We all know someone in our life that has been touched by breast cancer. Sister, mother, aunt, daughter, cousin, friend. Keeping our breasts healthy is important and should be a priority. As women, we often put everyone ahead of ourselves. Prioritizing the health of our children and spouses often out ranks our own. When we get sick, the ship often sinks right along with us.

There are many things we can do to keep our breasts healthy as we age, the main focus being breast cancer prevention.

THERMAL IMAGING TO KEEP BREASTS HEALTHY

One preventative technique is breast thermography, or thermal imaging. Breast thermography is a non-invasive, no-touch, painless test that does not involve radiation. Instead, it uses an ultra-sensitive camera to produce high-resolution, infrared photographs, or heat images, of the breast.  Thermography has been around since the 1960s. However, this technology has advanced dramatically in more recent years and is becoming more sought out as more people become interested in alternative therapies. 

Thermography is based on the scientific premise that for abnormal cells to grow, they must have an increased blood supply. Digital infrared imaging detects subtle changes in the breast by revealing areas of heat or cold. When a tumour develops, cancer cells grow, and these cells need additional blood to reproduce. A tumor will therefore appear as a hot spot in thermography images. Although the test cannot confirm that cancer is present, it can show changes that may require additional investigation.

EARLY DETECTION

Particularly useful for early detection and monitoring, some studies have shown that thermography can detect areas of concern up to eight years before abnormalities are seen with a mammogram. Thermography is designed to improve early detection for fast-growing, active tumors in the intervals between mammogram screening, or in women who are under the mammogram screening guideline age.

According to the American College of Clinical Thermology, thermography can detect changes that may indicated various conditions such as:

• cancer
• fibrocystic disease
• infection
• vascular disease

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Suzanne Sutherland, a certified thermographic technician. “What I love about thermography is that it’s preventative as well as totally safe, non-invasive, and radiation free. I feel it’s a very powerful tool”. Ms. Sutherland has been using thermography imaging on her clients for over 10 years in both Calgary, Alberta and North Vancouver, British Columbia. She stresses that thermography can safely be used on women of all ages, including women with breast implants.

PREVENTION IS KEY

“Early detection is important, but prevention is the key”. Ms. Sutherland feels that breast thermography is one of the best early detection systems available today and has made these words her professional mantra.

Of course, thermography should still be used in conjunction with other screening methods but by having an annual thermogram, women can learn what is normal for them and monitor changes from one year to the next. The more tools in our toolbelt, the better!

KEEP YOUR BREASTS HEALTHY!

Some other ways to keep our breasts healthy include jumping on a rebounder (mini-trampoline), standing on a vibrating plate, breast massage, lymphatic drainage, and adding green tea and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts to your diet. Cruciferous vegetables contain substances that help detoxify estrogen through the liver.

Another health tip I employ to keep my breasts healthy is weekly or bi-weekly (or daily – the more often the better!) breast massage with the essential oils frankincense and myrrh mixed with a carrier oil. I use 2 drops of each EO with about 1 tbsp of a carrier oil such as jojoba, coconut or castor oil. This was suggested to me by my thermography practitioner who has witnessed healthy changes in breast tissue with this method.

Go braless when you can – or at the very least be sure to wear a good-fitting bra in a natural fibre and avoid underwire bras. A study done between 1991-1993 by Sidney Ross Singer, Medical Anthropologist and Director of the Institute for the study of Culturogenic Disease and the co-author of Dressed to Kill, The Link between Breast-Cancer and Bras, found that bra-free women have about the same risk of developing breast cancer as men, while the risk in women wearing tighter bras for longer periods of time was significantly higher. Women using bras 24/7 were at risk almost 100 times more then those who went bra-free.

Be pro-active and take care of your health!

You can reach out to Suzanne Sutherland at https://www.breastthermography.ca or to find someone who practices Thermography in your area please visit: thermologyonline.org

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A big part of taking care of your health is ensuring that you’re moving your body enough, which can be difficult during quarantine. Read our blog about how you can get more physical activity while staying safe during a global pandemic here.