Not All Breast Lumps are Breast Cancer

Lately, Brenda and I have been receiving many phone calls from women who have found a lump (or lumps) in their breasts. They ask for our help and guidance for what to do next. 

Before we give any suggestions though, we go through this information to help women come to a place of reassurance and grounding. We all understand just how frightening it can be to discover a lump in our breast, so we feel it is important that more information is shared.

Please note that we always suggest that women follow their intuition on their breast health and never deny what it is they truly know. Follow up and evaluation is so very important for all discreet breast findings.

Note: 90% of Breast Conditions are Not Cancer

90% of Breast Health problems are benign.

Abnormalities may include:

CYSTS

• They are NOT related to breast cancer.
• About 60% of women will have at least one cyst during their lifetime.
• Cysts are collections of fluids in breast tissue.
• They are usually small and do not cause problems, but may increase in size, form a lump, or cause pain or tenderness.
• Cysts occur most commonly between the ages of 35 and 50 years and especially between 42 and 48 years.
• They are uncommon after menopause except in women on Hormone Replacement Therapy.

HORMONAL THICKENING

• Hormonal thickening is NOT related to the development of breast cancer.
• This can occur at any age during the reproductive years and may come and go.
• It is a response to hormone changes and is often related to pre-menopausal breast tenderness. It usually disappears naturally after menopause.
• Further diagnosis can be made with a combination of breast examination, mammography, ultrasound and needle biopsy.
• No treatment is necessary unless there is pain.

FIBROADENOMA

• They are not related to breast cancer but do need to be accurately diagnosed. This can usually be done by needle biopsy.
• These are very common nodules in the breast and are commonly benign.
• They are common in young women (under 25) but can occur at any age.
• They appear as oval, tender masses and may not be able to be felt as lumps.
• Many women have more than one.
• Diagnosis is usually made by ultrasound, needle biopsy and mammography (in older women).
• They may be removed by surgery but this is not essential.

NIPPLE DISCHARGE

• Most nipple discharges are harmless - particularly if the discharge comes from more than one duct and from both nipples.
• If the discharge is bloodstained or watery it is important to see your doctor.
• These discharges are due to the production of fluid by normal breast cells in response to hormones.

This is simply information and should not to take the place of your own knowing and inner wisdom, or replace what your healthcare practitioner suggests for you to do.

Please feel free to call us if you have any findings that you are concerned about. As always, thermography can be part of your breast health evaluation, but other testing measures may also be necessary for complete evaluation and diagnosis.

Yours in health,
Brenda and Lynda Witt

MTHFR - What the heck does that mean?

What priority do you place on your health? Many of our clients, perhaps all, are aware of the things that help us achieve optimal health. Handfuls of supplements, organic diet, meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic care are all utilized to aid in health. Other tools may include chelation therapy, whole-body cleanses, vitamin drips, or glutathione infusions. Ultimately, all of these choices come down to aid in detoxification and limiting the effects of inflammation. Our own innate anti-oxidant system is our glutathione system.

Despite your best efforts (and your hard-earned money), you may not be able to achieve optimal detoxification. All the money you spend on your health and all your best efforts might not be benefitting you as much as you think. Why? You might have a genetic mutation on your MethyleneTetraHydroFolate Reductase enzyme. MTHFR.

MTHFR Genetic mutations are common

There are two key mutations (variants) that are tested for in the MTHFR gene:
MTHFR C677T
MTHFR A1298C

Key definitions:
Heterozygous = 1 copy of the gene from either parent
Homozygous = 1 copy of the gene from each parent

Below is a summary of the frequency of a MTHFR mutation in a mixed population and the effect of the mutation on methylation capacity:

MTHFR C677T	MTHFR A1298C
Normal (no mutation) C677T	Normal (no mutation) A1298C
Frequency: 44%	Frequency: 46%
Methylation Capacity: Not Impaired	Methylation Capacity: Not Impaired
Heterozygous C677T	Heterozygous A1298C
Frequency: 41%	Frequency: 41%
Methylation Capacity:40% loss of function	Methylation Capacity: 20% loss of function
Homozygous C677T	Homozygous A1298C
Frequency: 15%	Frequency: 13%
Methylation Capacity:70% loss of function	Methylation Capacity: 40% loss of function

