HPV and Oral Cancer – by Kevin Boehm, DDS
How To Improve Therapeutic Outcome Of Treatment – by Peter Glidden ND
Breast Thermography Improves Cancer Survival Rates – by Dr. Nicholas LeRoy, DC, Dipl. Ac
Breast Cancer Awareness: A Supportive Approach – by Dr. Marilyn Mitchell
Massage and Cancer: How to Be a “No Harm” Therapist and an Informed Recipient – by by Carrie Carone, LMT, CMT, LLCC
Using Energy Therapy with Cancer Patients – by Linda McCabe, BHS, Rev.

This year alone over 34,000 estimated new oral cancer or pharyngeal (throat) cancer cases with a resultant 8,000 deaths will originate in America, and an estimated 400,000 new world wide cases of oral/pharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed. The particularly high death rate with oral/pharyngeal cancer occurs not from being hard to recognize, but from its routinely late discovery in development. The death rate associated with oral cancer has now surpassed the rate of cervical cancer in women over the past few years. An estimated 50% of Americans do not visit their dentist regularly or at all. Put all these factors together, and a scary public health disaster appears on the horizon.


Risk factors associated with oral cancer are ethanol from drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking or chewing tobacco products, and HPV or Human Papilloma Virus infection. Some interesting odds for addiction associated with consumption of ethanol are 1 in 10, crack cocaine—1 in 6, and smoking cigarettes or other tobacco product usage—9 in 10!


I will spend a little time here showing how these three factors influence the cancer potential. HPV is a double-stranded DNA virus with 8 main genes, and two in particular, the HPV E6 and HPVE7 genes, that influence human cell DNA damage. In human cells pRb is a tumor suppressor gene which normally inhibits cell division unless enough of certain cell proteins are present for normal reproduction. If the viral (E7) gene binds to the human pRb, uncontrolled cell reproduction occurs, which is a sign of malignancy. The other human gene involved is p53. The gene p53 normally functions to halt cell division if cellular DNA damage is found and furthermore assists in DNA repair. If the DNA cannot be repaired, p53 induces apoptosis, or programmed normal cell death, so that abnormal cells cannot reproduce. If viral (E6) binds to human p53 and inactivates p53’s protective function, uncontrolled proliferation of damaged human cells results in tumor formation. In one study, Dr. Park et.al. showed links between epithelial cancers of the mucosal lining of the cervix and the oral cavity. The study showed that carcinogens from tobacco products induced DNA damage and that ethanol induced inhibition of p53 provided a dual pronged path to malignancy. Of 253 patients with head and neck cancer in a separate study conducted by Dr. Gillison et.al. at John’s Hopkins , 25% of these had samples taken from the tumors. Of those samples taken, 90% had HPV-16 present, which confirmed at least a strong viral component to those cancers.


HPV is a family of viruses fairly similar to the herpes simplex virus family. To date over 120 HPV’s have been identified, with only 9 found to have links to cancer development. Most are fairly innocuous, non-cancerous, and easily treatable. These mainly cause warts on the hands, feet, genitals, and inside the mouth. Some sexually transmitted forms of HPV seem to pose the greatest threat to cancer formation, including HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31 and HPV-45. HPV-16 and HPV-18 have been shown to cause up to 95% of cervical cancer in women, and with Dr. Gillison’s et.al. study noted above, HPV-16 is confirmed in oral cancer.


There is not yet any known “cure” for any viral infection much less an HPV infection, but for the common warts several options exist for removal. Freezing or cold cautery, laser treatment, electro-surgical removal, and conventional surgery may often be somewhat successful. I think homeopathy could play a greater role in prevention if only it were used more often, but treatment of warts is one thing, and treatment of cancer is quite another. Most conventional oral cancer treatments involve radical surgery, radiation, and possibly chemotherapy, which I believe we would all safely say everyone is most anxious to avoid.


With treatments begin what they are today, I would contend that prevention is the best medicine and always will be. Unfortunately in this case, brushing and flossing won’t help you. Perhaps extra antioxidants from your diet or supplements might help, but viral infection is a very different thing to tackle. When a virus meets a cell and inserts its DNA or RNA into our human cells, one of two things occurs. The virus can remain dormant in a lysogenic phase where the cell functions normally, or the cell enters a lytic phase where the virus takes over cell functions to make more viruses until it depletes the cell’s resources causing its death. Dormancy may last years.


Early detection is everything in every cancer, especially this one. The high death rate in oral cancer comes from late detection, and with 50% of Americans visiting their dentists infrequently or not at all, the statistic is unlikely to decrease. Your dentist has a number of early detection techniques aside from a visual assessment such as velscope or vizilite. These use fluorescent light to pick up abnormalities. Brush biopsy techniques allow cells to be collected and sent to a laboratory to check for abnormalities under the microscope. If any of these techniques show abnormalities, a surgeon would be referred to for further treatment. The other prevention related issue is HPV prevention or spread. If appears that most cancer related HPV’s are transmitted sexually. Use of condoms to prevent spreading HPV-16 and HPV-18 is helpful, as well as limiting numbers of sexual partners. Most importantly, frequent visits to your dentist will at least keep early detection a strong possibility in the field of prevention.


References

Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol.24/num17, June 2006. Carole Fakhry, MD, MPH and Maura L. Gillison, MD, PhD

New England Journal of Medicine, 2007. 356: 1944-56. D’Souza, PhD, Kreimer, PhD, Viscidi, MD, Pawlita, MD, Fakhry, MD, MPH, Koch, MD, Westra, MD, Gillison, MD, PhD.

