I had my first Mammogram in 2005.  It was my first and last.  It showed I had a spider web of cancer in my left breast and within 6 months my breasts were taken and they gave me a new set and I’ve been told I never can or need to do a Mammogram again.  One of the few benefits I have discovered from my experience.  I never have to be exposed to the discomfort or the radiation of that type of MRI again.  At the same time it is a necessary evil.  And I worry some times that now it is harder to find out if I have cancer or not because I can’t have a mammogram.
We all know the statistics, but just in case you are new to the knowledge, one in 8 women will face breast cancer.  The National Breast Cancer Foundation claims that 200,000 women are diagnosed each year with breast cancer, and 40,000 die.  About 1,700 men will be diagnosed and 450 will die.  It is recommended that women in their 40s need to have a mammogram at least once every two years.  I would argue that women need to be examined in some way by the time they are 35.  Too many younger women are dying from the disease.  At the same time articles like this one, scream that mammograms are not safe and may cause cancer, yet I got the disease before even having one.  I am all for though finding ways to ensure one finds the cancer before the cancer kills the patient.  There are so many factors that may cause the cancer.  Just review this article about the importance of detecting the cancer early.  The article also talks about what to expect or how to prepare for a mammogram and how to pay for it.  If you feel you need one there are ways to get it for free.  Look around.  Ask.  Call your local cancer organizations.  Also though there is hope for a new way to detect the cancer that will eliminate the use of radiation all together.  I am decidedly for that.  The procedure is called Thermal Imaging.

I was first exposed to the idea of Thermal Imaging about a week after my mastectomy.  I was and am incredibly active.  I thought the worst thing that could happen to me was a car accident I had in 1997 that injured my right knee and left me dealing with knee pain that inhibited my activities for years- until cancer.  Well I am home from the Hospital in September of 2005.  Los Angeles used to have a country music station based out of Burbank and I loved this song called “Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy,” a band called King Straggler (that helped saved my life- I’ll tell that story another time- and John Rodney and Brentley rock), and a song called “Half a Heart Tattoo” cause they made me smile and I would surf over to listen.  Well I think King Straggler was supposed to be on and I heard this announcement that one of the DJ’s was having a Breast Cancer Lunch at the radio station cause they had a team walking in the Avon walk the next week.  They asked for people to join them.  Well I called them up.  The cancer kind of made me fearless.  I asked if I could come.  To my shock they said yes.

A week after my mastectomy, I found myself sitting at the radio station listening to doctors and experts and Avon reps discuss the cancer I had just had cut from my body.  One of the reps was from a new facility conducting breast exams with thermal imaging.  At the time I don’t believe the FDA had approved the procedure, but they were working for it. I found the concept incredibly intriguing.  It meant that even someone like me could get examined in a comfortable manner to determine if I had cancer, without radiation or having any part of my body clamped into a device.  The organization that was there that day was called “Proactive Breast Solutions” (locations in CA and AZ) and at the time they were not free and I don’t know if insurance covered them.  According to their site they are offering low cost or free screening, but check the guidelines and see if you qualify. I am actually thinking of contacting them because of pains I’ve had periodically in my chest since the cancer, and since I know I can’t have any form of radiation right now due to my implants.  At the same time, please check with your doctors.  Don’t listen to my advice.  Read on line about the options.  I just would love to see the day no woman has to have their chest flattened and radiated.  It is not fun.  Men like our bumps, but I wish they really understood what we have to do to keep them healthy and what we have to endure when God takes them from us.  They should appreciate us, and if they like our chest, understand how valuable and fragile they really are.    Also, every thermal imaging site I see on line, all say that mammograms are still necessary and important.  Talk to the experts. 

Well a few months ago I attended a walk a thon for cancer (and I am working up to writing about it) and I received information about the same procedure by a group called Innovative Thermal Imaging.  (I met Dr. Hillary Smith- she seemed very nice.)  According to their material, they are now FDA approved.  And now you can get full body scans. According to their material they can detect cancer 4 years before a mammogram will.  Also according to the material they gave me, to my shock, I was probably caring the cancer in my body for years prior to its detection.  Kind of scary to me, though for two years prior to my diagnosis I kept getting nasal infections.  The imaging is called DITI or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging.  It takes about 15 minutes and apparently can detect the cancer that self exam and mammograms might miss.  All your exams are kept on record.  In fact they need to determine what your stable thermal pattern is and use the exams as a way to compare and determine changes. It is also apparently best for younger women who are 30 to 50 when breast tissue is denser and harder to exam with a mammogram.  It can also be used to determine if an area of the breast needs to be examined with a mammogram.  Now they do not claim that mammograms are not necessary.  However, they do suggest that they be put off until one is older.  One should also have monthly self exams and regular exams by a health care practitioner.  The Innovative Thermal Imaging site also has info on lymphatic message and overall breast health.  Again, though understand, talk to several doctors.  This procedure may not be available where you are right now, though if it is low cost, I think it would be nice if it could be.  I don’t like going to walks for cancer and seeing pictures of young women who never got out of college or lived but who were taken by a disease that can be beat if found early.  I am trying to find out if the procedures are covered by insurance.  I will post when I find the answer to that question.  If I can find a way to go through the procedure myself I will also let you know what I think. 

Peace and best and always keep an open mind.  Research and read and talk to those in the know.  Always get more than one opinion, but don’t wait if your life is at stake.  Keep stress free and eat right and laugh.  I know all of these things are hard to do.