Breast Health and Beyond & Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI)
By Julie Gengo, HealthWalk Consultant

For most regions in the Western hemisphere, visible change is evident in nature as we enter October. Trees prepare for winter, bold with color like fireworks before they fizzle into nothing. October is also National Breast Health Awareness Month, a time when we are reminded to notice specific changes within ourselves. Maintaining breast health is important for men and women and a primary way of preventing breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among American woman between the ages of 44 and 55. Although men are less likely to have breast cancer, statistics show that the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise for both women and men. Awareness of changes in appearance and sensation in breast tissue is important for both sexes.

Experts say it is never too early to begin breast cancer prevention. From the time you are born, healthy cells are developing in your breasts. What you put into your body from a nutrition standpoint can determine how strong these cells become and ultimately how protected you really are. Did you know that MSG found in processed baby food and formula can contribute to the development of breast cancer cells? MSG is also found in the coating of non-organic vegetables that are sprayed with a sealant to make them shiny. According to Dr. Russell Blaylock’s book, “Health and Nutrition Secrets,” “MSG, free glutamate and other excitotoxins produce enormous amounts of free radicals in tissues ... which are a major cause of cancer induction in tissues and organs.” MSG is just one ingredient that can transform a healthy breast into a diseased breast. Just as toxic food substances can cause negative changes, cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli have been documented as having anti-cancer properties.

As nutrition plays a vital role in prevention, early detection through digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) is proving to be lifesaving.

DITI is an FDA-approved technology used as an early indicator for many kinds of pathology, pain, physical injuries and a number of other health conditions. DITI screenings are radiation-free, non–invasive and painless yet offer highly effective results.

A DITI-trained and -certified practitioner takes photographic images of the body. Those images instantly display “hot spots” on a computer screen. Doctors specializing in DITI scans can determine the probability for diseases, including those affecting the breasts.

For breast health, DITI detects the subtle physiological changes that accompany breast pathology, including cancer, at the very early stage of 256-cell division. A mammogram, in comparison, is capable of detecting cancer only after about 4 billion cell divisions. DITI also detects changes indicating fibrocystic disease, infection or vascular disease.

For years mammograms have been the main tool used to detect breast tumors in women more than 40 years old. However, questions are growing about the effectiveness and safety of this tool. Critics say mammography can actually do more damage than good, because follow-up biopsies do not find cancer in as many as 70 to 80 percent of cases involving positive mammogram results. These false positives can lead to emotional and financial stress. There’s also the radiation exposure to consider. Dr. John W. Gofman, author of “Preventing Breast Cancer: The Story of a Major Proven Preventable Cause of This Disease,” estimates that 75% of breast cancer can be prevented if exposure to ionizing radiation from mammography and other sources were minimized. In fact, since the inception of mammography to the marketplace, the incidence of a type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increased by 328 percent.

The American College of Clinical Thermography has a list of local DITI centers throughout the United States including Carlsbad, Encinitas and San Diego.

Currently, The United Breast Cancer Foundation is offering free breast cancer thermography screenings at DITI centers. This reimbursement program will cover your initial baseline screening, a follow-up three months later and other support as needed for underinsured or uninsured women. What about men?It is not often that health offers of this nature come around, so make your appointment today for early detection and peace of mind.