Fact: the actual “balance of estrogen” is important when we talk about reproductive health and effects on fertility; more than the level of one estrogen or the other. In order to achieve system-wide hormonal balance, you need to know about estrogen, how it is metabolized by the body (estrogen metabolism), and how to keep it balanced with other hormones related to your reproductive wellness.

Estrogen dominance, or increased estrogen relative to progesterone levels (or to testosterone levels in men), is a big problem in the modern world for many reasons. Estrogen production can be greater for certain individuals (those who are obese for example), there can be problems with the way estrogen is metabolized, and there can be an increased intake of xenoestrogens (which are external forms of estrogen mimickers or foreign estrogens)—all of which can contribute to estrogen dominance.

Estrogen Science You Need to Know

There are three types of natural estrogens in the body:

• Estrone or E1 is the type of estrogen predominant in the body after menopause.
• Estradiol or E2 is a particularly strong form of estrogen that the ovaries make during the reproductive years.
• Estriol or E3 is a weak form of estrogen seen in the body mainly during pregnancy.

There are two estrogen receptors (binding proteins) in the body; alpha and beta receptors. Alpha receptors promote the growth of cells and beta receptors block cell growth. Estriol binds to alpha receptors, while estradiol binds to both alpha and beta receptors. Estriol blocks cell growth because it primarily binds to the beta receptors.

Estrogen metabolism:

Estrogen needs to be broken down when it is no longer needed. There are two pathways to estrogen breakdown. The first leads to 2-hydroxyestrone and the second leads to 16-hydroxyestrone. It turns out that 2-hydroxyestrone is healthy for you because it blocks the type of estrogen that can possibly lead to certain reproductive cancers. On the other hand, 16-hydroxyestrone is inflammatory and is linked to high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, low thyroid conditions, obesity, and toxicity from pesticides. Too much 16-hydroxyestrogen has been associated with lupus, other autoimmune diseases, and breast cancer.

The Risks of Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance or “too much estrogen” has been linked to many health problems. Exactly why there is so much estrogen dominance in developed countries lately isn’t known but it certainly can be related to our diet, exposures to pesticides or herbicides, and the presence of xenoestrogens in products we use every day & our stress load. Estrogen dominance is a problem facing men and women alike.

Estrogen dominance in women is associated with many possible symptoms. These include the following:

Men can have issues with estrogen dominance as well. Things men might experience include breast enlargement, infertility, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer.

Controlling Estrogen Metabolism With Diet

Too often people jump right to hormonal treatments when we should take a step back and work to restore function within the body. In cases where estrogen dominance has caused serious conditions such as endometriosis, these recommendations will help improve symptoms, but the root cause must be assessed & addressed to allow the body to heal.

The goal of managing estrogen in your body is to make sure you don’t eat too much in your diet, don’t get exposed to foreign estrogens or “xenoestrogens”, and promote the breakdown of estrogen in a healthier way. As you can imagine, it is better to metabolize estrogen so you have more protective 2-hydroxyestrone than 16-hydroxyestrone.

There are things you can do to shift your estrogen metabolism toward having more 2-hydroxyestrone made as a metabolite. These are a few measures you can take:

• Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, turnip greens, Bok choy, wasabi, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, greens, and cauliflower, which are high in indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane (DIM) that help regulate estrogen metabolism.
• Consume more omega-3 fatty acids that you find in fish (wild caught) like salmon, sardines and cod liver oil, cage-free eggs, avocado, nuts, and flaxseed products.
• Eat foods high in vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate.
• Lose weight and exercise more. The fat in your body stores excess estrogen, contributing to estrogen dominance.
• Consume prebiotic and probiotic foods to help rebalance your gut microorganisms, having a big effect on estrogen balance in the rest of the body.
• Reduce stress, because this can increase cortisol levels, offsetting the balance of estrogen and progesterone in your body.
• If you eat meat, choose organic, grass-fed meats and dairy products, which are free of the hormones fed to non-organically raised beef.
• Try anti-inflammatory plant-based herbs like Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale).
• Eat a lot of fiber in your diet, which will decrease estrogen absorption in the food you eat and will increase fecal estrogen excretion.
• Decrease alcohol intake because alcohol can block estrogen metabolism and will increase the body’s estradiol levels.
• Think about supplements that restore estrogen balance, such as DIM (diindolylmethane), Maca (Lepidium meyenii), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and alpha lipoic acid.

Look at your lifestyle too:

• Avoid xenoestrogens, which can be found in products containing BPA (bisphenol A), PCBs (polychlorinated bisphenols), and phthalates (found in plastics, plasticizers, and other products).
• Stay away from hormonal birth control methods & HRT, as these are high in estrogen and will contribute to estrogen/progesterone imbalance.