Journal of Dental Research, 2007. 86(2): 104-114. Ragin, Modugno, Gollin

Journal of American Cancer Society, 16 Mar 2005. Shiboski, DDS, MPH, PhD, Schmidt, DDS, MD, PhD, Jordan, DDS, PhD

Back to Cancer Articles

The effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating adult-onset cancer was examined in an interesting medical study which was published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology – Volume 16, Issue 8, December 2004, pages 549-560. The authors were: Graeme Morgan, Associate Professor and radiotherapist at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney; Robyn Ward, a senior specialist in Medical Oncology and Associate Professor of Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, and Michael Barton, Research Director Associate Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Liverpool Health Service, Sydney. The title of the research paper was: The contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies. It was based on data from randomised-controlled trials (the gold standard of medical evidence) published from January 1990 to January 2004. Data were also obtained from the cancer registry in Australia and USA. The contribution of chemotherapy to survival of those over 20 years old and who suffered from 22 major cancers were studied, and the research conclusions were shocking: “The overall contribution of curative and adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3% in Australia and 2.1% in the USA.” In short, they said that the contribution of chemotherapy to cancer survivorship is not more than 3%! This means that chemotherapy is 97% ineffective (for those diagnosed with cancer who are 22years of age or older).


The average cost of one round of chemotherapy in the US is approximately $45,000.00. Most patients need at least 4 rounds. Cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs are also the only classification of prescription drugs that allows doctors to directly profit from their prescription. This means that your MD gets a cut of the cost of your treatment – a treatment that is 97% ineffective. Imagine for a moment what would happen if a chiropractor, naturopath, herbalist, or homeopath recommended that a patient take an exorbitantly expensive, harmful, and ultimately ineffective treatment for their cancer. What do you think the newspaper headlines following that story would be like? Our complacency as a society in the face of such an egregious medical therapy as chemotherapy is telling. We have effectively been brainwashed by the medical industry into being “OK” with the consistent and overarching prescription of crushingly expensive, harmful, and ridiculously ineffective chemotherapeutic drugs. We need to all collectively snap out of it and recognize that allopathic medicine has failed miserably to make any headway into the treatment of adult-onset cancer. Because of the HUGE amounts of money involves in the clinical application of chemotherapy, I doubt however that this will ever happen.


Well, you may wonder – “What about the wholistic treatment of cancer?” It obviously doesn’t work. Right? See – even you can’t bring yourself to really believe that Wholistic medicine has anything useful to bring to the cancer treatment table. Again – snap out of it! Your life is on the line.


Here is part of a monograph written by our friend Abram Hoffer, MD, about his experience with (Wholistic) cancer treatment. We met him briefly in Chapter 1. He is one of the pioneers of vitamin research in the field of applied clinical medicine. (This means that he uses vitamins as primary care to treat his patients.) He was Linus Pauling’s research partner for years, and is the founder of the “Orthomolecular” medical school of thought, which, much like Naturopathy, encourages the use of vitamins and nutritional supplements to treat disease. He has more experience with vitamin treatment than any other doctor currently alive, because – well, basically, he and Dr. Pauling invented vitamin therapy… It is reprinted here.


• An elderly woman (A.S.) appeared and when I asked her why she had come she replied that she had cancer of the head of the pancreas. She had developed jaundice. Her surgeon discovered she had a large tumor in the head of the pancreas which occluded her bile duct. He promptly operated, created a by-pass, and when she recovered from the anesthesia advised her that she had about 3 to 6 months to live. She worked in a book store. She had read Norman Cousins book, Anatomy of an Illness and thought that if he was able to take so much vitamin C with safety she could too and she began to take 10 grams each day. The next time she consulted her doctor she told him what she was doing. He referred her to me since he was familiar with my interest in mega doses of vitamins. I reviewed her program and increased her vitamin C to 40 grams daily trying to reach the sub laxative level. I had been using multi nutrients for my schizophrenic patients for many years and since I had no idea which, if any, of these vitamins might help I reasoned that she would have a much better chance if she also were to take more than one nutrient. I then added vitamin B-3, selenium, and zinc sulfate. Six months later she called me at home in great excitement. She had just had a CT scan. No tumor was visible. The CT scan was repeated by the incredulous radiologist. Her original bile duct had reopened and now she had two. She remained alive and well until she died February 19, 1999, nearly 22 years after she was told she would die.


• … In our two (more) recent studies, (Abe Hoffer and Linus Pauling) we concluded that the addition of vitamin C improved the outcome of treatment for cancer significantly and substantially. In the first study 134 patients seen between August 1977 and March 1988 were followed until December 31, 1989. We concluded that orthomolecular treatment given to female related cancers had improved life expectancy about 20 times compared to our non random controls and 12 times for other cancers. In our second paper a second cohort of 170 patients seen between April 1988 and December 31, 1989 was followed to December 31, 1992. These results were about the same as those we had published earlier. We concluded that while vitamin C alone led to about 10 % excellent responders the addition of the other nutrients increased this to about 40 %. Orthomolecular treatment improves the quality of life. It also decreases the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. The program is palatable. The only patients who could not follow it were those who were getting chemotherapy and suffered severe nausea and vomiting or patients who could not swallow because of lesions in their throat. Orthomolecular therapy provides a step forward in the battle against cancer and must be fully explored. There can be no logical reason today why most of the research funds should go only toward the examination of more chemotherapy and more ways of giving radiation. There must be a major expansion into the use of orthomolecular therapy to sort out the variables and to determine how to improve the therapeutic outcome of treatment.

