in the upper left breast was accompanied by a faint bruise. Mammogram and sonogram of the mass were performed with negative results.  Client continued to seek answers using DITI. Thermal asymmetry of ~ 2.2ºC (ΔT = 2.2ºC) showing a significant thermal asymmetry and more testing was encouraged by the reading thermologist.
13 Diagnostic mammogram with ultrasound and then biopsy confirmed a large carcinoma involving the upper half of the left breast. Client started on chemotherapy to reduce size and consolidate tumor prior to surgery. Two months post-chemotherapy showed decrease in thermal asymmetry now at ~1.2ºC (ΔT = 1.2ºC).
14 Surgeon was encouraged by the response to chemotherapy based on thermographic findings as thermal asymmetry had now fallen to ~ 0.4ºC (ΔT = 0.4ºC) and determined a lumpectomy would be the next step.
As you can see in this series of images, DITI can and does cross the boundaries of allopathic and naturopathic medical procedures.  While most of our clients utilize the benefits of naturopathic medical procedures, at times, clients will need to act quickly and more conventional measures are needed.  Using DITI to “visualize” how well you are responding to treatments can be of benefit to you and your medical doctors.

Again, we offer imaging of all different regions, but breast DITI is especially fulfilling and you can see why with these case reports.  It feeds our souls and helps us to realize our life purposes to help the many women we have throughout these past 9 years.

We want to thank those of you who have shared your experiences with those you know and love to help them see the benefits of this preventative technology.  Please continue to pass along to others these newsletters.  Several of the clients in these images were encouraged to use DITI for no particular reason, but turned out to be of such significance to the lives’ of each individual shown here.

Also, if you have a desire to share your images with others via our newsletters, please let us know.  We disclose no names or other identifying information and a consent form is on file before any use of images is done.  If your story or situation was especially unique, please reply to this email letting us know of your interest in sharing your journey.

Yours in prevention / early detection / early intervention and risk reduction,

Lynda and Brenda Witt