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(Note: Please see other cancer pages on this site for additional breast and general cancer information.)
Is Your Bra Killing You? (The Link between Bras and Breast Cancer) In a study involving 4,700 women, those who never wore a bra had the same incidence of breast cancer as men, in whom cancer of the breast is a rare condition. Women who wore bras for more than 12 hours, but did not sleep in them, had 21 times the risk as women who wore a bra for less than 12 hours. Put in a slightly different way, the statistics are just as chilling: Women who war a bra 24 hours a day are 125 times as likely to develop cancer as women who don’t. Medical anthropologist, Sydney Ross Singer, made this bra/breast cancer claim in the mid-1990’s, but was simply laughed at by the so-called “experts.” But with the new study involving 4,700 women demonstrating such dramatic results, Singer may get the last laugh. It is postulated that lymphatic vessels are blocked by the bra, thus preventing lymphocytes (white blood cells) from destroying abnormal cells. This blockage, over a period of years, presumably causes a build-up of cancer cells which eventually overwhelms the body’s defense mechanisms, and cancer ensues. (Another consideration is that a much higher level of hormones tends to collect in the breasts, and wearing a bra for too many hours blocks the movement of these hormones out of the breasts – this is also why breast massage is recommended, especially soon after removing the bra, to reduce the high level of cancer-causing hormones.) From Professor Singer’s research, it would appear that wearing a bra for less than 12 hours a day would be prudent. Make sure your bra is not constricting the lymphatic system. If, when you remove the bra, there are grooves in your skin or red lines where the bra was, you are asking for trouble. The worst thing you can do is to wear your bra to bed – Dr. Singer’s number one admonition is: “Do not wear a bra to sleep!” Other precautionary measures include: Avoid bras with underwires or anything that tends to shape the breasts, including push-up bras and strapless bras. Also, massage your breasts (see below) upon removing your bra to get the lymph flowing and reduce the local concentration of hormones. For more information, by the book “Dressed to Kill” by S. R. Singer and Soma Grismaijer (paperback, 1995, Avery, $11.95, http://www.amazon.com/Dressed-Kill-between-Breast-Cancer/dp/1930858051/) – at 12 bucks, it’s a great bargain – and could save your life. Breast Massage Technique to Reduce Chances of Breast Cancer: The health of your breasts depends in large part on supporting the effective drainage of harmful fluids from breast glands. A combination of self-massage and proper nutrition can promote breast health by helping to maintain toxin-free breast glands. Research indicates that wearing a bra for prolonged periods of time during the day can impede the drainage of harmful fluids from breast glands. The following massage technique, done once a night, will enhance lymphatic drainage from the breast. 1. After removing the bra, lie on your bed, on your back. Straighten one arm and raise that arm over your head, allowing it to rest on the bed. (For our purposes here, let's presume you raised your right arm first.) The idea here is not to rub the skin overlying the breast and armpit, but rather to rhythmically and very gently pump the lymph from the breast into the armpit and then further up the lymph system. Continue this pumping procedure for about 3 minutes, and then switch to the other breast and armpit area. (Remember to raise the opposite arm over your head.) One 3-minute session on each side nightly is all it takes. Diet If the fruits and vegetables you eat are not organically grown, then at least be sure to wash and rinse them well. You can do this with mild soap and water, with one of the pre-made produce washes found in health food stores, or with diluted grapefruit seed extract. Also, make sure your drinking water is free of organochlorines and other foreign chemicals. I believe distilled water is always the safest. To learn more about the water distiller I recommend, click here. Avoid toxins Stop using antiperspirants, as the chemicals they contain can be absorbed through the skin and cause the underlying lymph nodes to constrict and block lymph flow. Switch to natural deodorants, which don't cause the nodes to constrict. http://www.betterlife.com/prod_home_page.asp?prod_id=27565 (Lemongrass - Earthy Lemon Deodorant by Terra Naturals, 55g, 11829-9, $3.84) or Likewise, use nontoxic and/or natural pesticides and herbicides, both indoors and out. Always wear protective gloves and clothing to avoid getting any of these substances on your skin, and be careful not to breathe the fumes, as chemicals can easily enter the body via the respiratory system. Breast Cancer and Breast Massage Instructions The medical community seems to feel that if a woman lives long enough, she will have breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading single cause of death in American women; it takes such a high toll each year we would be remiss if we didn't cover it separately in this web site. Dr Schulze told us of a 1994 poll in which one thousand women were asked if they were happy with the size and shape of their breasts. Not a one answered "Yes." Our internal dialog affects our immune system. The reason the average woman does not look like the average model gracing the covers of the average glamour magazines is that the average woman is not seventeen. Accepting our bodies and not falling for the Hollywood images of beauty is the first step to preventing cancer. Carcinogens accumulate in fatty tissues. Breasts are made up of, mostly, fatty tissues. The average woman comes into contact with innumerable carcinogens and toxins daily, from the soaps she washes with to the makeup she uses, not to mention pesticide residues, smoke and exhaust fumes, solvents, and cleaning compounds. Dr David G Williams in his news letter Alternatives [April, 1994; 5: 10] pointed out that, "from tests performed at breast screening clinics, that carcinogenic agents are often found in both the breast tissue and the fluids extracted from the nipple." He goes on to add that "high levels of DDT, PCBs, dioxins, and heavy metal[s]" have been found in breast milk. The good news, he states, is there is a simple procedure he discovered at the International Symposium on Prevention and Detection of Cancer, in a presentation by Dr Timothy Murrel of the University of Adelaide. Dr Murrel suggested a very simple technique that might prevent cancer: nipple stimulation. Dr Williams reports that during nipple stimulation, oxytocin is produced, which stimulates the sac-like glands and small muscles in the breast to contract and help clear the breast of carcinogens. Dr Williams recommends that any woman over the age of 18 should examine her breasts at least monthly, and two or three times a week, she should gently stimulate the circulation to her nipples, three minutes per nipple. Additionally, stimulating the lymph glands (tapping them lightly for one minute) is something that is part of a daily routine for over one million Chinese. Raise your arm, and, using the base of the thumb on the opposite arm (hand), "whap" your armpit repeatedly. Do not do it so hard as to cause any discomfort, just a slight tap is all you need. Next is a breast massage from China, used for prevention and for existing tumors (see below). Once you’ve done the nipple massage, this massage follows. Rub your breasts in ever increasing circles and finish each stroke rubbing toward the armpit (lymph glands). Do this a minimum of three times a week, a minimum of three minutes per breast.
One more element of Dr Williams' research we should mention: breast cancer rates are higher in colder regions than in the warmer ones. He feels that looser clothing and the extra vitamin D from sun exposure could be responsible for this difference. This is something to consider in your plan to prevent breast cancer. Americans are suckers for hormonal therapies, yet these therapies are a two edged sword and can be one of the greatest associated causes of breast cancer here in America. The Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) points out that an increase in estrogen causes a dramatic increase in breast cancers, yet estrogen is still prescribed as if it were absolutely harmless. If you suffer from PMS or are experiencing hormonal imbalances following menopause, you should know there are alternatives to the estrogen therapies (most estrogen comes from horse urine). Female Breast Massage for Better Health Breast Massage therapy has been proven to assist in promoting healthy breast tissue, reduce fibroids and cysts, relieve the pain and discomfort associated with PMS or from compression from bras, relieving the pain and tension from stress in the muscles of the chest wall, assist in healthy tissue regeneration and scar reduction following surgery, and as a logical proactive step against cancer and other diseases. Breast massage might be more than a relaxing experience, it may also be very good for your health. A LMT's Use of Breast Massage for Treating Wife's Cancer My wife died from breast cancer just over a year ago, after a ten year fight. She was 41. I worked with her over the years in various ways, and one of them was draining her swollen arms caused by lymphodema, a result of mastectomy and lymph node removal. She had a longer life than many women who have active breast cancers, and I believe that our diligent work with circulation and drainage was a part of that. We were both trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital by lymph specialists. We also read and studied a great deal. As a certified massage therapist, I'm hopeful that I can be of help to others to prevent this horrible, painful disease that killed my wife. There was a book published recently entitled "Dressed to Kill". I gave my copy away, so please forgive me for only quoting specific info from memory. The book deals with evidence that wearing tight bras restricts the body from proper blood and lymph circulation, allowing more than a normal amount of toxins to remain in the breasts, contributing to the increase in breast cancer. In the 1960's breast cancer struck 1 woman in 10 in this country. Today the number is 1 in 8. According to studies the author quotes, the incidence in women who wear tight bras is far higher. The body creates it's circulation by both the hearts action, and by exercise. The blood is mostly moved by the heart, while the toxin-bearing lymph uses muscular movement to push it along. Wearing restricting bras, along with the limited muscular association in the chest, does not encourage proper flow. (Another factor is diet. In Japan breast cancer in women during the 1950's was almost nil. Today, with western diets, the incidence almost matches the U.S.) It is important for women to understand that they can be effective in preventing breast cancer by not wearing bras that restrict blood and lymph flow, and by using massage techniques to increase blood circulation, and move toxins out through the lymph glands and blood. They can also strengthen muscle and support tissues through massage. I don't take any credit for developing any of the ideas. They are gleaned from methods shown to me at various times. 