WOW! Now remember – this is just two doctors’ experience with Wholistic cancer treatment, and their results were phenomenal! Just two! There are hundreds more. So why hasn’t serious research money been given to doctors working this angle of cancer treatment? Furthermore, why isn’t EVERY chemotherapy and radiation patient given a concurrent vitamin treatment? I guess an increased survivorship of 40% just isn’t good enough for the quack busting, know-it-all, head in the sand, allopathic oncologist. Oh! I almost forgot – A patient of mine is currently getting conventional allopathic treatment for pancreatic cancer (with metastases to the liver). His chemotherapy costs approximately $45,000 per 4 day session. He has had 3 sessions and needs 3 more. You do the math. With numbers like these, it is not hard to see why cancer research dollars go exclusively to allopathic drug research. Did I mention that one month of Hoffer’s vitamin protocol costs approximately $265! Are there any conclusions you would like to draw from these comparisons?


There is an Indian MD named Ramakrishnan. He has a clinic in Madras and has treated thousands of cancer patients with homeopathic medicine. He has a 32% success rate with liver cancer, 40% success rate with colon cancer, 80% success rate with prostate cancer, and a 45% success rate with uterine cancer. Remember – this is the clinical application of homeopathic medicine ONLY (which most MD’s consider placebo) – and he is getting this kind of success. Have you ever heard of him? Probably not. Has the American Cancer Society ever sent anyone to India to supervise, prove and document his work? No!


An educated person would think that the evidence presented by Hoffer, Pauling and Ramakrishnan alone would be compelling enough to stimulate SERIOUS research into the area of Wholistic cancer treatment (notwithstanding the clinical work done by hundreds of other physicians as well). Of course it is, and it should – but so far it hasn’t happened, and unless Oprah gets involved, it probably won’t. The money behind conventional allopathic cancer treatment is TOO HUGE for anything else to have a chance of even being looked at, unless it is by some miracle. So get out there and disrupt the next 5K Run for Breast Cancer Research event, would ya? All of those well intentioned, dedicated and honorable women have been sold a false bill of goods, and they don’t even know it. The only thing worse than being swindled like this is being given a diagnosis of cancer… with no Wholistic physician in sight, and the 97% ineffective, $45,000 toxic chemotherapy IV bag waiting in the wings.


If you are dead –set on having chemotherapy, then there are a great many things that you can do to help you body to deal with the negative effects of the treatment. A partial list is found below. It is taken from the book, “Cancer – An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment and Healing.” By Lise Aschuler, ND and Carolyn Gazella. ISBN-13 #978-1-58761-280-0. Dr Aschuler is the current president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and was for many years employed by Cancer Treatment Centers of America – the only oncology hospital in the US that uses vitamin therapy and directed clinical nutrition as adjunctive cancer treatment. The give their cancer patients directed naturopathic care to help offset the horrible side effects of conventional cancer treatment. If you are absolutely fixed on the notion of going forward with your chemotherapy, then being treated at CTCA will probably provide you a less brutal experience. However, if it were me, I would refuse chemotherapy altogether.


On a personal note, I have had 100% success in treating the nausea, vomiting and fatigue associated with chemotherapy with the following homeopathic medicines:


Nausea and vomiting: Start with homeopathic “Nux vomica 200C.” Give 2 pellets orally every 15 minutes until relief sets in, then stop. If, after stopping, the nausea and/or vomiting returns, just give 2 pellets every 15 minutes until relief sets in, then stop. If, after 2 hours of treatment (6 doses) there is no noticeable change, then give homeopathic “Ipecacuanha 200C” in the same dosage schedule. One of these medicines should produce significant improvement within 2 hours of taking it. I have seen this treatment work in 60 seconds.


Fatigue: Use homeopathic “Carbo vegetabilis 200C” in the same schedule as described above. It is very important when using homeopathic remedies to STOP giving them once remarkable relief sets in. If there is slow and steady improvement from the 15 minute doses, just keep giving it until the main brunt of the symptoms are gone – then STOP.


You can order these homeopathic medicines from a company called “Homeopathy Overnight.” Their phone number: 800-276-4223. Make sure to specify that you want each of the remedies in a “multi-dose” tube.


If the generic homeopathic treatments outlined above fail to produce the desired results, then your treatment will have to be individualized, and you would have to consult a homeopathic doctor to do that. It is well worth it. (I am available for phone consultations days/week – 630-428-9227)


Carbopaltin:
• Vitamins C, E, D, K – to support anticancer effects and improve overall tolerance.
• Alpha lipoic acid – to reduce nerve toxicity and protect hearing.
• Ginger – to reduce nausea.
Cispalatin:
• Vitamins A, E to reduce toxicity to nerves and support anticancer effects.
• Magnesium, Silymarin L-carnitine to reduce kidney damage.

Cyclophosphamine
• Ashwaganda, Astragalus to help prevent decrease in blood cell counts.
• Melatonin to reduce side effects.
Doxirubicin
• L-carnitine, CoQ10 to protect the heart.
• Melatonin, Vit D & Green tea to support antitumor activity.
Etoposide
• Vitamins E, D, C may increase anticancer activity.
Floxuridine
• Vitamins A, C, E, Curcumin, Panax ginseng, Green tea to increase antitumor activity.
• Ginkgo biloba to increase treatment tolerance.
• Probiotics to decrease GI toxicity.
Gemcitabine
• Melatonin to reduce side effects and support antitumor activity.
Ifosfamide
• Ginger for nausea.
• L-carnitine to reduce fatigue.
Methotrexate
• Soy, Folic acid may protect against GI tract toxicity.
• Fish oil, Vit E may increase anticancer effects.
Taxol
• Vit B6, L-glutamine to help prevent nerve damage.
• Melatonin, Green tea, GLA to increase anticancer activity.
Vincristine
• Fish oil may increase anticancer effect.