Incidentally, if you are heterozygous for both mutations, methylation capacity is reduced by 50% (frequency of mutation is unknown)

Cellular biology

Every cell of our body (all 50 trillion of them!) works to optimize health by changing toxins into less toxic particles. As an example, one of the ways it does this is by adding methyl groups (CH3) to heavy metals, making them water soluble and we then excrete them through urination. Adding methyl groups to detoxify and protect us is called methylation and this is the goal of our body in how it wants to protect us and keep us healthy.

Methylation is so critical to overall health. Here are just a few things that the CH3 groups do for us:
• Repairs and regenerates your cells, tissues and DNA
• Regulates gene expression and protein function
• Synthesizes neurotransmitters that influence mood, sleep, behavior, cognition, and memory
• Controls homocysteine; keeps inflammation in check
• Aids liver in processing fats
• Activates and modulates the immune system
• Modifies toxins and heavy metals

When we eat foods that contain folic acid (vitamin B9), MTHR converts it to methyl-folate. Methyl folate is the key player in the methylation pathway. A defective MTHFR enzyme may cause you to produce 20-70% less methyl folate than others. Lower methylation puts you at risk for developing certain diseases.

Abnormal methylation in…	Is associated with…
DNA	Cancer
Endothelium (cells that line blood vessels)	Cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis
White Blood Cells	Excessive blood clotting, stroke

First things first

Methylation can be optimized but first, find out if you have a MTHFR mutation. Below is a list of resources and tests you can use to determine methylation defects that you may have:

• http://www.dramyyasko.com/about-us/
• https://www.23andme.com/
• http://doccarnahan.blogspot.com/2013/05/mthfr-gene-mutation-whats-big-deal.html

However, before you spend money on any test, make sure you know what it will cost to understand the results and know what to do about it. Your physician is your best resource and consulting her/him is important. 

If you have a mutation, what happens next?

Again, your practitioner will be your best and most-trusted resource. But you can supplement with methyl folate and methylated B12 to help your detoxification pathway. It’s important to know what type of mutation you have and then what to do about it.

Interesting Coincidence?

An established client came in for her full body scan and had been diagnosed with the MTHFR A1298C mutation and started on the supplements specific to her condition. She was concerned that she would have lots of inflammation due to this new diagnosis.
This client noted the following since starting on her new supplement regime she has been on for about 2 years:

• Decrease in bilateral breast tenderness
• Able to eat most anything without experiencing flu-like symptoms for several days afterwards / improved digestion
• Significantly decreased sinus congestion and allergies
• Overall feeling of well-being

Below are her images of breast and abdomen. (Due to significant allergy symptoms, client was unable to have her 2015 imaging, so there is a break in the continuity of imaging.)

2014	2016	Breast images
2014	2016	Abdominal images

Realize, thermography cannot diagnose any condition, but often improvement in the ability to detoxify the body can be seen in comparative scans with reduction in inflammation.

Summary

We spend lots of money and time working to optimize health. With thermal imaging, we watch for changes over time as an early indication of changes in health. Both Lynda and I have noticed an increase in the number of our clients, both established and new, that come into our clinics with a diagnosis of MTHFR mutation. Many of these clients are finally finding answers to their struggles and we encourage all of our clients to explore this avenue for themselves.

The methylation cycle is complex and this newsletter is not meant to give a complete understanding of its importance. MTHFR mutations effect your detoxification system as well as neurotransmitter production. We may discuss this further in a future newsletter and share our experience with our own familial MTHFR mutation in one of our family member. Please let us know what you think and as always, share this information with your loved ones.

Yours in health,

Brenda and Lynda Witt

P.S. For those interested, Brenda is heterozygous for C677T mutation; no A1298C mutation.