1. The first technique is Veinous and Intercellular Circulation. The hands are placed flatly across the breast, covering as much as possible. Pressure is then applied, exactly as if you were pressing water out of a sponge on a flat surface. Press and release. Repeat several times. This should be done horizontally and vertically. The circulation created is obvious. 2. The second part of Veinous and Intercellular Circulation technique is by petrissaging (kneading) and massaging while lifting and pressing the breast. This is done in all directions to move fluid about inside the breast. 3. Supportive Ligament Care is helpful in many ways, some of which are in increased circulation, and strengthening the ligaments and chest muscles. This is done by pressing the breast with the hands flat, as in (1) above, and by both lifting and stretching the tissues, and twisting clockwise and counter-clockwise. 4. Lymph Drainage is normally done through regular exercise for most of the body. If the breasts are not manipulated, lymph will tend to remain. Most lymph is moved through tiny ducts just beneath the surface of the skin. From there it is moved to the blood and toxins are filtered out. Picture in your mind a lock in a canal. Lymph glands are constructed similarly. The lymph is easily moved along by gliding the fingertips over the surface of the skin VERY lightly. Too much pressure will compact the glands, restricting the flow. Try this... place a nickel on your mouse-pad. Use your fingertips to push the nickel across it. That's all the pressure you use. But there's a lot more to know. The direction of the lymph drainage from the breast should be from the nipple outward in all directions, but the actual method is very important, and this is why a therapist can be very helpful. Picture again those little canal locks. They open at each end. You cannot drain one full lock into another full lock. You must first drain a full one before sweeping the second along into it. Another way to picture it is with a pack of Lifesavers. You can't take the middle one out. You have to move the first one out, then move the second one into first position, then out, and so with the third, fourth, and so on. The lymph gets drained the same way. Start at the perimeter of the breast, and sweep lymph out. Then move inward perhaps 1/2 inch, and sweep it out, then inward one inch and sweep out, and so on to the nipple. Then start the process again. So remember, drain, fill, drain. This process gets repeated once for each inch from the perimeter to the nipple. Women should do this once a week followed by upper body exercise. Lymph is drained from other parts of the body in the same way, but where possible, always towards the heart. Breast Massage for Better Health
We begin with a discussion of an important study about bras and breast cancer which suggests that lymph fluid flow may be very important for healthy breasts, then provide details about breast massage in a question-and-answer format. First version June 25, 1997; Last updated March 31, 1998. Copyright (C) 1997, 1998 Author of Breast Massage for Better Health. Bras and breast cancer - Do bras restrict lymph flow and therefore increase the risk of breast cancer? A recent study of over 4700 women (2056 previously diagnosed with breast cancer, 2674 never diagnosed with breast cancer) indicated that there was a positive correlation between breast cancer and the length of time that women wore bras per day: Those who wore a bra all day-long (defined in the study as any period more than 12 hours) had statistically 21 times greater risk of breast cancer than those who only wore a bra for only part of the day (defined in the study as any period up to 12 hours). Women who wore their bras all day and night (essentially 24 hours per day) had a 5 times greater chance of developing breast cancer than those who wore it all day-long. The study conjectured that wearing a bra may constrict the flow of lymph fluid in the breast, which then causes the higher risk of breast cancer. Lymph fluid is the natural watery fluid which surrounds and bathes cells in body tissues. Lymph fluid carries disease-fighting cells and helps remove accumulated toxins, some of which may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). The impaired flow of lymph fluid is thought to allow toxins to build up, thus causing breast tissue cells to be exposed to higher concentrations of cancer-causing toxins for longer periods of time. The study suggested that women wear their bras for fewer hours, thus giving their breasts time to "recover" and also not wearing bras that feel constrictive or tight. For more details on the study, conducted by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer, see their book Dressed to Kill, (Avery Publishing Group, New York, 1995). ISBN 0-89529-664-0, available from The Naturist Society, P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54902, Tel. 414-426-5009. Some relevant Web pages about this study are as follows: Breast massage for better health by improving lymph fluid flow Considering that breast cancer is a very major health risk for women and considering that women in this society wear bras which may Disclaimer: This Web page is conjecture until someday official clinical studies have been undertaken and have proven its effectiveness (or ineffectiveness). No clinical studies are currently known to the author of this page. This page is not a prescription for action or treatment of any kind but rather is a basis for thought and further research for readers; readers must decide their own actions responsibly. Breast massage is hypothesized to be potentially be a preventative measure only. Breast massage is not a treatment for existing breast cancer. Any use of breast massage should be done with due care. Other preventative measures such as breast self-exams and exams/tests recommended by your physician are very useful and should in no way be discontinued if breast massage therapy is undertaken. The remainder of this page is written about how to apply the technique and how it is conjectured to be beneficial and does not constitute any official recommendation that the technique will be beneficial for your health. How does one do this type of breast massage? The receiver may find that certain types of strokes are more comfortable. The receiver may also prefer certain speeds of movement and pressure. Accommodating these preferences makes the breast massage feel much better and helps to encourage the regular practice of breast massage. To drain the lymph fluid from the breast, one useful massage stroke is a gentle radial outward stroke from the nipple to the outer edge of the breast. This is done by applying light pressure starting from the center of the breast and making several strokes from the nipple towards each part of the perimeter of the breast. The direction of the strokes are like following spokes in a wheel from the center to the edge. This stroke can be incorporated as part of the massage but should be combined with the other strokes above which help to stimulate lymph and blood circulation. Think of the radial outward stroke as a specific draining stroke and the other strokes as methods of increasing the fluid flow rate, just as exercising a muscle will increase the flow of blood through the muscle. Increased blood flow to massaged areas is indicated by a feeling of warmth in the massaged area. The warmth generally can be felt by both the receiver and the massage giver. This is a good indicator that the massage is also improving lymph flow. Women's breasts vary considerably in texture and sensitivity to pressure. Hence, gentle strokes for those who are sensitive or have softer breasts. Moderate pressure may be more effective for those with firmer-textured breasts. Gentle kneading and rubbing strokes which constitute the principal method of increasing lymph and blood flow. A breast massage may be combined with a massage of the shoulders and side chest muscles for a more relaxing, revitalizing experience. A more extended massage experience may include breast massage as part of a full body massage. Health Note: As far as possible cancer detection, if during self-massage or giving a massage, any lumps are felt, these lumps should always be investigated thoroughly by informing and visiting a qualified physician. The practice of breast massage should be in conjunction with (and not a substitute for) regular self-breast exams and exams/tests during visits to a physician. What other benefits may be possible? Women who are pregnant or nursing may find that the substantial changes in the quality and sensitivity of their breasts are causing some discomfort. Such women may be pleasantly surprised to find that a breast massage also improves their comfort and makes them feel better about their breasts. (The massaging of breasts is already undertaken by many nursing mothers as a part of the nursing process.) A good breast massage should be gentle and nurturing. The gentle stimulation of the breasts and chest area may release some emotional feelings. During massage, many people experience joy, peace, or sometimes a release of previously-repressed emotions from past events (positive or negative, including possibly crying) followed by a more deep relaxation. This emotional release is also a very normal, human part of the massage experience. For most women, the enjoyment of breast massage is natural and very relaxing. How often should my breasts be massaged and for how long? It is hypothesized that toxins tend to accumulate due to reduced lymph fluid flow during the use of a bra during the day. Hence, one good time for having a breast massage is after taking off a bra at the end of a day or during a break in the day. At such times, a breast massage may be very helpful in stimulating the flow of lymph fluid and blood to remove the accumulated toxins. Some women find bras to be somewhat constricting to their breasts and surrounding musculature or tiresome on the shoulders, which is another reason why a gentle massage after taking off a bra is revitalizing. This should not be taken to discount the value of having breast massages at other times or less frequently than daily. The build-up of toxins may be a gradual long-term effect from wearing a bra for too many hours per day. A breast massage once every few days may be valuable in helping to avoid excess build-up of toxins and is a relaxing experience. Frequent massages should preferably be administered with some lotion or massage oil to prevent sensitizition of the skin. Self-massage once or several times a day may be the most convenient method for improving lymph flow daily if a massage giver is not available to give daily massage. Even if time is short, a few minutes of self-massaging improves the lymph fluid flow for better health. An extended session of self-massage for 20 or 30 minutes or more can be administered during a more relaxed time period.
