HEALTHY BREAST BASICS

Lifestyle Choices to Lower Disease Risks

by Sandra Yeyati

One in eight women in the United States develops breast cancer in the course of her lifetime. “Notably, only five to 10 percent can be blamed on inherited gene mutations, and merely 13 percent of women with breast cancer have a first-degree relative with a history of disease,” says Kristi Funk, a board-certified breast surgeon in Santa Monica, California, and medical director of PinkLotus.com. “It’s empowering to realize that the causes for the vast majority of breast cancer are under our control in the choices we make every day.” “Whenever you lift fork to mouth, you move closer to cancer, or farther away,” says the author of Breasts: The Owner’s Manual—a vegan proponent. “Plants, legumes and whole grains provide nutritional armor for your cells, decreasing cancer risk. They release molecules that scavenge free radicals, eliminate carcinogens, prevent and repair DNA damage, identify and destroy harmful cells, inhibit the supply of blood to tumors, stimulate the immune system, regulate hormone metabolism and reduce inflammation.” Funk recommends regular consumption of cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, soy, ground flaxseed, berries, matcha green tea, mushrooms, turmeric, aloe vera, garlic, onion, chives and cacao. Functional doctor Elizabeth Boham, the medical director of Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, proposes a balance of animal and vegetable protein, as long as the animal sources are good, like eggs, salmon or grass-fed beef without antibiotics. “Organic, non-GMO soy like tofu or edamame may decrease a woman’s risk of breast cancer, but avoid bad soy

that’s added to processed food, including soybean oils and soy lecithins,” she advises. “I also suggest cutting back on dairy for women at high risk of breast cancer because it naturally contains growth hormones, which may cause things to grow in our body that we don’t want to grow.”

Citing a clear association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk, Boham recommends eliminating or moderating drinks to no more than fi ve a week. She also highlights the importance of seven to nine hours of sleep and relaxation techniques to improve stress response.

Maintaining a healthy weight is also important. “Our body fat is where hormones get turned into estrogen, which has been associated with an increase in breast cancer,” Boham says, adding that 35 grams of fiber per day will feed healthy bacteria in the gut which helps eliminate used-up estrogen and other toxins. “Avoid xenoestrogens, too, which can act on the estrogen receptor, such as BPA in plastics and store receipts, parabens in skincare products and pesticides and herbicides on lawns and in non-organic foods.”

Boham suggests eliminating refi ned and processed carbohydrates like bread, white rice and cookies, which cause blood sugar to spike and the body to produce insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar aft er every meal. “Over time, people develop insulin resistance, causing it to produce even more insulin to do its job. Th ose high levels of insulin can encourage cancer growth,” she explains.

Carlos Garcia, M.D., director of the Utopia Cancer Center (UtopiaCancerCenter.com), in Oldsmar, Florida, and author of Cancer is a Symptom, uses liver and gallbladder flushes, colonic irrigations and coffee enemas to help the body purge toxins. “Gut flora imbalances compromise the immune response and nutritional absorption. Yearly colonic irrigation with recolonization is essential in the prevention of disease,” he explains.

Some women experience breast tenderness or pain and lumpy, bumpy breast tissue; having dense breasts can increase breast cancer risk, Boham says, noting that too much caff eine or an iodine defi ciency can exacerbate these symptoms. She recommends consuming less coff ee and more iodine-rich foods like nori, kelp powder or seafood.

According to Boham, there isn’t enough good research to say that we should never wear underwire bras, but good lymphatic fl ow and circulation to the area is important and can be facilitated with daily movement, exercise and sweating to remove stuck toxins and support the detoxifi cation system.

