Breast Health

– What You Don’t Know Can Harm You and What You Can Do About It

by Julie Gengo

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

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

So when and how do we prevent this challenging disease? Experts are telling us that it is never too early to begin breast cancer prevention. From the time you are born, healthy cells are developing in your breasts. What you put into your body from a nutrition standpoint can determine how strong these cells become and ultimately how protected you really are. Did you know that MSG found in processed baby food and formula can contribute to the development of breast cancer cells? And that MSG is found in the coating of non-organic vegetables that are sprayed with a sealant to makes them shinny? According to Dr. Russell Blaylock in his book "Health and Nutrition Secrets" he emphasizes that: "MSG, free glutamate and other excitotoxins produce enormous amounts of free radicals in tissues... which are a major cause of cancer induction in tissues and organs." MSG is just one ingredient that can shift a healthy breast into a diseased breast. Just as toxic food substances can cause negative changes, cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli have been well documented as having anti-cancer properties. Eating more of these vegetables can be a good preventative measure and is tasty and nutritious too!

It is clear that nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining optimal breast health. At HealthWalk™, we emphasize prevention through personalized nutritional support based on scientific observations of your current health status. Using a leading edge technology called Functional Endocrinology, that analyzes "Blood based Bio-Markers" derived from blood serum, our practitioners can create a nutrition plan that will support optimal beast health and prevent disease.

Unfortunately poor nutrition choices from as early as infant years can lead to hormonal imbalances linked to breast diseases and breast cancer. Since an increase in estrogen levels is directly associated with the formation of breast tumors, determining hormone levels at an early age can provide you with enough information to guide you to make the necessary changes to prevent cancer cells from forming. At HealthWalk™ the first step we take is analyzing live blood through Vital Hematology where the practitioner can immediately see hormone imbalances. The practitioner may then recommend a saliva hormone test that pinpoints quantitative hormone and adrenal levels and other specifics.

Another approach that HealthWalk™ practitioners use to assist in the prevention process is Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) – an advanced biofeedback modality that energetically measures imbalances in the body’s meridians. As the stomach is one of the key organs whose meridian passes through the breasts, proper nutrition absorption and mal-absorption will ultimately affect the health of breast tissue.

As I have briefly discussed, a focus on prevention is key to maintaining optimal breast health. If you want to learn about your breast health, what are your choices?

For years mammograms have been the main tool used to detect breast tumors in women over 40 years old. However there has been rising questions on the effectiveness and safely of this tool. Recently, some critics are saying that mammography can actually do more damage than good as up to 70 – 80% of all positive results do not show any presence of cancer after a biopsy is done. This can lead to both emotional and financial stress. Then there is the radiation exposure to consider. Dr. John W. Gofman, author of "Preventing Breast Cancer: The Story of a Major Proven Preventable Cause of this Disease," estimates that 75 percent of breast cancer could be prevented if exposure to ionizing radiation from mammography and other sources were minimized. In fact since the inception of mammography to the marketplace, the incidence of a type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has increased by 328 percent. However, one of the gravest concerns with mammography is that it doesn’t detect breast cancer until it is has be growing for up to eight or more years.

There is an alternative to mammography that is not only safe, but also much more effective as it can detect possible breast cancer tumors six years earlier than a mammogram can. This FDA approved technology called Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows the practitioner to visualize and quantify changes to skin surface temperature. DITI is an easy process that is pain free and has zero radiation. At HealthWalk™ our DITI scans are reviewed by medical doctors certified by ACCT at Duke University Medical School to ensure that we provide you with the best service and evaluation available. In addition to detecting breast cancer cells, DITI can accurately view the whole body’s structural problems, organ functioning, glandular activity and other imbalances that can lead to disease including breast cancer.

With a holistic and comprehensive approach to achieving optimal breast health, HealthWalk™ is a support center that is dedicated to allowing you to thrive throughout every month of the year.