Back to Cancer Articles

Breast Thermography:

Infrared breast thermography is based on the fact that blood vessel activity surrounding a developing cancer is almost always higher than in normal breast tissue. With an ever-increasing demand for nutrients, cancerous tumor cells release chemicals that open existing blood vessels as well as create new ones. Vascular alterations resulting from cancer frequently result in temperature changes on the surface of the breast which can be demonstrated with infrared thermography. Thermal abnormalities identified with infrared imaging are among the earliest signs of a pre-cancerous or cancerous lesion of the breast. The ability of infrared thermography to identify these vascular abnormalities and the resulting temperature changes are well-established in research trials [1,2,3,4,5,6].
Obtaining thermal images of the breasts provides valuable information. This is especially true of women with large, dense, fibrocystic, or augmented breasts, which are usually difficult to image with mammography. Mammography is dependent upon the density and the size of a breast mass and any additional dense breast tissue makes interpretation difficult. Because thermography is not in any way impacted by density, cysts, or breast size (it is looking at blood flow), it is an extremely useful diagnostic tool to evaluate and manage these women.
For all women, a thermogram is like an infrared fingerprint of the breast. It will not change over time unless there has been an alteration in blood flow. It is for this reason that thermography is ideal not only for breast cancer screening, but also for monitoring suspicious findings identified with other tests such as ultrasound, mammography or with physical examination.
Thermography also has prognostic value. The more abnormal a thermogram is, the more likely the cancer is to be aggressive and spread rapidly. In fact, a persistently abnormal thermogram carries with it a risk of developing breast cancer that is 22 times greater than that of the average woman [7]. This knowledge is invaluable because steps can be taken to screen a high-risk candidate more often, leading to earlier diagnosis. Most experts agree that early diagnosis and treatment improves survival. Extensive clinical trials have shown that breast thermography improves long-term survival rates of its recipients by as much as 61% [1]. In addition to assisting with early diagnosis, an abnormal thermogram can allow a woman to adopt preventive strategies that may inhibit cancer from developing or decrease the likelihood that it will spread.

Infrared Technology
All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared radiation. Breast thermography utilizes a sophisticated infrared camera that captures digital images of the breast which can be directly converted into accurate temperature values. The resulting thermal images of the breast are a representation of blood flow and can be interpreted with computer assistance. Disorganized, asymmetric blood vessels not corresponding to the smooth, curvilinear vessels typically found in normal breasts are indicative of an abnormality. Additionally, high blood vessel temperatures represent excessive blood flow and are also characteristic of cancer [2].
Research: Thermography and Cancer Detection

Research: Thermography and Risk Evaluation

Breast Thermography and Mainstream Medicine
With the amount of research supporting the use of infrared thermography, it probably seems odd that mainstream medicine hasn’t embraced this innovative technology. Most physicians have not heard of it, and those who have dismiss it, claiming thermography is inaccurate. This misconception is the result of the Breast Cancer Detection and Demonstration Project (BCDDP), the most frequently quoted reason for the decreased use of thermography. The BCDDP was a large study that ran from 1973 to 1979 and collected data from many centers in the U.S. Its goal was to evaluate physician examination, mammography and infrared thermography.
From the BCDDP’s inception, there were significant flaws in the study design with respect to thermography. While the mammographic protocol was extensive and described in great detail, the entire protocol for thermography was outlined in one paragraph. The study required all mammographic centers to be trained and have expertise in mammography. The opposite was true for the thermography guidelines, where no training was required. In fact, only 5 out of 27 demonstration project centers had any expertise in infrared imaging [14].
Another substantial flaw with the BCDDP was that there was a lack of quality control in obtaining thermal images. Because infrared imaging is providing information relating to breast temperature, the environmental conditions in which the imaging is performed must be controlled. As a result, many of the thermograms included in the study were of little diagnostic value. To compound the problem further, no standardized reading protocol had yet been established for infrared interpretation. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that standardized interpretation guidelines were developed.
Due to the numerous flaws in study design and quality control, the initial thermographic results were disappointing and infrared imaging was dropped from further evaluation as part of the BCDDP. Consequently, mammography was found to be a useful screening tool and became the standard-of-care in breast screening. It is unfortunate that the substantial thermography research performed in the 1980s and 1990s was never enough to overcome the bias of hospitals and diagnostic centers who had invested in mammographic equipment; nor was it enough to convince the physicians trained to rely on mammography.

Screening Guidelines
Most thermography experts agree that the average woman should have an initial infrared scan by the age of 20; every three years between 20 and 30; and annually after the age of thirty. Women at a higher risk of breast cancer should be screened more frequently, as should women who have had breast cancer.

Conclusion
The American Cancer Society estimates that over 200,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. The average woman’s lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is 1 in 8. Research demonstrates that the earlier the detection of cancer, the better the prognosis. Studies have proven that infrared breast thermography identifies cancers not detected by mammography, assists in earlier detection, and improves survival rates by up to 61%. Because thermography does not use radiation or breast compression, it will not promote breast cancer nor cause unnecessary discomfort.