Understanding Breast DITI - Part 2

Today’s newsletter is Part 2 of a two-part series clarifying the question of why DITI may sometimes “miss” a tumor. We began this discussion in our February 2016 newsletter. To read this newsletter entitled: Understanding Breast DITI – Part 1, you may click here (http://phs-thermography.blogspot.com). 

Again, we strive to convey accurate and reliable information regarding what thermography can detect and how it is best utilized as a tool for monitoring breast health.

In this edition, we address some of the Frequently Asked Questions.

If a tumor is not active, dormant, or not exhibiting any temperature differentials does that mean it's not significant and I won't need to do anything?

Cancer is unpredictable and it wouldn't be prudent to make such a far-reaching assumption.  The truth is we don't know that it isn't significant.  We encourage you to talk to a medical practitioner about what options there are regarding this finding.


If a tumor is established, would this been seen in a mammogram?
Older, more established tumors can be radiographically dense and therefore have a higher chance of being seen by a mammogram.  However, there is no test that has 100% detection rate.  On average, mammography will miss 1 in every 6 tumors.


If I've had annual mammograms and they were all negative, would it be okay if I don't have any more?  (Then I could just use thermography annually)
Understand that mammography's biggest limitation as an effective screening tool is breast density.  As we age, breast density diminishes and the effectiveness of mammography would possibly increase.  Although you may have had a negative mammogram several years ago, your breast density may have changed in such a way that what was difficult to see previously is now easier to visualize.  This would likely increase the effectiveness of detection of tumors possibly not seen thermographically. 

There has been a lot in the news about Stage 0 (DCIS) breast cancer not actually being a malignancy, can DITI see this type of breast cancer?
We actually have written about this research finding in another edition of our newsletter titled: The Dilemma of Stage 0 - DCIS. (http://phs-thermography.blogspot.com) and we understand the concern about this type of finding. DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ is a small pileup of abnormal cells in the lining of the milk duct. You cannot feel it because there is nothing to be felt; there is no lump. But the cells can be seen in a mammogram, and when a pathologist examines them, they can look like cancer cells. The cells have not broken free of the milk duct or invaded the breast. And they may never break free. The lesion might go away on its own or it might invade the breast or spread throughout the body. That raises questions about what, if anything, to do about it.

It is often called Stage 0 cancer, but researchers say their view of cancer is changing. They used to think cancers began as clusters of abnormal cells, and unless destroyed, the cells would inevitably grow and spread and kill. Clusters of abnormal cells like DCIS can sometimes disappear, stop growing or simply remain in place and never cause a problem. The suspicion is that the abnormal cells may be harmless and may not require treatment. But no one has done a rigorous study comparing outcomes for women who get treatment to those who get no treatment. From a thermography perspective:  Again, because all cancers behave differently, we may not see any changes on your thermogram, especially if the cells stop growing or remain in the milk duct and not develop further. For more information specific to Stage 0 – DCIS, visit our blog and scroll down to our post October 2015. (http://phs-thermography.blogspot.com) 

Can I have a thermogram every other year?

Preventive screenings are best utilized annually for comparative studies to help determine your “trend” over time. Are you trending toward inflammation and away from health?  Our interpreting thermologists make this statement with respects to thermograms: Annual screening is the optimal time frame in ascertaining personal variants and reducing the chance of false-negative thermal findings. False-negative thermal findings may occur when the study interval is more than one year as the human body may have accommodated or encapsulated cancer cells and in that case, the developed cancer has become thermographically 'silent.’

Ultimately, it's your responsibility to look at all the data, talk to your doctor and decide what the best plan is for you.  See chart below.


Screening thermography has the opportunity to detect changes at any stage in the development from the first year through to when a tumor is dense enough to be seen with mammography. Ideally, if change is detected it’s best to work with your doctor to evaluate this and make clinical recommendations and possibly prescribe other diagnostic testing.
Earlier detection may lead to earlier diagnosis and possibly more treatment options.  Ideally, it would be best to optimize breast health and prevent the advancement of disease.

