Happy summer!
We hope all our readers and clients are enjoying the lazy days of summer!

While we can’t say things are too much slower for us during this time of year, we are very grateful for the growth we’ve experienced in both California and Arizona.

We send out our deepest, heart-felt THANK YOU to all our clients, referring practitioners and those who support us via word of mouth, forwarding of newsletters, etc.  We are so very blessed and incredibly grateful!

Brenda had a wonderful response to the last newsletter where she shared her story about her health challenges and ultimate diagnosis of juvenile diabetes.  Her story is not all that rare and unfortunately we have people who see us that explain a very similar account of how they were diagnosed after a long bout of chronic stress.  We both thank you for your compassionate and caring replies and our sincere gratitude for those who donated to her cause.  If you’d like to read Brenda’s personal story or make a donation please scroll down to the previous post.

Radial Scar

Several years ago, a young client with no breast symptoms presented for her initial baseline breast scan and this unusual pattern was seen in her right breast:
This pattern fit no typical thermal findings with respect to malignancy and this client was urged to have immediate clinical assessment by the interpreting thermologist.

It was determined that this pattern was due to a breast abnormality known as a radial scar. 
Pam Stephan, a breast cancer expert, says the following about radial scars:

It is also known as a complex sclerosing lesion of the breast, black star, sclerosing papillary proliferation, infiltrating epitheliosis and indurative mastopathy.

Radial scars a very rare and not much is known about them.  What is known is this: 

• An estimated 0.04%, or six out of every 15,000 patients are diagnosed annually with a radial scar of the breast.
• Women between the ages of 41 and 60 are at the highest risk for a radial scar.
• These breast lesions are even less common in women under 40 or over 60 years old.
• It is difficult to properly diagnose a radial scar, even with a biopsy, because under a microscope, the cell geometry closely resembles tubular carcinoma.
• This typically benign breast mass sometimes has malignant tissue hiding behind it.
• Those diagnosed with a radial scar have a lifetime risk of developing breast cancer of 150 to 200% greater than average.
• A radial scar is not always made of scar tissue, but it takes its name from its scar-like appearance on an x-ray.
• A radial scar may be caused by breast surgery, or breast inflammation or hormonal changes. It may also be the byproduct of fibrocystic changes in the breast that normally occur as you age.

A radial scar is a star-shaped breast mass that may be completely benign, or it may be precancerous or contain a mixture of tissue, including hyperplasia, atypia, or cancer. If a radial scar is rather large, it may appear on a regular screening mammogram. It can look like an irregularly shaped star, having spiked arms radiating away from the center. A radial scar in breast tissue usually won't cause a lump that you can feel, nor will it make breast skin dimple or discolor.

Often, a breast surgeon will recommend this lesion be surgically removed.  Keep in mind, these are typically benign, but due to an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future, close thermal and clinical monitoring is strongly advised.

Again, we hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with fun in the sun, cool mountain retreats, spending time with friends, and enjoyed loving family gatherings.

Yours in prevention,
Lynda and Brenda