Another benefit of thermographic screening is that it provides invaluable risk assessment in the absence of demonstrable cancer. Research has indicated that a woman with otherwise healthy breasts but an abnormal thermogram is at much higher risk of developing breast cancer. This knowledge affords a woman valuable time to adopt aggressive cancer preventive strategies-many of which are proven to prevent or slow cancer growth. Additionally, a woman who is at higher risk can be screened with infrared thermography more often. Because a baseline thermogram is like a fingerprint of the breast, even the slightest alteration in blood flow can be identified and alert the administering physician that additional breast diagnostics, such as a mammogram or MRI, are advisable.
Sources:

Dr. Nicholas LeRoy, DC, Dipl. Ac. practices at the Illinois Center for Progressive Medicine in Chicago.
(312)243-3338
www.drnick.net

Back to Cancer Articles

Breast Thermography:

Infrared breast thermography is based on the fact that blood vessel activity surrounding a developing cancer is almost always higher than in normal breast tissue. With an ever-increasing demand for nutrients, cancerous tumor cells release chemicals that open existing blood vessels as well as create new ones. Vascular alterations resulting from cancer frequently result in temperature changes on the surface of the breast which can be demonstrated with infrared thermography. Thermal abnormalities identified with infrared imaging are among the earliest signs of a pre-cancerous or cancerous lesion of the breast. The ability of infrared thermography to identify these vascular abnormalities and the resulting temperature changes are well-established in research trials [1,2,3,4,5,6].
Obtaining thermal images of the breasts provides valuable information. This is especially true of women with large, dense, fibrocystic, or augmented breasts, which are usually difficult to image with mammography. Mammography is dependent upon the density and the size of a breast mass and any additional dense breast tissue makes interpretation difficult. Because thermography is not in any way impacted by density, cysts, or breast size (it is looking at blood flow), it is an extremely useful diagnostic tool to evaluate and manage these women.
For all women, a thermogram is like an infrared fingerprint of the breast. It will not change over time unless there has been an alteration in blood flow. It is for this reason that thermography is ideal not only for breast cancer screening, but also for monitoring suspicious findings identified with other tests such as ultrasound, mammography or with physical examination.
Thermography also has prognostic value. The more abnormal a thermogram is, the more likely the cancer is to be aggressive and spread rapidly. In fact, a persistently abnormal thermogram carries with it a risk of developing breast cancer that is 22 times greater than that of the average woman [7]. This knowledge is invaluable because steps can be taken to screen a high-risk candidate more often, leading to earlier diagnosis. Most experts agree that early diagnosis and treatment improves survival. Extensive clinical trials have shown that breast thermography improves long-term survival rates of its recipients by as much as 61% [1]. In addition to assisting with early diagnosis, an abnormal thermogram can allow a woman to adopt preventive strategies that may inhibit cancer from developing or decrease the likelihood that it will spread.

Infrared Technology
All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared radiation. Breast thermography utilizes a sophisticated infrared camera that captures digital images of the breast which can be directly converted into accurate temperature values. The resulting thermal images of the breast are a representation of blood flow and can be interpreted with computer assistance. Disorganized, asymmetric blood vessels not corresponding to the smooth, curvilinear vessels typically found in normal breasts are indicative of an abnormality. Additionally, high blood vessel temperatures represent excessive blood flow and are also characteristic of cancer [2].
Research: Thermography and Cancer Detection

Research: Thermography and Risk Evaluation

Breast Thermography and Mainstream Medicine
With the amount of research supporting the use of infrared thermography, it probably seems odd that mainstream medicine hasn’t embraced this innovative technology. Most physicians have not heard of it, and those who have dismiss it, claiming thermography is inaccurate. This misconception is the result of the Breast Cancer Detection and Demonstration Project (BCDDP), the most frequently quoted reason for the decreased use of thermography. The BCDDP was a large study that ran from 1973 to 1979 and collected data from many centers in the U.S. Its goal was to evaluate physician examination, mammography and infrared thermography.
From the BCDDP’s inception, there were significant flaws in the study design with respect to thermography. While the mammographic protocol was extensive and described in great detail, the entire protocol for thermography was outlined in one paragraph. The study required all mammographic centers to be trained and have expertise in mammography. The opposite was true for the thermography guidelines, where no training was required. In fact, only 5 out of 27 demonstration project centers had any expertise in infrared imaging [14].
Another substantial flaw with the BCDDP was that there was a lack of quality control in obtaining thermal images. Because infrared imaging is providing information relating to breast temperature, the environmental conditions in which the imaging is performed must be controlled. As a result, many of the thermograms included in the study were of little diagnostic value. To compound the problem further, no standardized reading protocol had yet been established for infrared interpretation. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that standardized interpretation guidelines were developed.
Due to the numerous flaws in study design and quality control, the initial thermographic results were disappointing and infrared imaging was dropped from further evaluation as part of the BCDDP. Consequently, mammography was found to be a useful screening tool and became the standard-of-care in breast screening. It is unfortunate that the substantial thermography research performed in the 1980s and 1990s was never enough to overcome the bias of hospitals and diagnostic centers who had invested in mammographic equipment; nor was it enough to convince the physicians trained to rely on mammography.

Screening Guidelines
Most thermography experts agree that the average woman should have an initial infrared scan by the age of 20; every three years between 20 and 30; and annually after the age of thirty. Women at a higher risk of breast cancer should be screened more frequently, as should women who have had breast cancer.

Conclusion
The American Cancer Society estimates that over 200,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. The average woman’s lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is 1 in 8. Research demonstrates that the earlier the detection of cancer, the better the prognosis. Studies have proven that infrared breast thermography identifies cancers not detected by mammography, assists in earlier detection, and improves survival rates by up to 61%. Because thermography does not use radiation or breast compression, it will not promote breast cancer nor cause unnecessary discomfort.

