Healthy Breasts for a Lifetime

By Dr. Priya Joshi

We all know someone affected by breast cancer. One in nine women will develop breast cancer. As women, what can we do to prevent this and other breast tissue diseases?

Early detection is key to prevention. Digital infrared breast thermography is a medical diagnostic tool that has been used for years in Europe as a first step screening procedure. It has been offered in Canada for the past ten years, with clinics across the country.

Breast thermography is a sensitive, non-invasive method of detecting early functional changes in breast tissue. Functional changes are the abnormal cell activity demonstrated by cancer cells and other breast tissue diseases. Abnormal cell activity tends to release more heat to feed their rapid growth. Thermography is able to measure the heat radiating from the breast, chest, and armpit areas.

The main difference between thermography and mammography is that the latter detects structural changes. A lump or mass is already present in breast tissue by the time it is detected. It is important to note that it takes about ten years for breast cancer to grow to a detectable size. Breast thermography is able to detect tissue abnormalities five to eight years before an abnormality can be seen with a mammogram or detected by clinical exam. This ability for early detection makes thermography extremely useful and cost-effective as a screening tool. Thermography is done without the risk of radiation, contact, squeezing, pressure, or needles.

Women of all ages and all breast types – puberty, fibrocystic breasts, during pregnancy or breast-feeding, with breast implants, on hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills – can be screened using thermography. Known risk factors for breast cancer account for only 30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer. The remainder is related to lifestyle choices, many of which can be controlled.

Naturopathic medicine plays an important role in encouraging healthy breast function and healthy lifestyle choices, and help in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer and other breast tissue diseases.

Dr. Priya Joshi is a Naturopathic Doctor practising in London. She has a well-respected practice with a special focus on children’s and women’s health especially breast health, hormonal health, and infertility. For more information on breast thermography or naturopathic medicine, please contact Dr. Priya at (519) 471-1917 or at doctorpriya@rogers.com.

Published in Networking Today, October 2006.