http://www.biomedx.com/mammotherm/page2.html As you may be aware, incidents of cancer are on the rise, including breast cancer (which is increasingly being seen in younger women), so let's take some time and talk about breast health. We're about to venture into areas seldom discussed in traditional medical circles. Let's begin by highlighting the top three causes of breast cancer that are directly controllable by women: 1) Mammograms You might find this list quite amazing but you will begin to understand as we outline the roles each of these play in breast cancer development. Let's start with mammograms. The problem here is x-rays. X-rays currently stand as the single item the medical community agrees causes cancer. Yet, the very test used for breast cancer screening is an x-ray. This presents a problem. Fortunately, the movement of technology and understanding what cancer is and how it develops is presenting some innovative adjunct solutions to the mammogram dilemma. We'll talk more on this in a moment. But first, about those bras and antiperspirants. To understand what this is about, you need to understand a bit about the toxic environment that better living through chemistry has wreaked upon our society. Though there are many things in our environment that are suspect, we'll just look at food. Today much of our food supply is grown with pesticides. Some of these contain chemicals called aromatic hydrocarbons and are very similar to human sex hormones. When sprayed on vegetables, they become absorbed into the food. When ingested they accumulate in specific organs that attract this class of chemicals--in women it is the breast. The body recognizes sex hormones as potent chemicals and once used, they need to be broken down by liver enzymes and then rapidly removed from the body. (You should note that the mammary glands are a primary producer of the female hormone estrogen. Although important, once used, it must be removed from the body quickly.) This removal is managed by the lymphatic system. The mammary glands are filled with lymphatic vessels that move from the breast, through the axillary lymph nodes under the armpit, over the collar bone, to the thoracic duct. This is how the breast drains toxins and keeps its internal environment clean. If something impedes the cleansing process, an imbalance occurs and the sex hormone by-products become destructive molecules called free radicals that begin cellular damage (called lipid peroxidation) which leads to breast cancer. Can you possibly see how tight fitting bras and antiperspirants (which close the axillary lymph nodes in the armpit) causes a backup of toxins in the breast? For most women, throwing out the bra is not an option, but some adjustments can be made (the push-up bra for instance, which makes one look bustier are the worst for women). Certainly the antiperspirants can go. Natural mineral salt deodorants are available as an alternative. Now get the picture in your mind of the topics just discussed; we have a constricted lymphatic system causing a toxic backup in the mammary glands, which (in some cases) gets presented annually to a clinic to get squished and assaulted with x-rays. Mmm, sounds like a perfect scenario to engender a cancerous situation. But what might be an alternative, or an adjunct to a mammogram that could greatly stretch the time frame between the need for these dangerous x-rays? The answer comes in part from understanding how tumors develop. Tumors need a blood supply to exist; they have to be fed. When a tumor develops, it creates vascularization (blood vessels) around itself. This is a physiological process. This physiology can be detected in the earliest developmental stages with new high technology heat sensing imagers. A clinic with this technology would place the woman in front of the imager and then take an infrared heat scan of her breasts (sometimes referred to as a mammotherm). There is no contact, no x-rays, no pain, it is completely non-invasive. If there is adverse physiology present, (such as increased vascularization involved with tumor development) it will be highlighted by temperature differentials from one breast to the other. A mammogram is a screen of anatomy, it looks for the actual evidence of a tumor. A mammotherm is a screen of function, it looks for the reflection of physiological happenings. When a mammogram identifies a tumor, it likely has been forming for a long time. When a mammotherm detects a breast temperature differential, it is often at the very beginning stages of a potential problem. This means a woman can become proactive in addressing the situation in a natural, non-destructive manner. Women rejoice! The mammotherm technology is a great leap forward in breast cancer screening. Where mammograms are a humiliating event of having to endure a strangers cold hands manipulating and painfully squishing your breasts between the plates of an x-ray unit to undergo an assault by high energy particle beams, a mammotherm is shear joy by comparison. You can have multiple screens done every year to track even the smallest changes that might occur over time, and you never have to worry about harmful side effects. The mammotherm is particularly important for younger women. A younger woman has more dense breast tissue and mammograms have a difficult time detecting the smallest tumors. Because of this drawback, ultrasound is often advocated as an alternative. However, tumor mass still needs to be evident. The mammotherm on the other hand is not looking for the tumor itself, it is looking for the smallest change in physiology reflected as heat that then becomes a marker for suspicious activity. http://www.biomedx.com/mammotherm/page6.html In the related article "The Bras That Bind", you were introduced to the concept of aromatic hydrocarbons within our environment that in large measure are very similar to human sex hormones. These environmental toxins gravitate to the breasts which generally attract this "hormone looking" class of chemicals. The body recognizes sex hormones as potent chemicals and once used, they need to be broken down by liver enzymes and then rapidly removed from the body. You will recall that the mammary glands are a primary producer of the female hormone estrogen, and once used, it also must be removed from the body quickly. As shown in the diagram of the breast, the lymphatic vessels move from the breast, through the axillary lymph nodes under the armpit, over the collar bone, to the thoracic duct. This is a major pathway for the breast to drain toxins. If the lymph nodes close up (antiperspirant use) or something else impedes the flow (tight bras), toxins back-up, an imbalance occurs, and the sex hormone by-products become destructive molecules called free radicals that begin cellular damage (lipid peroxidation) which can kick start the process known as cancer. As you can see, it is very important to keep the lymphatic system of the breast in tip top shape. There are other factors that come into play in the cancer development process, but before we touch on those items, here is an exercise you should get acquainted with that is very important for the health of your breasts. An Exercise for Maintaining Breast Health 1) Start by raising your arms over your head for a few minutes a day to help open the axillary lymph glands in the armpit. 2) With arms raised, take the fingers or palm of the opposite hand, and gently but rhythmically create a pumping action in your armpit directing very slight pressure up and towards the collar bone. This helps excite and move the axillary node garbage towards the thoracic duct thereby helping to drain the breast of toxins. Do it a few minutes everyday--take off the bra, lay down, and do the exercises to help your breasts stay internally healthy.
Breast Cancer: Six Signs to Look For by Dr. Weil A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area Mammograms offer no health benefits whatsoever, doctors conclude (NewsTarget) An increasing number of doctors are contesting the claim that annual mammograms decrease women's risk of dying from breast cancer. Danish researcher Dr. Peter Gotzsche first made this claim in a study published in "The Lancet" in October 2006. Gotzsche had re-analyzed the studies originally done on the benefits of mammograms and found them unconvincing. Since then, other doctors have begun to assert that in addition to failing to offer protection, mammograms — which involve exposing patients to radiation —may actually increase women's risk of cancer. "The latest evidence shifts the balance towards harm and away from benefits," said Dr. Michael Baum of University College in London. According to Canadian columnist Dr. W. Gifford -Jones, women between the ages of 40 and 49 who have regular mammograms are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as women who are not screened. "Experts say you have to screen 2,000 women for 10 years for one benefit," he wrote recently. Gifford-Jones also points to other risks, from the physical to the psychological. According to some authorities, the squeezing of women's breasts during mammograms may rupture blood vessels, causing cancer to spread to other parts of the body and actually increasing a patient's risk of death (as do biopsies 50% of the time). He also pointed to the trauma suffered by women who receive false positives from their mammograms, and to the dangerous sense of security felt by those who receive false negatives. Studies show that mammograms fail to detect cancer 30 percent of the time in women aged 40 to 49. In addition, it can take eight years before a breast tumor is large enough to detect, by which time the cancer could have spread to other parts of the body. "Mammograms actually harm far more women than they help," said Mike Adams, author of "The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D," a free report that teaches prevention strategies for breast and prostate cancer. "They are used more as a recruiting tool to ensnare women into a system of medical control based on false diagnosis and fear tactics. Most women then give in to chemotherapy, surgery or radiation treatments that may ultimately harm them or even kill them." Lymph Health - An Herbal Recipe for Breast Cancer and Lymphomas http://www.naturalnews.com/cancer_prevention.html Breast Cancer Deception: New tell-all report from Mike Adams reveals profit motive behind the pink ribbons Breast Cancer Industry A Scam? Support Education, Not Medication http://www.naturalnews.com/Author301.html http://www.naturalnews.com/cancer.html Killer cancer treatment: How toxic chemotherapy kills both cancer cells and cancer patients Low vitamin intake makes chemotherapy side effects even worse Mammograms and the Ravages of Breast Cancer While breast cancer rarely strikes men, the destruction it wreaks on families and friends affects everyone. Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women. Of the 180,000 women who developed breast cancer in 1994, sadly, 45,000 died of the disease. This should not have happened. Most doctors will tell you that the best chance for a cure is to detect the disease early, which is basically true. Unfortunately, the method they have chosen to detect breast cancer, the mammogram, also causes breast cancer, especially in women who are at the greatest risk. Studies have shown that mammograms increase the risk of developing breast cancer from 1 percent to 3 percent a year (depending on the technique used), which means that if you religiously have a mammogram every year for 10 years, you increase your risk 10 percent to 30 percent. Some radiation experts feel the danger is much higher. Radiation experts agree that the breast is one of the areas of the body most sensitive to cancers caused by radiation exposure. As women age, they are more likely to have cancer cells in their breast. By age 50 the figure reaches 45 percent. This does not mean that 45 percent of 50-year-olds will develop breast cancer, because in most women these cancer cells remain dormant. What it does mean is that these women are at high risk of spurring these cancer cells to full activity. -- Dr. Blaylock --- Exposing the Truth on Cancer and Radiation Exposure A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and I spent a good deal of time discussing treatment with her. In the course of our conversation she told me that she religiously went for a mammogram for over 20 years prior to her diagnosis. Millions of women are following the same advice, but is it good advice? At the time I entered medical school, yearly chest X-rays was a new fad as a way to detect lung cancer. The same justifications were used then as are used now for breast cancer — mainly early detection and treatment would give a greater chance of cure. After several years, the practice was abandoned because the number of cancers being detected was rather low and radiologists worried that repeated radiation exposure in and of itself would increase the risk of developing cancer. Studies have shown that the same is true with breast mammograms. Repeated exposure of the breast to radiation increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 1 percent to 3 percent per year. Remember, the damaging effects of radiation are mainly on the DNA of breast cells and the effect is accumulative. This means that with each mammogram you add 1 percent to 3 percent risk of the test itself causing breast cancer. Over 20 years, that amounts to a substantial increase of 20 percent to 30 percent. Actually, these figures are deceptively low because some women are already at increased risk. For example, women with a strong family history of breast cancer (or cancer in general) are at a higher risk from radiation exposure. Studies have shown that these women have defective DNA repair enzymes and can’t repair all of the damage after being exposed to radiation. Over years or decades, enough damage accumulates to initiate a cancer. Women who have poor diets, low in antioxidants and high in omega-6 fats (vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, soybean and canola oils), are also at much greater risk. Likewise, women with chronic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, colitis, and other autoimmune disorders are at substantially higher risk of cancer with yearly mammograms. It is ironic that the women who are in the greatest danger from yearly mammograms are the very ones being told to have them. Some, with very strong family histories of breast cancer are even told to have mammograms every six months. This, in my opinion, is insane. A woman often follows her doctor’s advice and goes for her mammogram every year. Then 10 or 20 years later a cancer shows up and the doctor tells the patient, “Boy, it sure was a good thing you had that mammogram! We caught the cancer early!” He never considers that the mammogram itself may have caused the cancer. Even worse is the advice encouraging women who have had breast cancer to have a mammogram every six months to see if it is recurring. Numerous studies have shown that radiation exposure can make a cancer more aggressive, and we know that cancer cells can often be found decades after a breast cancer is removed. One study found that 50 percent of women thought to be free of cancer still had live cancer cells in their blood stream 10 years after their surgery, even though they had chemotherapy and radiation treatments. -- Dr. Blaylock --- Curcumin Protects Breasts From Radiation-Induced Cancer (CAT Scans, Mammograms) Radiation is one of the most agreed-upon causes of breast cancer. Women exposed to radiation from nuclear blasts at Hiroshima had breast cancer rates four times higher than normal, and studies have shown that mammograms can increase breast cancer 1 percent to 3 percent per year. In general, I advise women to seek other types of examinations, such as thermograms and breast MRI scans. For women determined to have mammograms, protection is essential. This study found that rats exposed to gamma-radiation (the most damaging and similar to X-rays) were significantly protected against the development of breast cancer if they were fed curcumin for 10 days prior to exposure. I usually recommend taking 500 milligrams of curcumin powder mixed with one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil three times a day with meals. You can mix it with your food. Curcumin is a flavonoid found in the spice turmeric and is available as an extract. -- Dr. Blaylock --- I would not recommend yearly mammograms for women. Even with the digital radiographs, the x-ray dose can be too high. One thing the radiologists rarely tells people is that radiation damage is accumulative, which means each year it adds up. Let’s say your risk of developing a breast cancer caused by the radiation from the mammogram is 2% a year. In 10 years your risk has increased 20% by the study alone. It is probably much higher for women with a hereditary risk of breast cancer, since they have impaired defenses against radiation injury. When I was in medical school, the American Cancer Society had just approved its program of yearly chest x-rays for early detection of lung cancers. It took them a while to appreciate that they were not only radiating the lungs every year, but also the spine, the thyroid, the eyes, the abdominal organs and the breast. At the same time this X-ray craze was underway, a number of studies found that doctors were finding very few early cancers. Additionally, radiologists often found ill-defined things in the x-rays — what they jokingly call ‘concatenations of shadows’ — that resulted in expensive and dangerous lung biopsies. The same occurs tens of thousands of times a year with mammograms. Stories of breasts removed for “lesions” thought to look like cancer on mammograms and even biopsies abound. It is the old dilemma I started off this letter mentioning: if you find something, anything, you always need more tests! A new fad is the total body CT scan or MRI scan. Recently, medical authorities have put out a call for doctors to discourage their patients from getting whole body CT scans. Studies indicated that such scans doubled cancer risk from the radiation. I recommend for the Period-of-Life Exam the following tests. I will discuss special testing for men and women separately. -- Dr. Blaylock --- Danger in the Radiology Department Admission to the hospital, even for minor problems, generally requires a trip to the X-ray department. Your doctor may require X-rays every few years as part of your annual physical. Depending on your reason for being admitted, Xrays of the chest and other parts of the body are often considered routine. In addition, your doctors may order CT scans and various radioactive tracer studies, such as a bone, liver or brain scan. With each of these tests, you will be exposed to a dose of radiation that could vary in strength from very low to quite high. One thing to always keep in mind is that radiation damage is cumulative, meaning that with each exposure the damage is compounded. The greatest injury is to the DNA of your cells. This is how radiation causes cancer. It has become popular for people to get a totalbody CT scan as a screening procedure to make sure they are healthy. A recent study found that this practice doubles your risk of developing cancer later in life. The same is true of yearly mammograms. Women at high risk for breast cancer actually increase their chances of developing the disease by having yearly mammograms — with a 1 percent to 3 percent increased risk per year. When I practiced neurosurgery, I was concerned about how much radiation exposure people received during a single hospital stay, when they would have a dozen or more X-rays, one or more radioactive scans and several CT scans. It is important to note that you are receiving all of this radiation exposure while you are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects. This is because your body’s defenses, such as antioxidant enzymes, DNA repair ability and cellular strength, are collectively impaired by your disease, surgical trauma and the poor diet you receive in the hospital. NASA devotes a lot of experimental study to radiation protection because astronauts and high-altitude pilots are exposed to extreme levels of gamma radiation. From these studies has come a considerable amount of scientific literature showing that some of the best protection is derived from food extracts and vitamin combinations. Among the most potent are curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, ginkgo biloba, beta-glucan and vitamins E and C, as well as multivitamin combinations. All of these are available from health food stores without a prescription. Here are some things you can do to increase your protection against radiation injury: * Curcumin (an extract of the spice turmeric): 250 mg. taken three times a day for adults. Children older than age 6 can take 100 mg. twice a day. It is oil-soluble, so dissolve it in extra-virgin olive oil. This flavonoid is a powerful anti-cancer substance, inhibits inflammation, is a powerful and versatile antioxidant, promotes wound healing, inhibits the growth of bacteria and viruses and protects organs, especially the brain and heart, against damage. * Quercetin: 500 mg. This is a very common flavonoid found in cranberries, onions, tea and apples. It has been shown to significantly protect against DNA damage. Because it makes insulin work better, it is especially beneficial to diabetics. It is also a very powerful and versatile antioxidant and reduces inflammation. * Folic acid: 800 ug. a day. Folic acid, along with vitamins B-12 and B-6, plays a vital role in the protection and repair of DNA. Significant defense against radiation damage to DNA has been shown. * Vitamin B-12: 1,000 ug. a day. This is a very important vitamin. Recent studies have shown that commonly used anesthetics can severely deplete vitamin B-12, producing sudden and severe deficiencies. Do not take cyanocobalamin, the most commonly sold form of B-12. It is poorly utilized and contains toxic cyanide. The variety your body uses is called methylcobalamin, which can be purchased as a sublingual tablet (it dissolves under your tongue). * Vitamin E succinate or natural vitamin E (mixed tocopherols): 400 IU a day. These are the only two forms of vitamin E to buy. Vitamin E acetate is of little use. * Vitamin C (buffered, as calcium or magnesium ascorbate): 1,000 mg. three times a day. Do not buy ascorbic acid. It causes the blood to become acidic and is poorly utilized by the body. Normally, it should be taken on an empty stomach to prevent excess iron absorption, but if you are having surgery you will need additional iron. If you have a condition called hemochromatosis, do not take vitamin C supplements, as they can cause excess iron absorption. * Multivitamin/mineral capsule: In general, I recommend that such mixtures of vitamins and minerals come in a powder form, since hard tablets are often poorly absorbed. The combination should contain all of the vitamins, including vitamin K, beta-carotene, niacinamide and D-3, as well as sele- nium, zinc and magnesium. (Vitamin Research Products, Inc. (www.VRP.com ) makes a very well-balanced multivitamin/mineral.) Jarrow Multi Easy (www.vitacost.com) may be better yet. * Aged garlic extract: 300 mg. twice a day. Once it ages, garlic extract contains some compounds that strongly protect DNA against radiation injury. In addition, it protects against cancer, stroke and heart attacks and lowers blood pressure in hypertensives. It can thin the blood slightly (equal to about one aspirin a day) and should not be used by pregnant women or surgical patients. * Alpha-lipoic acid: 50 mg. a day. This is one of the body’s chief antioxidants. It also greatly protects against radiation injury, reduces mercury in the body and guards against all forms of free radicals. It can cause the blood sugar to drop, so it should be taken with meals. It is an excellent product for diabetics. * Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan: 250 mg. a day. As we have seen, this is an excellent immune stimulant and has been shown to significantly protect bone marrow cells from radiation damage. Cells in the bone marrow and spleen are the most sensitive to radiation injury. Source Naturals and ImmunoDyne both make a very pure product. Purity is essential. It is vital to eat at least three servings of fruits and vegetables daily, because these foods contain an assortment of vitamins, minerals and flavonoids that protects cells from radiation damage. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain other compounds, many still unidentified, that protect the body. These chemicals act together to enhance effectiveness. --- Special Testing for Women Breast Exams Breast cancer prevention has gone from science and good medicine to a powerful business. High profits are driving the propaganda for mammograms. Capitalism is also driving innovation, something socialized medicine would never consider. Newer methods, such as digital mammography, have significantly lowered radiation doses and the need for extreme compression of the breast. Recent studies have shown that yearly mammography increases the risk of breast cancer by 1 to 3% per year, depending on the study. This is significant, since the effect is additive as mentioned in the introduction. Even at 1% per year, in 10 years that is a 10% increased risk. For women with a high genetic risk of breast cancer and those with known impaired DNA repair disorders, the risk is even greater. Safer alternatives include thermograms, ultrasounds, careful self-examinations and MRI scan of the breast. MRI scanning has been shown to provide significantly better examinations of the breast without the use of radiation. It is especially useful for women with dense breast tissue, such as premenopausal women and those with significant fibrocystic disease. And no “smashed” breast — which is required for a proper mammogram! The problem is that most insurance will not pay for MRI breast scans as a routine screening procedure. They will pay if the conventional mammogram suggests a need. Female Hormone Testing Routine testing in pre-menopausal women is generally not indicated. For the post-menopausal woman considering hormone replacement, it is essential. Unfortunately, most doctors, even gynecologists, never test these women; they just write a standard prescription and hope for the best. Most of the hormones used contain estradiol, the most powerful of the estrogens, as the primary hormone. It is also the one most connected with breast cancer. Estriol is much weaker and may even protect against breast cancer. Before taking a supplement, I would suggest a comprehensive female hormone test that measures all three of the female hormones, testosterone, DHEA, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and the sex hormone metabolic products. From these test results your doctor can better design and adjust your hormone replacement. Of special importance are the sex hormone metabolic products. These include 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone. The latter of these is associated with a significantly higher risk of breast cancer (and other cancers). This test measures the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone. High ratios are protective against breast cancer and vice versa. --- Radiation you ups your risk for future cancer. A recent study found that curcumin can dramatically reduce the risk of developing a radiation induced breast cancer. Radiation is the only proven carcinogen as a cause of breast cancer in women. I find it ironic that women are urged to get yearly exposure of their breast to radiation in the form of a mammogram. Some, those at high risk of breast cancer, are told to get one every 6 months. One can only wonder how many women have died of breast cancer following this medical advice. In this study, researchers exposed female rats to gamma radiation and observed them for breast tumor development. They found that 70.3% of the control animals developed breast tumors, most of which were cancers. Yet, animals given curcumin before and 3 days after exposure saw a tumor incidence of only 18.7% (75% lower) and most were benign tumors (fibroadenomas). They also found that curcumin had no toxicity and did not harm the fetus of pregnant animals. Many nutritionists and physicians think that curcumin is poorly absorbed, but in fact, studies have shown that curcumin is converted in the gut wall into tetrahydrocurcumin, which has all the anticancer and radioprotective properties. Curcumin has also been shown to increase DHA and EPA levels, both functional components of fish oils. In this same study, they found that the curcumin also reduced the number of pituitary tumors by 1/3 in animals exposed to whole body radiation. Most chemicals that cause cancer also produce free radicals, since it is the free radicals that damage the DNA. Most anticancer compounds, block free radicals. It has also been observed that nitric oxide, a gas produced in most cells of the body, plays a role in cancer induction. Radiation stimulates the enzyme that increases cellular nitric oxide (iNOS). Curcumin, and resveratrol (extracted from grape skins) both powerfully inhibit nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide excess in the presence of the superoxide radical forms a very powerful free radical called peroxynitrite. This very same radical is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease. In another study researchers found that giving curcumin 3 days before and 2 days after exposure to high dose gamma radiation reduced DNA damage 50 to 70%.16 Of equal importance, curcumin was found to fully restore the activity of the antioxidant enzymes suppressed by the radiation.17 Curcumin also increased one of the cells’ most important antioxidants called glutathione. This can also be increased using N-acetyl L-cysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium and other antioxidants. As I stated above, one of the problems associated with radiation exposure is poor wound healing. The radiation damages the healing mechanisms. It has been known that curcumin promotes the healing of surgical wounds under normal circumstances, but recently it was shown that it also significantly promotes wound healing in animals exposed to radiation. In this study they measured critical substances used in wound healing, such as collagen, hexosamine, DNA and nitric oxide synthesis, and found that pretreatment with curcumin significantly enhanced the rate of wound healing in mice exposed to very large doses of whole body gamma irradiation.18 All of the wound healing factors were significantly elevated in the curcumin treated animals. The most efficient way to absorb curcumin is to mix ½ of a teaspoon in one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. This can be mixed with food or taken whole. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used for centuries for treatment of nausea and as an anti-inflammatory. Newer studies are showing it to be a very powerful radioprotectant. One of the effects of radiation treatment for cancer is the development of food aversion-that is, finding that previously desirable foods suddenly cause one to become nauseous. Even the odor of the food can trigger the effect. Studies have shown that ginger can prevent this.19 In fact, it was as effective as the powerful anti-nausea drugs. It has also been shown to prevent radiation sickness, one of the early signs of radiation exposure.20 In this same study, researchers found that it protected the GI tract and restored glutathione levels as well. Another study found that ginger extract powerfully protected mice exposed to massive doses of gamma radiation, if the ginger was given five days in a row before exposure.21 No reductions in deaths were seen if given after exposure. This is not to say that ginger only protects if given before, because at lower doses of radiation (that not causing immediate death) it was highly protective. Ginger protected by reducing free radicals, reducing lipid peroxidation and by elevating cellular glutathione. -- Dr. Blaylock --- Q: My doctor insists I need to get a mammogram. I’ve put it off for some time, but he’s still pressuring me. I’ve shown him all of your information, but he doesn’t want to read it. What should I do? — Emma D., Wichita, KS A: A respected international organization, the Cochrane Collaboration of Copenhagen, concluded that most of the studies that show mammograms are effective, were useless. In fact, of the seven large mammography trials they evaluated, three were of poor scientific quality and two were so flawed that the researchers discounted the results. And these weren’t small studies. They involved over half a million women. The analysis, performed by Ole Olsen and Peter Gotzche, criticized the studies for failing to adequately randomize women in the studies for age and other factors. They also raised questions about the bias of researchers in some of the studies. Two medium-quality studies found that mammography made no difference in the death rate. But the three poor-quality studies found an average 32% reduction in breast cancer mortality. And most interestingly, none of the five studies showed that regular mammography reduced overall mortality! This puzzled the researchers. The mammograms should have showed some drop in overall mortality rates. So they looked a little deeper. What they found was scandalous! The lead researcher said, “If we look at the data that we can get access to, it seems as if there is a tendency for doctors to more rarely write ‘breast cancer’ on the death certificates of women that have been screened [with mammography] but more often on those of women who have not been screened,” he said. “But the total number of deaths is the same.” Olsen and his colleagues also found that women who get mammograms receive more aggressive therapy for breast cancer than women who do not get them, including some 30% more lumpectomies and mastectomies. I’ve seen nothing that would cause me to recommend you get a mammogram. If you want to spare yourself unnecessary expense, needless radiation, and physical trauma to your breasts, forget mammograms! Instead, visit my website (see page 6 for details) and search for my articles on thermography and other ways to prevent and fight breast cancer. If