Another benefit of thermographic screening is that it provides invaluable risk assessment in the absence of demonstrable cancer. Research has indicated that a woman with otherwise healthy breasts but an abnormal thermogram is at much higher risk of developing breast cancer. This knowledge affords a woman valuable time to adopt aggressive cancer preventive strategies-many of which are proven to prevent or slow cancer growth. Additionally, a woman who is at higher risk can be screened with infrared thermography more often. Because a baseline thermogram is like a fingerprint of the breast, even the slightest alteration in blood flow can be identified and alert the administering physician that additional breast diagnostics, such as a mammogram or MRI, are advisable.
Sources:

Dr. Nicholas LeRoy, DC, Dipl. Ac. practices at the Illinois Center for Progressive Medicine in Chicago.
(312)243-3338
www.drnick.net

Back to Cancer Articles

Breast Thermography:

Infrared breast thermography is based on the fact that blood vessel activity surrounding a developing cancer is almost always higher than in normal breast tissue. With an ever-increasing demand for nutrients, cancerous tumor cells release chemicals that open existing blood vessels as well as create new ones. Vascular alterations resulting from cancer frequently result in temperature changes on the surface of the breast which can be demonstrated with infrared thermography. Thermal abnormalities identified with infrared imaging are among the earliest signs of a pre-cancerous or cancerous lesion of the breast. The ability of infrared thermography to identify these vascular abnormalities and the resulting temperature changes are well-established in research trials [1,2,3,4,5,6].
Obtaining thermal images of the breasts provides valuable information. This is especially true of women with large, dense, fibrocystic, or augmented breasts, which are usually difficult to image with mammography. Mammography is dependent upon the density and the size of a breast mass and any additional dense breast tissue makes interpretation difficult. Because thermography is not in any way impacted by density, cysts, or breast size (it is looking at blood flow), it is an extremely useful diagnostic tool to evaluate and manage these women.
For all women, a thermogram is like an infrared fingerprint of the breast. It will not change over time unless there has been an alteration in blood flow. It is for this reason that thermography is ideal not only for breast cancer screening, but also for monitoring suspicious findings identified with other tests such as ultrasound, mammography or with physical examination.
Thermography also has prognostic value. The more abnormal a thermogram is, the more likely the cancer is to be aggressive and spread rapidly. In fact, a persistently abnormal thermogram carries with it a risk of developing breast cancer that is 22 times greater than that of the average woman [7]. This knowledge is invaluable because steps can be taken to screen a high-risk candidate more often, leading to earlier diagnosis. Most experts agree that early diagnosis and treatment improves survival. Extensive clinical trials have shown that breast thermography improves long-term survival rates of its recipients by as much as 61% [1]. In addition to assisting with early diagnosis, an abnormal thermogram can allow a woman to adopt preventive strategies that may inhibit cancer from developing or decrease the likelihood that it will spread.

Infrared Technology
All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared radiation. Breast thermography utilizes a sophisticated infrared camera that captures digital images of the breast which can be directly converted into accurate temperature values. The resulting thermal images of the breast are a representation of blood flow and can be interpreted with computer assistance. Disorganized, asymmetric blood vessels not corresponding to the smooth, curvilinear vessels typically found in normal breasts are indicative of an abnormality. Additionally, high blood vessel temperatures represent excessive blood flow and are also characteristic of cancer [2].
Research: Thermography and Cancer Detection

Research: Thermography and Risk Evaluation

Breast Thermography and Mainstream Medicine
With the amount of research supporting the use of infrared thermography, it probably seems odd that mainstream medicine hasn’t embraced this innovative technology. Most physicians have not heard of it, and those who have dismiss it, claiming thermography is inaccurate. This misconception is the result of the Breast Cancer Detection and Demonstration Project (BCDDP), the most frequently quoted reason for the decreased use of thermography. The BCDDP was a large study that ran from 1973 to 1979 and collected data from many centers in the U.S. Its goal was to evaluate physician examination, mammography and infrared thermography.
From the BCDDP’s inception, there were significant flaws in the study design with respect to thermography. While the mammographic protocol was extensive and described in great detail, the entire protocol for thermography was outlined in one paragraph. The study required all mammographic centers to be trained and have expertise in mammography. The opposite was true for the thermography guidelines, where no training was required. In fact, only 5 out of 27 demonstration project centers had any expertise in infrared imaging [14].
Another substantial flaw with the BCDDP was that there was a lack of quality control in obtaining thermal images. Because infrared imaging is providing information relating to breast temperature, the environmental conditions in which the imaging is performed must be controlled. As a result, many of the thermograms included in the study were of little diagnostic value. To compound the problem further, no standardized reading protocol had yet been established for infrared interpretation. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that standardized interpretation guidelines were developed.
Due to the numerous flaws in study design and quality control, the initial thermographic results were disappointing and infrared imaging was dropped from further evaluation as part of the BCDDP. Consequently, mammography was found to be a useful screening tool and became the standard-of-care in breast screening. It is unfortunate that the substantial thermography research performed in the 1980s and 1990s was never enough to overcome the bias of hospitals and diagnostic centers who had invested in mammographic equipment; nor was it enough to convince the physicians trained to rely on mammography.

Screening Guidelines
Most thermography experts agree that the average woman should have an initial infrared scan by the age of 20; every three years between 20 and 30; and annually after the age of thirty. Women at a higher risk of breast cancer should be screened more frequently, as should women who have had breast cancer.

Conclusion
The American Cancer Society estimates that over 200,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. The average woman’s lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is 1 in 8. Research demonstrates that the earlier the detection of cancer, the better the prognosis. Studies have proven that infrared breast thermography identifies cancers not detected by mammography, assists in earlier detection, and improves survival rates by up to 61%. Because thermography does not use radiation or breast compression, it will not promote breast cancer nor cause unnecessary discomfort.