In prevention,

Brenda and Lynda Witt

Understanding Breast DITI - Part 1

My sister, Lynda, and I are Level III Certified Clinical Thermographers, certified and trained by the ACCT, American College of Clinical Thermology.  We are grateful to be part of this wellness industry and strive to grow our individual businesses with integrity. We have several people working with us as employees or advocates of thermography and we work to ensure that they are properly trained when sharing the benefits of DITI.

We challenge ourselves, our employees and advocates to convey accurate and reliable information regarding what thermography can detect and how it is best utilized as a tool for monitoring breast health.  Our clients understand its effectiveness as a screening tool for determining RISK FACTORS for future disease and its use as an early detection of developing disease, both within the breast region and throughout the body.

Although we feel we’ve covered this topic repeatedly, we’d like to review again the appropriate use of thermography in breast health.  We have broken this particular topic into Part 1 and Part 2 to keep this brief, yet concise.

Understand thermography cannot (and is NOT designed) to "see" structures but rather, blood flow/temperatures related to the health of the breasts.  It is in this fashion that thermography can detect the development of later biopsy-proven breast cancer potentially at a very early stage.

At your appointment, we also discuss the requirement to establish a stable baseline to which all annual studies are compared against.  Any changes in that stable baseline indicates the early development of disease and for those with a mindset of prevention, it's best to reverse this back to the previously-established, stable baseline.  This is how thermography is best-utilized as a tool for PREVENTING future disease. 

So why does thermography sometimes not identify all breast tumors?
What is the physiological basis for a thermographically "missed" tumor?"

1. Lack of activity.
   In order to understand how a tumor could "hide" thermographically, understand that our cameras can only measure skin surface temperatures related to blood flow.  If a tumor is no longer active and there is no blood flow feeding the tumor, we cannot tell the difference between the temperature of the tumor and the surrounding tissue.  Thermographically, this would be (generally) one temperature and therefore, "missed" during thermographic interpretation.
2. Dormancy.
   Another possible reason for a "missed" finding is that a tumor may become dormant.  Perhaps the immune system has encapsulated the tumor; walled off the tumor from the rest of the body and has contained it.  When you think about it, this is one major role of the immune system.  In this scenario, the immune system is protecting the body from the invading tumor but thermographically it is not seen due to the lack of activity (blood flow) of the tumor.
3. Non-vascular.
   In some cases, some rare cancers may not be vascularized or may be non-inflammatory in nature.  That would mean that there is not a sympathetic component (vasodilatation and vasoconstriction) connected to the activity of the tumor and this would be "missed" as well.

While some may think thermography “failed” they may want to consider whether they truly understand the proper use of this technology.  We utilize DITI (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging) to watch for changes over time and it is not to be used to find cancer.  Certainly we come across changes that eventually lead to a diagnosis of cancer, but ultimately, DITI is not a cancer detection tool. 

DITI is used by women (and men) who have shifted their paradigm from one of “detection of disease” to one of “prevention of disease.”  Annual breast thermograms monitor for a change allowing early interventions to help shift you back to your stable baseline.  This is the best use of Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging.

Earlier detection may lead to earlier diagnosis and possibly more treatment options, but ideally, it would be best to optimize breast health and prevent the advancement of disease.

In prevention,

Brenda and Lynda Witt

 Two Case Studies

As we begin another year we look forward to seeing our returning annual clients as well as grow our business with new referrals.
Here are two interesting case studies that we want to share with you:

What can be said about the images above?

• Nothing seems significant or abnormal in these images
• The hands are very cool and this is a unique finding
• The images can possibly indicate autonomic dysfunction

In arms and legs there should be a temperature gradient from proximal to distal of 4˚C.  That means that the upper part of the arm or leg should be warmer (by 4˚C) than the hands and feet.  When there is a loss of this temperature gradient, this is an indication of autonomic dysfunction.  

Autonomic dysfunction is an umbrella term for various conditions in which the autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not work correctly.

The images above show an obvious reversal of the expected proximal to distal change in temperature of warmer to cooler.  