your doctor doesn’t support these safer and more effective methods, it's time to find a new doctor. -- Dr. Rowen --- Radiation From Full-Body CT Scans and Mammograms Causes Cancer Last month, I told you about all the Russians who developed cancer after the Chernobyl fallout. Now there’s evidence a full-body CT scan can expose you to the same degree of radiation and cancer risk. A new study, published in the journal Radiology, shows that a full-body scan exposes you to doses of radiation comparable to those received by Japanese atomicbomb survivors. And these folks show clear evidence of an increased cancer risk. According to David J. Brenner, PhD, Dsc, lead author of the study and professor of radiation oncology and public health at Columbia University in New York City, there is now “definitive evidence that radiation risk is associated with full-body CT scans.” The study found that a 45-year-old person who undergoes one full-body CT screening would have an estimated lifetime cancer mortality risk of approximately 0.08%. That level of risk would produce cancer in one person out of every 1,200 people. However, a 45-year-old who has annual full-body CT scans for 30 years would accrue an estimated lifetime cancer mortality risk of about 1.9 percent or almost one in 50. Now consider mammogram radiation, which no one in the industry wants to address. The radiation dose of a CT scan is almost 100 times that of a screening mammogram. However, the radiation from a CT scan is scattered throughout the entire body. The radiation from a mammogram is concentrated on a small portion of the body. That means the small dose of radiation from a mammogram would have definite increased risk for cancer. And especially if it’s done yearly! Radiation causes cancer! It doesn’t matter how it hits you, whether from a bomb, a nuclear meltdown, a medical exam, or as a treatment for cancer. I’ve warned about the risks of radiation for many years. Of course, that’s why you subscribe to Second Opinion — to get the medical information you need years before anyone else. If you’re exposed to radiation in any way, including X-ray, I strongly recommend you use the only supplement that helped the Russians after their massive exposure. It’s the absolutely miraculous probiotic extract I told you about last month called Delta Immune, distributed by NutriCology. If you are faced with a need for therapeutic radiation (i.e. cancer), intravenous hydro- gen peroxide and/or hyperbaric oxygen can greatly enhance the effectiveness, while reducing the toxicity. Ref: “Full-Body CT Screening Increases Risk of Cancer Death,” Radiological Society of North America, August 31, 2004; Radiology, September 2004. No More Breast Biopsies? A research team at Duke University is developing a system using sound waves to distinguish malignant tumors from benign lesions. The hope here is to save millions of women the trauma of a painful and potentially risky (spreads cancer in more than 50% of cases) needle biopsy when a suspicious mass is found on a mammogram. Currently, the overwhelming majority of biopsied lesions are negative for cancer. This technique uses ultrasound waves to measure the tumor’s elasticity. Benign and cancerous tumors have significant differences in their mechanical properties, and recover their shape at different speeds. The pressure of the sound waves moves the tissues ever so slightly. Then the properties of the movement and recovery are measured, and can be correlated to the likelihood of cancer. Technology is a wonderful thing when it can lead to such positive and non-invasive advances. If this technology proves accurate, the fear that women carry when a suspicious lump is found will be quickly extinguished or validated. I am not a fan of needle biopsy. It leave a tract for cancer cells to migrate through, when it might have otherwise been contained. -- Dr. Rowen --- Q: Please, can you help me? I am a 70-year-old woman, have no family history of breast cancer, but have been told by a GYN that she feels a “nodule” in one of my cystic breasts. I wish to avoid mammograms or biopsies, for protective reasons, but I am considering an ultrasound. My question: Do you know of any research or suggestive findings concerning possible dangers to the breast of ultrasounds? Thank you. — Beryl Soparkar, Lexington, MA A: I am definitely in your camp when it comes to mammograms. The ultrasound technology you’re referring to is under development. It remains to be seen if it is superior to biopsy, but if it can accurately diagnose a malignancy without a needle or excision, I would take my bets on it regardless of the limited heating from ultrasound. But, first, I would consider a completely safe alternative. The best evaluation of your breast, in my opinion, is with digital infrared thermography (DIT). I would place my bets on it as a prognostic indicator. If there’s no heat coming from this nodule, it’s far less likely to be cancer. If you were my wife, I would recommend DIT first, before anything else. If you find a hot spot, I would say you definitely need to chase it down, since malignancies are areas of greater metabolism, and hence, more heat. DIT will be the breast evaluation wave of the future. It involves no contact with the breast, it images only the heat emissions, and it’s literally 100 percent safe. For more information, see the Web site www.breastthermography.com. -- Dr. Rowen Breast Thermography Availability I’ve written a good bit in the past year about a new technology that detects breast cancer before it actually becomes a tumor. The technology is called thermography and it’s vastly superior to mammography. Why? Mammograms simply wait for the cancer to happen — they detect cancer, whereas thermography detects the pathology long before cancer appears. Women’s Health Letter editor and colleague, Nan Fuchs, had breast thermography performed and found estrogen dominance. Estrogen is considered the greatest risk factor in breast cancer development. She applied a progesterone cream to her breasts to counteract the estrogen effect and, within four months, the pattern began reversing. Many of you have asked where you can find thermography centers. Start by checking out the website www.breastthermography. com. If you live in California, you can visit our facility in Santa Rosa. Call 707-571-7560 to set up an appointment. -- Dr. Rowen (also: http://www.thermalmedrx.com/location_map.html) Dr. Phillips recently published a study demonstrating that the breath test can identify women with breast cancer more accurately than screening mammograms! In his study, 201 women had breath samples collected and there were 198 biopsies. The breath test differentiated between healthy women and those with breast cancer with 94 percent accuracy. In women with breast cancer and negative mammograms, it picked up 62 percent of those who had cancer, falsely identifying cancer in only 18 percent. A negative breath test was superior to a negative mammogram in excluding breast cancer. Since the breath test would be expected to be negative in 7,356 of 10,000 women over 60 years old, it could eliminate the painful procedure in over 70 percent of all cases. The NIH provided financial support for this valuable study, which must be verified in larger clinical trials to be accepted by the FDA. In lung cancer, the journal Chest reported the breath test predicted lung cancer 85 percent of the time. The FDA approved a breath test for nitric oxide last summer as a diagnostic tool for asthma. I’m excited about technology that can spare you the knife or pain and radiation (as in mammograms). Perhaps your exhaust of chemicals will serve as a warning to the increased risk of cancer, allowing you to head it off at the pass. I’ll keep you informed of this developing breakthrough. More information can be obtained from Menssana, Inc.’s website at www.menssanaresearch.com. I do think the day is coming when we’ll be able to diagnose via reading the body’s energy emissions. Dr. McCoy, we’re headed your way! -- Dr. Rowen Ref: McKie, Robin. The Observer, December 21, 2003; Chest, June 2003. Breast Cancer: A Preventable Disease Through Good Nutrition (NaturalNews) Cancer. It feels like a modern version of the plague. The word strikes fear in us. We all know someone who has it, or had it, or is in remission from it. The recent Breast Cancer Awareness month was dedicated to the importance of early detection. We read articles about breast cancer statistics, symptoms and treatment. Strangely missing from the mix was information on prevention. Did you see anything on prevention? Me neither. All the hoopla around Breast Cancer Month only made me angry. More than angry: outraged. The propaganda from the medical community constitutes an elaborate scam by reiterating, over and over, the need for funding to research - what? Treatment. Not prevention, not cure. Cancer is discussed as if it were a chronic but manageable disease, something like diabetes. But wait. Isn't that how the medical and pharmaceutical industries stay in business? If we could prevent it, or cure it, a lot of people would be unemployed. Forgive me if I sound a little cynical. I have pursued a lifelong interest in health and nutrition. When I retired last fall, I had loads more time to continue my research and reading. One of the things I learned is that the chemicals used in chemotherapy are so toxic that they require a MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet). That's, like, industrial strength. Bluntly, what is being put in your body are hazmats (hazardous materials). Conventional cancer treatment is still in the Stone Age. Something else I learned: the American Cancer Society takes donations for "cancer research." Whatever is left over after paying salaries and overhead is funneled to organizations like Planned Parenthood. Their financial statements for the past 3 years are available on their website (they are required to make that information public because of their nonprofit status). For example, in 2005, out of millions and millions of dollars they received, only 3 percent went to actual cancer research - and that was a research grant for a medication for only one type of cancer (http://tinyurl.com/yr278x) . Even more important, I learned something I had suspected all along: cancer can be prevented. Notice that no fund-raising agencies ever talk about this approach, nor will they. They depend upon cancer to stay in business. Think about this: every society, throughout history, around the world, has always known one thing to be true - we are what we eat. Yet in the last three generations the quality of the SAD (Standard American Diet, an apt acronym) has plummeted. Our vegetables are grown on depleted soils whose micronutrients have long been exhausted. Chemical fertilizers replace only N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorous) and K (Potassium). During the growing season and post-harvest, they are sprayed with an assortment of toxic chemicals before appearing in your local market. Processed foods are loaded with health-destroying substances like HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), MSG (Monosodium Glutamate, a dangerous excitotoxin) and Nutrasweet (Aspartame, another excitotoxin). Your milk and dairy products may come from cows treated with rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone). At