Beating Breast Cancer
William Hobbins, MD, FABS, DABCT, FIACT
William Amalu, DC, DABCT, DIACT, FIACT
This year, over 192,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the US and
1.2
million worldwide (Source: American Cancer Society and WHO). As shocking as
these numbers are, even worse is the number of cancers that won't be detected
until it's too
late. The consensus among experts is that early detection holds the key to
survival. Although this is true, detection is not occurring early enough. Even
though women are advised to begin having mammograms at 40, what they don't know
is that by the time most cancers are detected they have been growing for 10
years, and that 20% of all cancers can't be seen by a mammogram. It is because
of these factors, and others, that the number of women who die from this disease
has gone relatively unchanged in the past 40 years.
If a significant charme in breast cancer mortality is to be realized, we have to
rethink what
screening tests truly are. Are we currently providing "screening" or
"detection"? A critical look at what we are providing women must be made. A
change from sole dependence upon procedures that only provide detection of
existing cancers to technologies that reflect the early cancerous process itself
would provide women with true screening. If there were a method of very early
detection, a procedure that would act as an early warning system, women would
have the fighting chance they need to win this battle. What is needed is a
biological risk marker. A biological risk marker would be able to turn these
grave statistics around, as aggressive tissues would be detected before they
were able to invade the rest of the body. Women now have access to a unique
technology that can give them this early warning; a
procedure called Breast Thermography.
A change from sole dependence upon procedures that only provide detection of
existing cancers to technologies that reflect the early cancerous process itself
would provide women with true screening.
Breast thermography is an imaging technology that uses advanced computerized
infrared
camera systems to detect heat patterns in the breast. When a cancer is forming
it develops its own blood supply in order to feed its accelerated growth (a
process known as malignant angiogenesis). Even more important, pre-cancerous
tissues can start this process well in advance of the cells becoming malignant.
This increased blood supply causes an abnormal heat pattern in the breast.
Thermography can detect this abnormal heat pattern by
scanning the breasts with a specialized infrared camera and analyzing the
information using sophisticated computer programs under the guidance of a doctor
who is board certified in the procedure. These abnormal heat patterns are among
the earliest known signs of a forming cancer.
An unprecedented level of early detection can be realized when thermography is
added to
a woman's regular breast health care. It has been found that an Studies show
that
abnormal thermog(aphic image is the single most important sign of breast
thermography high risk for developing breast cancer, 10 times more significant
has the ability to warn a
than a first order family history of the disease. Studies show that
this technology has the ability to warn a woman that cancer may be forming up to 10 years before any other test can detect it.
This
gives breast thermography not only the ability to detect cancer at
its earliest and most treatable stage, but to also act as a biological marker
warning a woman about her own unique level of future risk for breast cancer.
Women who undergo the test find it to be fairly uneventful, since the procedure
uses no radiation or contact with the breasts. Women with dense breasts,
implants, and women who are pregnant or nursing
can be imaged without any
harm or reduction in the accuracy of the test. Normal images, like the one seen
on the left, show evenly cool inactive breasts
(dark colors represent cold areas). Abnormal images, as seen on the right, show
highly active blood vessels giving off heat in one breast. Since the procedure
does not pose any
harm to the patient, women who are at higher risk can be monitored closely
without adverse effects on their health.
Another benefit of this technology is its role in primary breast cancer
prevention. Breast thermography has the added ability to observe the influence
of hormones on the breasts. Research has determined that the single greatest
risk factor for the future development of breast cancer is lifetime exposure of
the breasts to estrogen. In which case, controlling the influence of estrogen on
the breasts would be the single greatest method of primary breast
cancer prevention. When hormone activity in the breast is dominated by estrogen,
a specific type of infrared image is produced; thus, warning the patient of this
condition. Once this is identified, a woman can take a significant pro-active
role in prevention. With this information in hand, many doctors start their
patients on a regimen of progesterone cream applied directly to the breasts. The
progesterone enters the breast tissue and counteracts the effects of estrogen.
Using follow up infrared imaging, the treatment can be monitored and changed if
necessary to meet the
needs of each woman's own unique physiology. Once the
hormone balance has been restored to the breasts, a woman's overall breast
cancer risk is greatly reduced. The lifesaving implication of having this
knowledge is incredible.
Research has determined that the single greatest risk factor for the future
development of breast cancer is lifetime exposure of the breasts to estrogen. In
which case, controlling the influence of estrogen on the breasts would be the
single greatest method of primary breast cancer prevention.
With the incidence of breast cancer steadily rising in women under 40, an effort
to provide some form accurate screening test is needed in this age group. Very
early detection is especially important since breast cancers in younger women
are commonly more aggressive resulting in lower survival rates. Current
screening procedures have proven to be inaccurate in women in this age group due to breast tissue density and other factors. These
issues, however, do not affect thermography. With this technology, women under
40 now have a safe and objective screening method that they can add to their
regular breast health check ups.
Breast thermography is a high-tech non-invasive screening procedure designed to
be used by women of all ages. The technology has been thoroughly researched for
over 30 years and is FDA approved for use in breast cancer screening. Its unique
ability to play a
significant role in prevention is an impressive added benefit. Unfortunately, at
this time there
are too few qualified clinical thermography centers worldwide. However, with the
increasing demand for breast thermography, recognized educational organizations,
such as the International Academy of Clinical Thermology, are actively seeking
personnel for training as certified technicians! It is their goal to provide
women with greater access to this lifesaving technology.
Currently, no single screening procedure can detect 100% of all breast cancers.
Thermography is designed to be used with mammography and not as a replacement.
Studies show that when thermography is added to a woman's regular breast health
check ups (physical examination + mammography + thermography), 95% of all early
stage cancers will be detected. This would give the vast majority of women who
are diagnosed with this disease the reality of returning to a normal healthy
life.
Should we continue to concentrate our efforts on procedures that can only detect
an
existing cancer, or should we be focusing on true screening methods that can
warn of a pending problem far in advance? The number of women who die from this
disease will continue relatively unchanged if nothing is done to provide them
with a true early warning system. Breast thermography has the unique ability to
warn most women far enough in advance to give them a fighting chance. Combined
with its ability to playa role in primary prevention, the lifesaving
implications are incredible. The addition of this technology to every woman's
breast health care will make the greatest impact on breast cancer mortality.
With breast
thermography, women of all ages are given hope and a true early detection edge
in the battle against breast cancer.
Should we continue to concentrate our efforts on procedures that can only detect
an existing cancer, or should we be focusing on true screening methods that can
warn of a pending problem far in advance?
About the authors:
William Hobbins, MD,
a Fellow of the American Board of Surgeons and a board certified clinical thermologist, has been performing thermographic breast imaging for over 35 years. As an internationally recognized authority in this field, he has sat on multiple medical and thermographic boards, authored numerous articles, and has contributed a significant amount of research to the medical database using this technology. He currently practices in Madison Wisconsin and can be contacted at 608-273-4274.
William Amalu, DC,
a Fellow of the International Academy of Clinical Thermology and a board certified clinical thermologist, has utilized thermography in practice for over 10 years. He is currently the President of the International Academy of Clinical Thermology and practices in Redwood City California. He can be contacted at 650-361-8908