Sometimes, this could indicate auto-immune dysfunction and a diagnosis of an autoimmune-issue.  Understand that this is not a diagnostic test but rather gives us an indication of possible future problem that needs to be addressed. 

Which image below is an indication of fibrocystic breasts?  Why?


Image B is a typical example of fibrocystic breasts.  Fibrocystic breasts are, in general, an inflammatory state of chaos.  Both breast images above show evidence of inflammation so why is image B the correct answer?

Under healthy, ideal situations, thermal patterns are symmetrical in appearance.  Our brain and spinal cord push heat to the surface in an equal distribution under an optimal state-of-health.  Notice the unequal patterns of heat in the left breast compared to the right in image B as opposed to the more equal distribution of heat in both breasts in image A.  Thermal asymmetry is an indication for concern and reversing unhealthy thermal patterns is definitely the desirable goal.  We encourage you to work with your practitioner in achieving optimal health.

So why is there heat in both breasts in image A?  Can you figure this out?

Hint:  In what time of a woman’s life might there be increased blood flow to both breasts?  

Pregnancy!  This woman was pregnant at the time of her thermogram.  Although we can image breasts during pregnancy without concern for harm to mother or developing baby, it would be impossible to determine if there were any changes in her previously established thermal patterns during this phase of her life.  

DITI is not a cancer screening tool, either, as some would believe.  Thermography is used in the following four basic areas:

• Risk Assessment
• Detection (but not as a stand – alone technology)
• Prevention / Early Intervention
• Monitoring Effects of Treatment

The best possible use of thermal imaging is first to determine stable physiology and then watch for changes over time that could alert us to early formation of disease or to let us know of high levels of inflammation, hormonal imbalances, dental pathologies, etc.  

Therefore, annual screening is the optimal time frame in ascertaining personal variants and reducing the chance of false-negative thermal findings.  False-negative thermal findings may occur when the study interval is more than one year as the human body may have accommodated or encapsulated cancer cells and in that case, the developed cancer has become thermographically 'silent.”

 Your Best Defense is PREVENTION

As you know, October is known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM).  People walk for the cure, race for the cure, jump for the cure, shop for the cure, and hike for the cure and yet nothing changes.

Current estimates suggest that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.  With all the focus on “Breast Cancer Awareness,” we’d have to ask, is anything really changing?  Has raising awareness caused a drop in breast cancer rates?  Sadly, no.

Thank you.  We are aware.  Now what?  
 
We believe that the conversation needs to switch to one of prevention.  What are the risk factors for developing breast cancer and what modalities can you employ to reduce your risk?

Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

1. Estrogen

The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is estrogen dominance.  A woman can become estrogen dominant through different mechanisms. 

• Absolute dominance:  Too much estrogen in the body or an inability to eliminate/metabolize estrogen
• Relative dominance:  Inadequate progesterone to offset (counterbalance) the existing estrogen

Question:  Can a woman of ANY age who is NOT on any hormone replacement therapy become estrogen dominant?

Answer:  Yes.  Absolutely. 
The truth is, our environment is laden with foreign chemicals that mimic the action of estrogens, contributing to an estrogen dominant scenario.  Many endocrine disruptors exist in our world and many of them lead to hormonal imbalances which can cause estrogen dominance.

2. Poor estrogen metabolism and/or poor elimination

All estrogens are metabolized through the liver.  The end-products of estrogen metabolism can be protective (2-hydroxy estrogens) or detrimental (16α-hydroxy estrogens).  Your ratio of healthy to unhealthy estrogens can be measured through a urine test as directed by your physician.  You can modify the ratio through diet, supplementation, and optimizing Vitamin D levels.