the very least, they have been pasteurized, destroying all beneficial bacteria and enzymes necessary for optimal health. Products made with corn, soy and rice very likely contain genetically modified (GM) versions of these crops, whose impact on human health and the environment has never been evaluated; and you will never know, because food processors are under no obligation to label GM ingredients. Your meat contains traces of antibiotics and growth-accelerating hormones, and your chicken was so awash in avian feces that we take it for granted that it is contaminated with salmonella, as are commercial eggs. (Consumer Reports compared 525 chickens from 27 brands and found only 17% of the samples to be free from salmonella and campylobacter). We have been consuming artery-clogging trans fats (in the guise of margarine, vegetable oils, deep-fried foods and baked goods), and our ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids is skewed. Your grandmother would not recognize most of the ingredients in a simple product like a modern donut. We have been lied to by the food growers, processors, manufacturers and distributors, all in the name of the almighty dollar, and the first casualty has been our health. Food allergies, asthma, autism, obesity, diabetes, and ADD/ADHD are becoming epidemic and endemic in our society; and I submit that every one of them can be traced to the "jiggery-pokery" going on in our food supply. Even artificial colors and flavors act in unpredictable ways on immature brains. When will we start to question what we are putting in our bodies? By choosing whole, unprocessed (local and organic when possible) foods, we can reassert control over our diet. We can make better choices about slow and wholesome foods as opposed to "crap-in-a-box" or drive-through foods. I learned how. So can you. But most important, I learned that cures for cancer exist. I repeat: cures for cancer exist. I know those four words are hard to read because they contradict what we "know" and what we have always "known," i.e. what the medical community has taught us to know. Anything different strikes us as heresy, denial, quackery, even conspiracy. In fact, "conspiracy" may be a good word. A conspiracy of silence exists around those four words because they embody methods from which the pharmaceutical industry cannot profit. Consequently, any attempt to promulgate information of this nature results, first, in warnings of fraud from the FDA and ultimately, confiscation of personal property and imprisonment. At least three names reappear at the center of the claims for cancer cures. Jerry Brunetti's two-part documentary, Food As Medicine, recounts his personal experience in curing his lymphoma. Max Gerson's career as cancer healer, carried on by his daughter, is detailed in the documentary Dying to Have Known. Both are available on line. Interestingly, both emphasize diet. And the concepts of Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer are embodied in what is called German New Medicine, (http://www.germannewmedicine.com/documents/welcome.html). These are only three of a variety of cancer therapies that promise affordable and commonsensical healing. Let's take a final look at prevention. How can you best take care of yourself so as not to become sick in the first place? * If you smoke, quit. * Keep alcohol consumption at no more than 1 ounce of spirits, 1 glass of wine or 1 beer per day. * Eliminate sugar from your diet. Cancer cells thrive on sugar. * Eliminate processed foods (including HFCS, MSG, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners). Yes, that means soda pop, fast food, chips and other junk. * Eliminate or cut back on starchy carbs like white bread, white rice, white potatoes. * Increase fresh fruits and vegetables. The more brightly colored (blueberries, cantaloupe, broccoli), the more anti-cancer qualities. * If you choose to eat meat, try to limit yourself to organic or at least local, grass-fed meat and free-range poultry. * Limit fish intake to less than 12 ounces per week (4 ounces for pregnant and nursing mothers). Good choices are herring, sardines and wild Pacific salmon. Fish oil or cod liver oil is an appropriate substitute since it is mercury-free. * Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. * Get adequate sleep. * Avoid stress; find ways to combat unavoidable stress (a hot bath, massage, yoga, music, EFT, whatever works for you). * Strengthen your immune system: take one gram of Vitamin C and 2000 mg. of Vitamin D3 a day (or better still, get at least 15 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight every day, without sunscreen). * Limit your exposure to environmental toxins (molds, mildews, harsh cleaners and other chemicals). * Make a point of including at least 30 minutes of brisk exercise in your day, at least 5 times a week. Little of this is new; you probably heard most of it before. It's all well documented. Are you going to dismiss it again? Or will today be the day you finally make the decision to take responsibility for your own health? Many women take Tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer and in fact the FDA has amazingly approved this drug for healthy women despite the fact that it has not been proved to prevent cancer in healthy women and in fact, causes uterine cancer! Although Tamoxifen can prevent certain cancers at first, especially estrogen sensitive tumors, over time it actually promotes cancer. Tamoxifen resistance acts by damaging the p53 gene that suppresses cancer. It may also permanently alter the estrogen receptor sites so they become abnormal and no longer function properly. If that isn't bad enough it can also causes blood clots. Indole 3 Carbinol does everything that Tamoxifen does to prevent cancer and does it better and without risk of side-effects or tumor promotion. As such it is an excellent alternative to Tamoxifen. In fact, in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells, Indole 3 Carbinol provides 90% inhibition versus only 60% for Tamoxifen! Bloodroot herbal mixture (Hoxsey Formula) and Breast Cancer: http://www.hopewelltechnologieslimited.com/Breast_Cancer.html Enzyme Therapy & Breast Lumps "Enzymes substantially reduce the occurrence of metastases and the recurrence of cancer. They make malignant tissues more sensitive to radiation, and at the same time, reduce pain and other side effects of radiation. When used in conjunction with surgery, they reduce postoperative pain and hemorrhage. In terminal patients, they ease the pain of the last days, quite often eliminating the need for strong drugs, which can make the patient somewhat less than human. They are useful in conjunction with many other forms of therapy. They are effective against a broad spectrum of malignant diseases, including cancers of the reproductive organs, the breast, the skin, the digestive system, connective tissues, and others (including Hodgkin's disease and leukemia)." - Enzymes & Enzyme Therapy, Anthony J. Chichoke, D.C., Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut, 1994, pages 193-194. Do You Have a Breast Lump? "The Janker Clinic's test results indicated that the benign lumps and painful processes disappeared in 90% of women using enzymes with vitamin E. Should the lump later reappear, a repeat course of enzyme tablets and vitamin E usually had the same positive result. This seems to be an almost harmless recipe, but one which is certainly capable of freeing many women of anxiety, thus sparing them other, more unpleasant, treatments." - Enzymes & Enzyme Therapy, page 192. Editor's Note: If possible, always use natural source vitamin E containing mixed tocopherols. (from http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/cancerpain.htm) Thermography Cancer was named by the ancients, after the great veins that usually surround the malignant growth, who compared them to the "claws of a crab" or "cancer" (Latin). - Reich (page 61). Editor's note: These great veins carry glucose to the cancer site. Also, the increased blood flow to the cancer creates a "hot spot" that is the basis for "thermography" which can see cancer years before "mammography". Mammography looks for the increased density of tumors. Thermography is a much more gentle procedure that does not require squashing the breasts (contributes to breast sagging), nor does it expose the breasts to cancer-causing radiation, making it much safer than mammography. Modern high-resolution thermography devices are much more accurate and reliable than mammography. For initial screening, thermography should replace mammography everywhere immediately. "A unique aspect of cancerous tumor growth is a process called neoangiogenesis (new blood-vessel growth). As the cells multiply, they need an increased blood supply to bring in nutrients and remove waste. This increase in circulation gives off heat. An infrared-type camera can detect this heat, giving the patient and doctor an opportunity to take action long before a tumor develops...thermography can see developing pathology eight to 10 years before any other method. This is well in time to take corrective measures to stop or reverse the deterioration. (My research and years of clinical experience suggest that one can usually reverse precancerous cells. Once they become cancerous, you are dealing with another animal entirely.)" - Dr. Robert Jay Rowen's Second Opinion, June 2002. (from http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/cancerpain.htm) Detoxing the Breast Cancer of the breast is the most common cancer among women. It is the second leading cause of death in women. It is estimated that each year there are 175,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer. And over 43,000 deaths occur each year due to breast cancer. The numbers say 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer! The human breast is a gland that contains milk ducts, lobes, fatty tissue, and a network of lymphatic vessels. While there may be many reasons why a woman may develop breast cancer, one of the major contributing factors seems to estrogen. Estrogen promotes cellular growth in the breast and reproductive organs. With many contributing factors to breast cancer and no absolutes, and sometimes no rhyme or reason, we know the best route to take is always prevention. So today we are talking about breast detoxification and prevention. • Clean that liver. When the liver is toxic the liver cannot Eat 5 fresh fruits and veggies daily. No under-wire bras • The connection between exercise and cancer is fairly new of research. Some studies suggest that getting regular exercise in youth might give life-long protection against breast cancer. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Do it today! "Valerie Saxion, N. D. earned her Doctorate in Naturopathy from Clayton College in 2000. She is not a medical doctor and her statements and recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." © 2003-2005 Valerie Saxion's Silver Creek Laboratories, Ltd. