Early Breast Cancer Detection

Most women are familiar with mammography asmeasures heat emitted from the body and is
our "gold standard" for breast cancer screening.accurate to 1/100th of a degree. DITI examines
However, there are additional tools available thatphysiology, NOT structure. It is in this capacity
women can add to their arsenal.that DITI can monitor breast HEALTH over time
One of the most effective tools in breast cancerand alert a patient or physician to a developing
screening is breast self-exam (BSE). However,problem; possibly before a lump can be seen on
BSE works best when women are appropriatelyX-ray or palpated clinically. There are no test
trained in the procedure, and then followed-uplimitations such as breast density. DITI is a
with annual clinical breast exams (CBE) from theirnon-invasive test that does not emit radiation.
physicians. In a 2000 University of Toronto study,The unique characteristics of cancer allow DITI to
approximately 20,000 women were screened fordetect breast cancer at an earlier stage of
breast cancer with BSE and annual CBE, andgrowth. As cancer is developing, it builds its own
20,000 were screened with BSE andblood supply which is then reflected as increased
mammograms. After more than 10 years, theheat in that particular region of the breast. DITI
BSE and annual CBE reported 610 cases ofhas a specificity of 83%; which reflects a problem
invasive breast cancer, and 105 deaths. In thein its early stages of development not late-stage
BSE and mammogram group, there were 622cancer as in mammography. An abnormal
cases of invasive breast cancer and 107 deaths.thermogram carries a 10-times greater risk for
Without question, the first line of defense againstcancer and a persistently abnormal thermogram
breast cancer begins with diligent BSE.carries a 22-times greater risk for cancer.
Other tools that are available to women includeClinical research studies continue to support
the AMAS (anti-malignan antibody screen) testthermography's role as an adjunctive tool in
and the NMP Nuclear matrix protein) test. Bothbreast cancer screening and the ONLY tool that
these are blood tests that measure a certainmeasures breast health over time. There are now
protein in the blood that may indicate cancer. Themore than 800 publications on over 300,000
AMAS test has been around for several yearswomen in clinical trials. A recent finding published in
while the NMP test has not been available untilthe American Journal of Radiology in 2003 showed
only recently. Clinical trials continue in this area.that thermography has 99% sensitivity in
One additional tool that may detect an issue earlyidentifying breast cancer with single examinations
is digital infrared thermal imaging or DITI. In 1982,and limited views. Scientists concluded that a
the FDA approved thermography as annegative thermogram is powerful evidence that
adjunctive tool for breast cancer screening. DITIcancer is not present.