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?
The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is estrogen dominance. A woman can become estrogen dominant through different mechanisms.
Question: Can a woman of ANY age who is NOT on any hormone replacement therapy become estrogen dominant?
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.
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.
Dioxin Current food supply – meat, fish, butter, eggs, milk.
Pthalates Plastic food containers, children's toys, plastic wrap made from PVC / #3, some cosmetics, some fragrances.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is also known as a complex sclerosing lesion of the breast, black star, sclerosing papillary proliferation, infiltrating epitheliosis and indurative mastopathy.
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.
You’re in your early forties and looking at taking some responsible measures for your future. So, you contact an insurance company and request that you be evaluated for a life insurance policy. Of course, they are happy to accommodate this request and you meet with the clinical evaluator to determine your level of health.
But your health score is OUTSTANDING. You hear the excitement in the voice of the sales rep as he tells you this type of health score rarely is seen. (In your mind you are thinking that you are likely his first client with this score). You sense his excitement as he begins to write the policy for you.
Nine months later, age 43, you are admitted into the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. You are told that you are a type 1 (juvenile) diabetic. Due to the suddenness of the onset of symptoms, your doctor also tells you that pancreatic cancer is suspected and they want to rule this out with an immediate CT scan.
What happened? How can outstanding health turn to a significant diagnosis in such a short time?
The answer? The explanation? Stress. Overwhelming stress that was not managed in a healthy, positive, empowering fashion.
I was working over 60 hours per week as I was trying to balance one demanding career (perfusion) while growing my thermal imaging business. To “fill-in” the monetary gaps, on occasion, I was also driving to UCLA on weekends and holidays to pick-up extra 12-hour shifts.
Although I was devastated to learn that I was a Type 1 diabetic, I was suddenly grateful that I was ONLY a diabetic. The CT for pancreatic cancer was negative.
The stress I was under and the way I chose to handle the stress certainly played a role in my diagnosis. Of this I am convinced. I can only move forward and live with this diagnosis as best I can, staying active, eating healthy and managing stress in a healthy and empowering way. I feel compelled to share my story with others with the hopes of helping them look for better solutions for dealing with life’s stressors and more importantly, avoiding a diagnosis.
This workshop is fun for all people including teens and adults. Casual dress or workout attire is appropriate.
As some of you may know, I am working to raise money to purchase a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD). I have had some “lows” that I don’t always recognize. My dog will also alert me if my blood sugar spikes, thereby, allowing me to treat it appropriately and quickly. To read more about my efforts and reasons for getting a service dog, click here.
The event at Mo-mentum Fitness is in part, a fundraiser to benefit my efforts in purchasing my service dog.
Cash donations can be handed directly to Brenda.
I hope you will join us on Saturday, August 15th in Huntington Beach. If you cannot attend, consider registering for the free video series. Learn to turn stress into your super power. My hope by sharing my story, it inspires you to take positive steps now. It may save you from a diagnosis in the future. Trust me. I know.
We had a great time reading the responses we received from some of our readers regarding our last newsletter. Thank you for sharing your “scores” on our Pop Quiz and for sending in your comments. We do try our best to educate our clients about the benefits of DITI as well as the limitations of this technology.
The question that received the most comments and seemed to trip up most of our readers was about family history versus estrogen dominance and which played the most significant role as a risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Many believed that family history is more significant as a risk factor for developing disease. However, the truth is that the greatest risk factor women face today with respects to developing breast cancer is hormonal status; specifically estrogen levels. A future newsletter will go into more depth with respects to this aspect of illness and disease.
This month’s newsletter we will dedicate to sharing some exciting changes Proactive Health Solutions is going through including the introduction of two new team members!
Many of you know that Juanita Garcia has been working towards receiving her Level 1 thermographer certification and I am happy to announce she has been successful in her endeavor!!
Juanita has been working for more than one year to learn all she could to prepare for her testing. She had to learn health history intake, brush up on her anatomy and physiology (she is a licensed massage therapist, so some of this information was just a review), and learn the proper patient protocols, clinic protocols, images and labels and correct and factual information about thermography. . . .all while having to deal with Lynda!!!!
All joking aside, Juanita worked diligently and professionally watching all videos, reading all literature she could get her hands on and going online to find more. She continues to grow and learn more about thermography, breast and overall health and strives to “practice what she preaches” while reaching out to women and men to help them, too.
Juanita is bilingual and is a HUGE benefit to Lynda as she looks to expand into the market south of Tucson as well as to reach those in Tucson who are mono-lingual Spanish speakers. Proactive Health Solutions has already benefited from Juanita’s linguistic skills as she works with several women using DITI who speak limited English.
Welcome Juanita and THANK YOU for your dedication, commitment and service!
Our other new member is our sister, Jacki. Jacki lives in Peoria, AZ with her husband and two children. . . .our beloved niece and nephew, Kate and Matthew! Jacki has her BS in physical therapy and a penchant for health and wellness. She is a seeker of knowledge and digs deep to find out as much information as possible before making health decisions for her and her family.
Jacki is the office manager for Brenda in California and will assume responsibility as the main appointment scheduler for all returning clients in California. Jacki will be contacting the California clients in the coming months to schedule their annual appointment(s). Jacki is going to be a great asset to Brenda and is sure to be kept busy with the many growing back office responsibilities.
One final exciting update includes a new web site. Proactive Health Solutions is in the process of updating our current web site. Naturally, our web address will be the same, but there will be a different look and feel to the site with more graphics showing all the many regions we image and the findings determined for each region.
We are so very grateful for the expansion of our business in Arizona and California! We simply love our clients and we appreciate your business!
We hope to “spring” on our readers a short, but informative, newsletter QUIZ!!! We believe our clients are very well educated about thermography and this quiz will prove us RIGHT. . .or wrong. But either way, you may learn something new and/or confirm something you thought you knew.
So, take just a moment to answer these few questions and then check your answers with ours within the body of the newsletter. . .No peeking!!!
According to researchers, the rise in breast cancer tumors will be the ER positive type – those whose growth is fueled by estrogen. Estrogen dominance is the single greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer in the future.