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/04/13/cancer-risk-part-one.aspx Let's not forget the primary cause of most all cancers: unresolved emotional traumas, often combined with a breakdown in your system due to an unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to toxins in your environment. (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/21/a-new-view-of-cancer-german-new-medicine.aspx and http://www.germannewmedicine.com) So if you want to know how to nip cancer in the bud -- before it ever begins -- pay close attention to these 12 lifestyle changes that can VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE your risk of cancer and chronic disease. These are the things that will truly keep you healthy -- in ways that a vaccine could never come close to. Twelve Changes That Will Cut Your Cancer Risk in Half Quitting smoking Exercising more Eating healthier food Getting recommended cancer screenings In 2005, over 1.3 million Americans will learn they have cancer, and of the expected 570, 280 cancer deaths it's estimated that more than 168,000 of those will be caused by tobacco use and one-third will be related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, being overweight or obese or other lifestyle factors. That makes up 62 percent of all cancer deaths. To show how an American could, in reality, reduce their death risk from cancer, one expert pointed out that quitting smoking would eliminate about 50 percent of cancer deaths, while maintaining a healthy body weight and exercising would eliminate another 10 percent. Another fraction would be reduced by regular cancer screenings, as some cancers, such as breast, colon and prostate cancers, are easily treated if caught early on before they spread. According to researchers, if all women between the ages of 50 and 79 got mammograms every year, breast cancer deaths would go down by nearly 40 percent. The easiest way to prevent cancer, according to the report, is to stop all use of tobacco. Education, excise taxes on cigarettes and clean air laws have all helped to get the nation's smoking rate down to below 25 percent, however, another major cancer risk, obesity, appears to be harder to slow down. Experts say making healthy food more easily accessible and increasing physical activity is a step in the right direction to tackling obesity, along with getting schools to remove sodas and other junk foods from their vending machines. Adult Cancer Risks More than one in four men and more than one in five women still smoke cigarettes. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight. That includes the 30 percent of us who are obese. Not quite half of U.S. adults get enough exercise. Only about one in four U.S. adults eats five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. American Cancer Society March 31, 2005 Dr. Mercola's Comments: Based on studies of human remains ranging from 5300 B.C. to the mid-19th century, we know that cancer used to be quite rare. Cancer is becoming a far more common problem in our culture. Earlier this year cancer passed heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. We are now up to 175 people EVERY HOUR being diagnosed with cancer and another 65 that are actually dying from cancer. Considering how important this issue is for nearly everyone you know, it might be a good one to forward to your friends and relatives. You can easily do this by using the E-mail to a friend button in the upper right hand section of this page, just under the search box. You can make a larger impact if you write them a personal message in the e-mail as to why they should seriously consider the advice--and why they may want to subscribe to the newsletter. What innovative medicines, technologies and strategies are suggested by the Cancer Society to slow the spread of cancer by an amazing 62 percent? Doing nothing more than making some simple lifestyle changes. Eat healthier foods (ideally based on your body's unique metabolic type). Incorporate more exercise in your daily routine. Stop smoking today. Schedule periodic cancer screenings. The American Cancer Society is as traditional as medical organizations come. It is reassuring that even their conservative researchers now suggest a 62 percent reduction with simple lifestyle changes. One of the skills my father drilled into me from early childhood was to never settle for second best. For the most part I haven't, and I would encourage you to follow that advice when it comes to cancer prevention. Why would you settle for a meager 62 percent reduction? I believe you can VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE your cancer risk if you follow risk reduction strategies that have not been formally "proven" yet by conservative researchers. Why do you want to wait another 20 or 30 years for these to be proven and risk falling into the group of 175 Americans that are being diagnosed with cancer every hour? In 25 years another 15 million will die from cancer. I suggest you get with the program now and save you and your family a cancer diagnosis. So what can you do to virtually eliminate your cancer risk? There are a number of simple, yet very powerful, steps you can take to radically lower your risk of cancer in the future. Some of the most important ones are as follows: Control your fasting insulin and leptin levels. This is the end result, and can be easily monitored with the use of simple and relatively inexpensive blood tests. Make certain that you limit your intake of processed foods, grain carbohydrate and sugars as much as possible. Yes, this is even true for whole unprocessed organic grains as they tend to rapidly break down and drive your insulin and leptin levels up, which is the last thing you need to have happening if you are seeking to resolve a cancer. Get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats and make sure you use cod liver oil (but not too much -- see Vitamin D article links below) if you don't have regular access to sun exposure. Normalize your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats by taking a high-quality krill oil or fish oil and reducing your intake of most processed vegetable oils. Get regular and appropriate exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks. Normalize your vitamin D levels and vitamin A levels with safe amounts of sunlight exposure and consider careful supplementation when this is not possible. This works primarily by optimizing your vitamin D level. If you have regular access to sun exposure then you should use fish oil, not cod liver oil, as your primary source of omega-3 fats. Ideally, it would be best to monitor your vitamin D levels. If you take oral vitamin D and have a cancer it would be very prudent to monitor your vitamin D blood levels regularly. Ideally, it would be best for all people to monitor their vitamin D levels. Only 25 percent of people eat enough vegetables, so by all means eat as many vegetables as your metabolic type allows. Ideally, they should be fresh and organic. However, please understand that, frequently, fresh conventionally grown vegetables are healthier than organic ones that are older and wilted in the grocery store. They are certainly better than no vegetables at all, so please don't use that as an excuse. If you are a carb metabolic type, you may need up to 300 percent more vegetables than a protein metabolic type. Eat according to your metabolic type. The potent anti-cancer effects of this principle are very much underappreciated. When we treat cancer patients in our clinic this is one of the most powerful anti-cancer strategies we have. Make sure you are not in the two-thirds of the population who are overweight and maintain an ideal body weight. Limit your exposure and provide protection for yourself from information carrying radio waves produced by cell phone towers, base stations, phones and WiFi stations. Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution. Have a tool to permanently reprogram the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is addressed. Energy psychology seems to be one of the best approaches and my particular favorite tool, as you may know, is the Emotional Freedom Technique. German New Medicine is another powerful tool. Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying or charbroiling them. Get a good night's sleep. Consume flax seeds (organic only) that have been freshly ground in a coffee grinder. The water soluble fibers (lignans) are a simple nutritious solution to decrease the risk of breast cancer and nicely complement your omega-3 fats. Breast massage and not wearing a bra to bed. Avoid push-up, strapless and tight-fitting bras that leave marks. Use broccoli sprouts as an adjunct to everything above. Eating sprouts is not the only course of action I recommend for preventing or treating breast and prostate cancer. Here are a few other guidelines: Lower iron levels by donating blood. Excess iron can be a major cause of many cancers. (IP6 and Artemisinin work by targeting the large amounts of iron in cancer cells). The bottom line: Eat nutritious (for your metabolic type) meals and get plenty of exercise if you want to reduce your risk of breast cancer. For starters, following the plan detailed in my Total Health Program will optimize your weight and familiarize you with the foods that ward off diseases. Additional guidelines to reduce breast cancer risks: Avoid sugar and grains Normalize your omega-3 and omega-6 fat ratios with fish oil Get plenty of exercise One of the newest things that I have learned to lower the risk of breast cancer is that you can improve the ability of your body to metabolize estrogen. It is well documented that excessive estrogen will increase the risk of breast cancer. One can actually measure the ratio of estrogen metabolites to determine how effectively a person is able to remove estrogen from their system. However, if the estrogen metabolite ratio is compromised there are several effective nutritional solutions to improve it. Consume omega-3 fats from cod liver and fish oil. The One Simple Thing You Can do to Radically Lower Your Risk of Cancer http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/03/08/staying-active-with-exercise-lowers-a-womans-breast-cancer-risks-for-a-lifetime.aspx Upwards of six hours of strenuous activity each week could reduce the risks of invasive breast cancer by as much as 23 percent. A recent survey of over 15,000 women shows that exercise has a lifelong protective effect against invasive breast cancer. The survey was of women between the ages of 20 and 69 living in Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. During structured telephone interviews, researchers questioned almost 8,000 women without breast cancer, more than 1,500 survivors of non-invasive breast cancer, and more than 6,000 survivors of invasive breast cancer. The women were asked about their physical activity, occupation, family history of breast cancer, menopausal status, and body mass index. A reduction in risk for women who exercised was apparent whether the physical activity took place early in life, in the postmenopausal years, or in the recent past. Sources: Dr. Mercola's Comments: Many don't realize my initial intention when I went to medical school was to help people use exercise to stay healthy. Virtually no one disagrees that it is essential to achieving health and treating illness. However, I have noticed that many physicians tend not to advocate exercise as much as they could. I suspect this is likely related in most cases to them personally not adopting exercise in their own life so it would be "hypocritical" of them to advise their patients to exercise when they aren't. This is certainly no |