List of Endocrine Disruptors

Hormone Altering Chemicals	Sources
Bisphenol A (BPA)	Canned foods, thermal receipts, plastics marked with PC or #7
Dioxin	Current food supply – meat, fish, butter, eggs, milk.
Atrazine	Pervasive contaminant in drinking water Pthalates
Pthalates	Plastic food containers, children's toys, plastic wrap made from PVC / #3, some  cosmetics, some fragrances.
Perchlorate (Rocket fuel)	Produce and milk, drinking water
Mercury	Seafood, dental amalgams
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)	Non-stick cookware, stain and water  resistant coatings on carpets, clothing, furniture.
Organophosphate Pesticides	Pesticides used on fruits and vegetables.
Glycol Ethers	Paints, cleaning products, brake fluid, cosmetics.
Source

For more information about this test, talk to your doctor or go to Estronex.com.  Question:  How do I optimize estrogen metabolism and improve elimination?   Answer:  A liver cleanse can help optimize estrogen metabolism.  A colon cleanse will help reduce the re-absorption of estrogens that are sitting in the colon, thereby reducing your risk   Cleanse your liver.  One type of liver cleanse that is beneficial for healthy estrogen metabolism are coffee enemas.  Coffee enemas are an integral part of the Gerson therapy.  Here’s an excerpt from the Gerson web site:                                           The purpose of the coffee enema is not to clear out the intestines but to stimulate peristalsis.  A portion of the water also dilutes the bile and increases the bile flow, thereby flushing toxic bile out of the intestines. A patient coping with a chronic degenerative disease or an acute illness can achieve the following benefits from lowering of blood serum toxin levels achieved by regular administration of coffee enemas: Increased cell energy production Enhanced tissue health Improved blood circulation Better immunity and tissue repair Cellular regeneration Coffee enemas also increase our Glutathione antioxidant system, helping reduce pain and limit autoimmune attacks on other organs such as the thyroid in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. References:  A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases by Dr. Gerson, Healing the Gerson Way by Charlotte Gerson , and Liver Detoxification with Coffee Enemas by Morton Walker, DPM excerpted from July 2001 edition of Townsend Newsletter. Read more about the benefits of coffee enemas. Cleanse your colon.  To reduce the risk of re-absorbing estrogens that sit in the colon it is recommended that we have two to three bowel movements per day.  Consuming a high fiber diet can help aid in elimination as well as undergoing regular colon hydrotherapy.   Your best defense is a good offense! It is no longer adequate to simply “eat a good diet and take good supplements.”  Knowing what you need to avoid and how to optimize health is important.  In addition, here are more proactive habits for you to consider as part of your journey towards vibrant health as suggested by Joseph Mercola, DO. Eat real food; avoid processed foods and sugars, especially fructose Stop eating AT LEAST three hours BEFORE going to bed Optimize your vitamin D Avoid unfermented soy products Improve your insulin and leptin receptor sensitivity Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy body weight Get plenty of high quality animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil Avoid electromagnetic fields as much as possible Avoid synthetic hormone replacement therapy Avoid BPA, phthalates, and other xenoestrogens (See chart) Make sure you're not iodine deficient As we all know, good health is a journey that requires attention and focus, awareness and education.   Good health is no longer something we are born with. But with the right measures, good health can be a reality for many.

The Dilemma of Stage 0 - DCIS

In the news lately, there has been significant questioning of the treatment of a particular type of breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ or Stage 0 breast cancer. This is a commonly found cancer that unfortunately affects approximately 60,000 women each year.  

This brief Q & A below touches on the situation that many women face each year.  We hope that these questions and answers help educate the reader about the significance of this new information.  

Q. What is DCIS?
A. DCIS stands for ductal carcinoma in situ. It is a small pileup of abnormal cells in the lining of the milk duct. You cannot feel it because there is nothing to be felt; there is no lump. But the cells can be seen in a mammogram, and when a pathologist examines them, they can look like cancer cells. The cells have not broken free of the milk duct or invaded the breast. And they may never break free. The lesion might go away on its own or it might invade the breast or spread throughout the body. That raises questions about what, if anything, to do about it.

From a thermography perspective:  Thermal imaging does NOT see structure, only heat.  In this specific situation, we likely wouldn’t “see” the abnormal pileup of cells on your thermogram. Thermal imaging is not meant to replace other imaging that can detect structural pathology. 

