Breast Cancer Information Information Research

Tell a Friend about this Site

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:

Reuters

Study: Genetic variants not more accurate in predicting breast cancer
Contra Costa Times
"It was worth a look, but unfortunately genetic coding is no better at predicting breast cancer than models for risk assessment that we already have," said ...
Genetics Add Little to Breast Cancer Risk PredictionMedPage Today
NCI-Led Team Explores Predictive Use of Breast Cancer Risk VariantsGenomeWeb Daily News
Breast cancer drug research on fast trackMinneapolis Star Tribune
eFitnessNow -Los Angeles Times (blog) -Reuters
all 127 news articles »


Local Ladies Ready To Walk 60 Miles For Breast Cancer
Catskill Daily Mail
The race is a result of Susan G. Komen's fight with breast cancer. She past away in December in 1980 at the age of 36 after a long fight against the ...
Breast Cancer Awareness Bingo750 KXL
West High Trades Green for Pink, Breast Cancer AwarenessKPTH
$62000 Grant Awarded To Cancer Care FoundationSpace Coast Medicine and Healthy Living
Carolina Newswire (press release) -OurSports Central (press release) -The Daily Newarker
all 15 news articles »


Daily Mail

Researchers Test Freezing Of Breast Cancer Tumors
Inventorspot
But in the Littrup breast cancer study, interventional radiologists determined sufficient temperatures that would destroy the cancerous tissue using one or ...
Breast Cancer Treated by Freezing TumorsWebMD
Freezing breast-cancer tumours avoids surgeryVancouver Sun
Freezing tumors to treat breast cancerXinhua
Times of India -BusinessWeek -WDIV Detroit
all 169 news articles »


ABC Online

Breast cancer charity ride to expand interstate
ABC Online
An outback trail ride in western Queensland to raise funds for breast cancer is to be expanded interstate. The Pink Trail Ride has been ...

and more »


Staying strong after a cancer disgnosis
KGO-TV
The majority of women don't die of breast cancer. The reason women are living longer and breast cancer is not a death sentence is through early detection. ...
Cancer Prevention Institute of California Study of Breast Cancer in Asian ...PR Newswire (press release)

all 7 news articles »


Study seeking drugs to match each women's breast cancer tumors; 2 Illinois ...
WQAD
By AP CHICAGO (AP) — A big new nationwide study on personalizing breast cancer treatment has Illinois connections. Loyola University Medical Center and the ...
New breast cancer study has Illinois connectionsBelleville News Democrat

all 16 news articles »


Pak Watan

Older Breast Cancer Patients Should be Treated Equally, Urges MP Mr. Wilson
TopNews United States
In order to assure equal treatment for the aged females suffering from breast cancer, the campaign launched by the Breakthrough Breast Cancer for the same ...
MP bids to help older breast cancer victimsReading Post
Freezing breast tumours helps stop cancer's spread in mice, UM study findsScience Centric
New cancer treatment literally a breath of fresh air3News

all 5 news articles »


Myriad breast cancer patent very broad, study finds
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Myriad Genetics' disputed patent on the BRCA1 breast cancer gene is "surprisingly broad" and could interfere with future research, ...

and more »


TopNews United States

Some women with breast cancer may benefit by having a preventive mastectomy
Washington Post
THIS STUDY analyzed data on 107106 women, 18 to 90 years old, who had a mastectomy because of breast cancer, including 8902 women who also had a preventive ...
Women and Breast Cancer (2 Letters)New York Times
Women's car rally to create breast cancer awarenessTimes of India
Rep. Janet Cruz pushing for new breast cancer screening legislation10 Connects
Straight Goods -CBS 11 -Women's eNews
all 30 news articles »


The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Pfizer says Sutent breast cancer trials fail
Reuters
N) said on Thursday that two late-stage breast cancer trials involving its cancer drug Sutent failed to meet their goals and it has stopped a pivotal lung ...
Pfizer says Sutent fails in breast cancer studiesThe Associated Press
Pfizer says two breast cancer drug studies failMarketWatch
Pfizer Discontinues Phase 3 Study Of Figitumumab - Quick FactsRTT News
Genetic Engineering News (press release) -BusinessWeek -MSN Money
all 225 news articles »

Google News



MaineBannerExchange

home | site map
© 2006