Another benefit of thermographic screening is that it provides invaluable risk assessment in the absence of demonstrable cancer. Research has indicated that a woman with otherwise healthy breasts but an abnormal thermogram is at much higher risk of developing breast cancer. This knowledge affords a woman valuable time to adopt aggressive cancer preventive strategies-many of which are proven to prevent or slow cancer growth. Additionally, a woman who is at higher risk can be screened with infrared thermography more often. Because a baseline thermogram is like a fingerprint of the breast, even the slightest alteration in blood flow can be identified and alert the administering physician that additional breast diagnostics, such as a mammogram or MRI, are advisable.
Sources:

Dr. Nicholas LeRoy, DC, Dipl. Ac. practices at the Illinois Center for Progressive Medicine in Chicago.
(312)243-3338
www.drnick.net

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when much attention is focused on the rising incidence of breast cancer and the benefits of screening and early detection of this condition. So, how do we approach breast cancer awareness in a positive way, and without fear?

In the U.S., we have more fear of breast cancer, and we have more breast cancer than other Western cultures. Fear is the predominant thought form surrounding cancer, and this may be a major precursor to cancer. Energetically, we create our bodies and life experience from the thought grids of BELIEF. Our media reflects and capitalizes on our fears. So, it is important to have awareness about these thought influences and choose how we respond to them. Cancer represents a breakdown in immune support, and fear erodes our self support.
So how do we cultivate awareness without instilling fear? We can first open our heart centers to ourselves and work to lead a healthy lifestyle. In our energy body, the 4^th chakra is responsible for supplying the breasts with energy. The 4^th chakra is the heart center, and women in our culture are often imbalanced in this center, especially when it comes to receiving love and compassion. We often lack compassion and generosity for ourselves. As a culture that relies more often on the “head” than the “heart”, it is interesting that heart disease and breast cancer are some of our biggest health risks.

Screening is also an important aspect of breast health awareness. Begin with breast self exam (BSE). This is a systematic palpation of the breast performed once per month. Women often ignore their breasts, and a self exam can be performed with an attitude of bringing positive energy and appreciation to them. Some have said that BSE is not useful in detecting breast cancer, but a woman’s intuition is very keen, and often works where other screenings fail. Doing a regular BSE brings our attention to the breast.

Technological screening comes in various forms. Mammogram is the standard screening tool used for detecting breast cancer and benign breast disease. This is the most used technology, uses low dose radiation, often enhanced with digital films and digital readings. Mammograms are able to detect masses before they are palpable, but are not a perfect test. Another screening is ultrasound, which is most helpful in imaging cysts. Ultrasound is usually an adjunct to mammogram, as it does not image solid tumors as clearly as fluid-filled ones. MRI is sometimes used as a follow up to mammogram.

Thermogram is a screening exam that accesses the heat or thermal changes in the breast (reflecting blood flow). This is a screening that does not involve radiation or compression of the breast. There is much interest growing around this technology, but it is not yet in widespread use, and does not yet have long term data and success at detection that mammogram has.

If you get a diagnosis of breast cancer, be sure to build a team of support around you and a holistic plan of care. Make sure you have medical, emotional, nutritional support, as well as supportive relationships. Seek out a support group or therapist if you need it. Be sure to choose positive thought patterns to support you. Become empowered to be the leader in your health care.

Breast Health: what can you do?

• Mindfulness practice to balance the heart center
• Compassion for yourself
• Gratitude
• Screenings (BSE, Mammogram, US, Thermogram)
• Evaluate your risk factors
• Adopt healthy habits (diet, sleep)
• Eliminate carcinogens and irritants
• Vitamins/supplements/antioxidants
• Eliminate TV news and sensational media sources (toxic)
• Watch your thoughts, choose positive patterns
• Encourage family and friends to join you in a healthful way of life
• Surround yourself with mutual supportive relationships
• If you have cancer, become empowered

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Cancer treatment has changed the rules of engagement for massage therapists, and for cancer survivors who receive massage.

30%-40% of breast cancer patients, who have had lymph nodes removed or radiated, will develop Lymphedema. The statistics are staggering and somewhat difficult to anticipate. The risk is the same, whether 2 or 20 nodes are affected and the potential for developing lymphedema exists for the duration of that person’s life.

Recently, in a phone conversation with a surgical nurse here in Chicago, the subject of Lymphedema came up and she asked, “Well, if someone has gone for one year after surgery and treatment and haven’t developed lymphedema, then they won’t, right?” Unfortunately, that isn’t true. This is an example of how little information, or how much misinformation there is about lymphedema.

Lymph nodes do not regenerate after being removed or damaged, nor does the fluid volume or rate of fluid exchange in a given quadrant change. This leaves the remaining lymphatic network of the affected quadrant working overtime to process the original volume.

The body is incredibly adaptive and may either reroute excess fluid from the affected quadrant to another, healthier group of lymph nodes, or the remaining lymphatic network will continue working overtime to maintain the limb’s fragile fluid balance. This adaptation may be successful for the rest of that person’s life and they may never develop lymphedema, but the lymphatic system of that compromised quadrant can potentially be overloaded at any time, even years after surgery.

Most women entering into surgery are given an informative flyer about lymphedema beforehand, or their discharge nurse may offer a word of advice when they leave the hospital. With so little emphasis placed on this important subject, most women never give the issue a second thought. They are happy to have their lives back and few remember hearing any warnings about lymphedema or take any preventative measures against it.

What does this mean in terms of massage therapy? It means that any massage technique that turns the skin red is contraindicated on the affected quadrant. Deep tissue work can trigger an inflammatory response and may bruise, or damage tissue. This may not necessarily cause lymphedema, but any additional load on the weakened lymphatic system, may create an invitation.

