With statistics being one in eight for women developing breast cancer in their lifetime, it seems that an ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure.
Gibsons Chiropractic, Health and Wellness Centre is hosting a thermography clinic this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 26 and 27) to help focus attention on breast health.
"Thermography is a vital assessment for early detection and the best chance for preventative action against breast cancer," said Glenda Neufeld, the owner and technician of Thermography Clinic Vancouver Island, who is bringing her high tech equipment to the Sunshine Coast.
Medical infrared thermography uses an infrared camera that is similar to military "heat seeking" technology. It can see patterns of heat and blood activity that may reveal the earliest indications of disease while they are still in the formative stages. Thermography is noninvasive and radiation free. It's safe for all women and men and is especially useful for those who have had inconclusive mammograms, have implants, have dense breasts or are younger than the age recommended for mammography screening.
Thermography is approved by the FDA and widely used in Europe as an adjunct to other screening and diagnostic modalities such as mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.
Here in B.C., the province does not cover thermography, so patients who want to take a proactive approach to their health must pay for the scans themselves ($250 plus HST).
"A picture can say a thousand words," added Dr. Alexander Mostovoy, director of Thermography Clinic Inc. (www.drmostovoy.com) who analyses the images that Neufeld sends him. "A thermographic image is like a thermal fingerprint and, like a fingerprint, it should stay relatively the same over time."
Any changes may indicate the need for further investigation and it may give the incentive needed to make those lifestyle changes that can be lifesaving. Mostovoy makes the following recommendations for optimum breast health: cutting down on animal fats and alcohol, implementing hormone balancing, limiting exposure to environmental pollution and toxins, and finding ways to reduce and manage stress. The Sunshine Coast has many health practitioners, including several at the Gibsons Chiropractic, Health and Wellness Centre, who can help implement a personalized plan to improve breast health once there is an established baseline.
Contact 604-886-7080 to make an appointment for the next thermography screening in April 2013 or visit www.thermographyvancouverisland.com for more information.
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