Boham says many women fi nd their breast cancer during a self-exam. “Know your own body. If something looks or feels diff erent, if you feel a lump that shouldn’t be there or see a shift in the skin, a dimpling or a pulling, have it checked. It’s oft en nothing, but you could fi nd the cancer early, which makes all the diff erence in the world.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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Breast Thermography 101

by Taryn Kean

Since 1985, October has been associated with breast cancer awareness. Initially only lasting a week, the awareness campaign now continues for a month with its pink ribbons, empowering survivor stories and an increase in breast screenings of all modalities. While regrettably the dreaded statistic of, “One in eight women will get breast cancer,” is also part of the campaign, this is not a numerical absolute. In a group of eight women, one is not necessarily going to draw the short straw. Rather, over a general lifespan of 80 years there is a 12 percent overall chance of a woman developing breast cancer. The super-optimistic can view this as a seven in eight chance, or 88 percent, of never developing the disease.

At-Risk Factors

There are controllable factors—healthy lifestyle, proper diet, healthy body mass index, regular exercise, non-smoking, reduced alcohol consumption and managed stress. There are also uncontrollable risk factors such as an increase in age and being female, the largest risk indicator for breast cancer, as men account for only about 2 percent of cases. Family or personal history of breast cancer, race (Caucasians in particular), long-term exposure to estrogen, either environmentally or due to early starting and late ending periods, are other contributing factors.

Medical Thermography

Medical thermography can assist with determining physiologic risk factors and detect deviations from a normal baseline very early. Our thermal fingerprint, or unique breast pattern, is developed after puberty, remaining stable and unchanged unless an evolving pathology is present. A baseline is established by two imaging sessions three months apart. A preliminary risk factor is assigned pending the threemonth follow up that assures the patterns remain unchanged.

Changes or Suspicious Findings on Breast Thermograph

Vascular and lymphatic activity are identified as areas that are suspicious or potential markers for the existence or development of cancer. Thermography can also increase the accuracy of other tests by targeting specific areas to be examined. When these changes are seen early, thermography-assisted ultrasound or mammogram may lead to an earlier diagnosis and a better overall outcome. Generally, there are five to eight years of cell doublings and growth for a tumor to be of sufficient size and density to be detected by a mammogram. Early positive findings with thermography may not yet show on conventional testing but allow for proactive and preemptive action. This information guides healthcare practitioners in determining the best course of treatment to reverse the process or monitor development for the earliest detection possible.

RISK CATEGORIES

Normal (within normal limits) indicates a normal thermal profile with no thermal findings consistent with risk for disease or other developing pathology. Annual scans are recommended after a stable baseline has been established.

Non-Suspicious (at low risk) indicates lowgrade thermal activity not suspicious for serious pathology and associated with benign changes. Annual scans are recommended after a stable baseline has been established, but more frequent follow-up may be clinically indicated. This doesn’t rule out existing non-active or encapsulated tumors.

Equivocal (at some risk) indicates thermal activity likely to represent benign changes such as inflammation, acute cysts or fibroadenoma, infection or even normal personal variation. Clinical correlation and/or additional testing is generally recommended. Abnormal (at increased risk) indicates significant risk for existing or developing malignant breast disease. Benign pathology or personal variation is less likely. Clinical correlation, objective evaluation and additional testing is indicated. A follow-up thermal study in three months should be part of a comprehensive testing panel.

Suspicious (at high risk) indicates high risk of confirming malignant breast disease. Benign processes or personal variations are very unlikely. Urgent clinical correlation is indicated with a comprehensive panel of testing and evaluation. A follow-up thermal study in three months should be a part of this evaluation. Radiation-free, noninvasive and painless breast thermography only takes a few minutes. Not restricted to the borders of the breasts, it encompasses a 360-degree view from the brachial plexus to below the breasts. Unlike conventional structural testing, thermography is not limited by the density of breast tissue or implants. Risk assessment and early detection in breast health are the keys to being proactive, alerting individuals to their risk without putting them at risk.

Taryn Kean, CCT level III, is the owner of Southwest Medical Thermal Imaging & Ultrasound, LLC, with locations at 9200 Bonita Beach Rd., Ste. 213, in Bonita Springs, 7680 Cambridge Manor Pl., Ste. 100, in Ft. Myers and 1570 Colonial Blvd., Ste. A, in Ft. Myers. For more information, call 239-9492011 or visit ThermalClinic.com. See ad, page 39.