Again, this Quadrant Principle holds true only for the affected quadrant. Light effleurage, stroking away from axilla, (or groin if inguinal nodes are affected) can be done.

Familiarize yourself with the basic lymphatic pathways. If you see several clients who have had surgery involving lymph nodes, you may want to take a class in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, or Lymph Drainage Therapy. Nearly every therapist will have an opportunity to use the information.

Finally, remember that information is power, but so is touch.

The power of touch, from gentle massage to handholding, are profoundly beneficial to the receiver. Massage improves immune function, helps to elevate treatment side effects like nausea or pain, helps to replace feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety with a sense of wellbeing and reduces levels stress. Conscious touch is a gift.
References:

• Medicine Hands: Massage Therapy for People with Cancer by Gayle MacDonald
• Massage Therapy Journal: Fall 2006- Massage and Cancer, Part II, by Tracy Walton
• Oncology Massage Matters.com: Isabel Adkins
• National Lymphedema Network- www.lymphnet.org

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My greatest blessing in this last year has been the opportunity to use Energy Therapy with cancer patients.

As an Energy Therapist my work focuses in the energy field that surrounds the body and inter-penetrates the body, also known as the Auric Field. The primary intention of this work is to resolve stagnated or congested energy configurations before they can manifest in the physical body or in life circumstances as physical or emotional dis-ease. As we use light touch to clear the energetic congestion, we allow fresh life force to flow into areas previously blocked, thereby renewing health on every level: physically, emotionally and spiritually. The difference is often felt immediately.

These last several months working with a few dozen cancer patients I noticed some things that seem to be particular to that population and might be of some help if you or someone in your life has received a cancer diagnosis.

When there is serious illness, the focus is almost exclusively on treating the body part or system. Indeed we are fortunate that medical advances offer hope and success for so many diseases. However in the urgency and complexity of medical treatment, the personhood of the terrified client can be left unattended or overlooked.

One woman, newly diagnosed, told me, I feel just sucked into this whole vortex of tests, drugs, scary treatments, and people who don’t even know me telling me what to do, telling me what my life will be. She went on to say, And telling people is hard, too. I’m worried that those people will forever after look at me and see ‘cancer’ instead of seeing me.

In the specialized focus of medicine so often the patient can feel brushed aside or lost-even to themselves. This is a commonly reported experience. Our opportunity is clear; more is needed than traditional medicine can provide. Here is where the complementary therapies are being integrated into the Healing Plan.

At the beginning of a session I ask the patient, What is this like for you? And so often they pause, surprised, and with a wave of emotion say, No one has asked me that. That first question is my invitation to bring all parts of the self, not just the compliance and the courage (being a ‘good patient’), but everything-the fears, despair, hopefulness or hopelessness, reluctance to ask for support, embarrassment, sometimes even things they cannot reveal with their family. Being present with whatever is here in the moment is the beginning of the client reclaiming themselves.

I have developed two vital tracks or two ways of working with clients on this special healing journey:

Providing a Safe Container to receive and see the unique essence of each person and help them stay centered while they navigate these rough waters. I use a lot of guided imagery to reinforce the experience of safety, groundedness and empowerment. One patient told me, This is the one treatment I look forward to, I am always happy on Tuesdays when I’m coming to see you. I make sure to use techniques they can use at home.

Sessions are directed by the needs of each individual. Sometimes we might meditate or pray together, we may laugh and cry and talk, or spend the entire hour doing relaxation. I use soothing music and organic aromatherapy to invite all the senses to participate in the deeply relaxing experience. Clients report immediately feeling deep relaxation, inner peace and a sense of well-being.

He was close to giving up. A gentleman in his fifties, ‘Juan’, was exhausted and in constant pain. During chemo treatments some of his fellow patients talked about their second and third recurrences. ‘Juan’ said, What’s the point of all this fighting? It’s so hard, I’m so tired-Why fight it if I’m just coming back in two years to go through all this again? I acknowledged that those are their stories, and invited him to write his story. He gasped, and through his tears said, That’s right, how did I forget! Those are their stories. Yes, What’s my story? In that moment, ‘Juan’ came back into possession of the authorship of his recovery, and of his life.

And as one client summed it up– Those other treatments are for the cancer, this treatment is for me!

Assisting the Physical Healing by restructuring any aspects of the body or field that have been depleted or damaged in the course of surgery, strong medicines, radiation or complications. The energy work helps rebuild, balance and charge the field and each of the energy centers. In this model since the energy field precedes the physical body, then bringing the field back into health and balance hastens the physical recovery. Every session allows the client to actively refresh the life force flowing through the body and energy field. The innate healing intelligence of the body is activated. Patients report feeling much stronger as a result of sessions and notice reductions or even elimination of side effects. Sometimes surprising things happen.

‘Maggie’ was brought to me as a last resort. In her 80’s, she was so depleted and despondent that they weren’t sure she was strong enough to continue treatment. When I met her she stared down at the ground, unfocused, no eye contact, completely unresponsive. One hour later at the end of the first session she looked me in the eye and said, Thank you dear, that was lovely. After another session or two she was walking without assistance, smiling and initiating conversations. In addition, to the doctors’ surprise and satisfaction her tumor reduced and she has completed her treatment.

Any illness can wind up being a pivot point in life. The challenges and rewards exist on all levels of the bodymind. Often the doctors can provide the cure, but only the client can provide the healing.

I am so very grateful to do this work and to always leave room for all possibilities.

Linda McCabe also sees clients in her private practice in Lincoln Square in Chicago. For more information about Linda’s work, click here for her full profile.

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