Q. Is DCIS cancer?
A. It is often called Stage 0 cancer, but researchers say their view of cancer is changing. They used to think cancers began as clusters of abnormal cells, and unless destroyed, the cells would inevitably grow and spread and kill. Clusters of abnormal cells like DCIS can sometimes disappear, stop growing or simply remain in place and never cause a problem. The suspicion is that the abnormal cells may be harmless and may not require treatment. But no one has done a rigorous study comparing outcomes for women who get treatment to those who get no treatment.

From a thermography perspective:  Again, because all cancers behave differently, we may not see any changes on your thermogram, especially if the cells stop growing or remain in the milk duct and not develop further.

The development of DCIS treatments and its handling over the past 40 years is an example of something we in medicine could have done better. ~ Otis Brawley, MD Chief Medical Officer American Cancer Society

 
Q. How many women get a DCIS diagnosis each year?
A. Approximately 60,000 women in the United States are diagnosed annually with DCIS.  Alarmingly, before 1983 (before widespread use of annual screening mammography) only several hundred women were diagnosed.  Although some blame the rapid rise of DCIS on mammography (and the results of radiation exposure on breast tissue), others believe the increase in DCIS is due to the higher effectiveness of computer-assisted detection offered in some mammography clinics. 

From a thermography perspective:  The highest rates of detection are found only when thermography AND mammography are combined at a reasonable interval of time.  When performed together, detection rates are reported at 90-93%.
 
Q. What are the treatment options for women with DCIS?
A. The majority of women get a lumpectomy, sometimes followed by radiation therapy. Other women may choose to have a mastectomy or even a double mastectomy, removing the healthy breast as a preventive measure. 

From a thermography perspective:  Being followed thermographically after a diagnosis of DCIS is extremely valuable.  However, due to the current understanding of DCIS, using other modalities (MRI, mammography, and ultrasound) conjunctively is imperative.
 
Q. What did the new study on DCIS outcomes show?
A. The study analyzed data from 100,000 patients followed over a 20-year timeframe.  Here are the findings: 

• It found that there was essentially no difference in the death rate from breast cancer between the group of women who had lumpectomies with or without radiation and the group of women who had mastectomies.
• In both groups the risk of dying from breast cancer after 20 years was very low, about 3.3 percent.

Understand, a 3.3% risk of dying from breast cancer is very close to the same odds that an average woman will die from breast cancer. 
 
Q. Are some women at higher risk than others if they have DCIS?
A. Yes. Not all women with DCIS will have a 3.3% risk of dying.  Women who fall into this profile have a higher death rate of 7.8% over 20 years:

• Black women
• Women who are under 40 years of age
• Women whose DCIS cells have molecular markers similar to those found in more aggressive, invasive cancers
•  

Q. What should a woman do if she is told she has DCIS?
A. Because pathology is subjective and the stakes with cancer so high, she might want to get a second opinion. If the diagnosis is DCIS, most doctors would urge treatment until a study shows it is not necessary. But some women are choosing not to be treated while getting frequent monitoring. 

You can read more here about this topic.  

These recent reports about the true effectiveness of mammographic screening have caused some breast cancer organizations to take a step back and re-evaluate their routine screening programs.  Switzerland leads the way and recently decided to abolish mammographic screenings all together.  

This article sums it up nicely when it comes to breast cancer stating, 

“Remember that in order to truly avoid breast cancer, you need to focus your attention on actual prevention and not just early detection.”

Remember, thermography is NOT a stand-alone breast cancer detection device, but instead a technology to monitor for changes that could indicate the development of disease.  Prevention requires you to know the risks for developing breast cancer and then take intentional measures to reduce your risk.  Our October newsletter will be focusing on several modalities you can employ to help you reduce your risk.  Prevention is key to changing the course of this disease and unfortunately, this message is NOT being shared.  Please consider helping us spread this message of prevention by sharing our newsletters with others. 

Yours in health…and prevention,

Lynda and Brenda