To Sum It Up
Your goal: Consume healthy whole foods and to change your lifestyle so you can metabolize the estrogen you have in your body naturally in healthier ways. There are things you can do to tip the balance toward better estrogen metabolism, leading to fewer side effects from estrogen dominance. Finally, avoid the nasty xenoestrogens, which mimic estrogens in your body in the unhealthiest of ways, contributing to the overall problem of estrogen imbalance.

Consider Breast Thermography, to assess the impact estrogen is having on your breast health. There can be 50 times more estrogen stored in the breast tissue, then will ever be be found by testing blood, urine or saliva.

For more information about Thermography, please view our information below.  Call 086 1623683 to schedule a thermogram.

What is Thermography?

Thermography is essentially a photograph of the heat produced by the body. The body is constantly emitting heat as infrared radiation from its surface. A thermographic camera takes a picture of these rays. Areas of the body that are more metabolically active and have more blood flow will produce more infrared rays and will be visible on the thermogram. Once pictures are taken they are then analyzed by a board certified thermologist. The most common use of thermography is for breast health screening. Thermography is a wonderful tool for assessing physiological changes associated with fibrocystic breast disease, mastitis, mammary dysplasia and metabolically active tissue. We use state-of-the-art Digital Infrared breast imaging and comprehensive treatment protocols to help women of all ages maintain healthy breasts for long and healthy lives. Our high-quality radiometric camera, strict quality control guidelines and highly accurate interpretation service are the best around. Take advantage of this wonderful resource!

History

1982 FDA approved: Thermography was approved as an adjunctive diagnostic breast cancer screening procedure.

1950’s to present: Thermography for the purpose of breast screening has undergone extensive research since the late 1950’s with more than 1000 peer-reviewed studies published in the medical literature.

What are the benefits of Thermography?

Breast health assessment: Thermography is a wonderful tool for identifying breast conditions in women of all sizes, as well as young women, women with implants and conditions such as fibrocystic breast disease and mastitis two easily reversed conditions.

Prevention: Breast Cancer is the second-leading cause of death among women. Thermography can detect first signs that breast cancer may be forming – up to 10 years earlier than any other procedure. Earlier detection means there is time for prevention. Implementing comprehensive treatment can result in reversal of these changes and prevention.

No radiation or other risk to your health: Thermography is entirely safe since the camera is only receiving information from your body and does not itself emit anything.

No compression of the breast tissue: Thermography does not involve the painful compression of breast tissue.

Monitor your progress: See the results of your treatment without the use invasive and harmful radiation.

Mammography Compared to Thermography

A mammogram uses radiation to detect the internal anatomical structure of the breast. It is still considered the ‘Gold Standard’ for early detection of breast cancer. Thermography detects the infrared emitted from the body surface to measure the physiological changes occurring within the breasts. Mammography has led to earlier detection of breast cancer leading to a 30-40% reduction in mortality rates from breast cancer. When thermography and mammography are used together the detection of breast cancer increases by 10%. Ideally, we would use thermography to monitor physiological changes in women’s breasts allowing for preventative treatment and mammography to confirm significant findings and guide diagnosis of significant disease.

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

Thermography and mammography help direct us to where breast tissue appears to be abnormal. However, neither thermography or mammography can be used to diagnose breast cancer, they are screening tools used to detect tissue changes associated with breast cancer. Breast cancer can only be diagnosed by biopsy of breast tissue. Any suspect tissue is captured by a needle and is then visualized under a microscope to look for cellular changes consistent with cancer. If significant abnormalities are seen on thermogram we will then refer you for a mammogram and/or biopsy.

References

Acharya, U. R., E. Y. Ng, et al. (2010). “Thermography Based Breast Cancer Detection Using Texture Features and Support Vector Machine.” J Med Syst.

Anderson, J. (2010). “Thermography: a holistic approach to breast screening.” Beginnings 30(1): 12-3.

Arora, N., D. Martins, et al. (2008). “Effectiveness of a noninvasive digital infrared thermal imaging system in the detection of breast cancer.” Am J Surg 196(4): 523-6.

Brodersen, J., K. J. Jorgensen, et al. (2010). “The benefits and harms of screening for cancer with a focus on breast screening.” Pol Arch Med Wewn 120(3): 89-94.

Christiansen, C. L., F. Wang, et al. (2000). “Predicting the cumulative risk of false-positive mammograms.” J Natl Cancer Inst 92(20): 1657-66.

Clark, R. M. (1983). “Thermography.” CA Cancer J Clin 33(6): 370-2.

Elmore, J. G., M. B. Barton, et al. (1998). “Ten-year risk of false positive screening mammograms and clinical breast examinations.” N Engl J Med 338(16): 1089-96.

Gautherie, M. and C. M. Gros (1980). “Breast thermography and cancer risk prediction.” Cancer 45(1): 51-6.

Gershon-Cohen, J. (1967). “Mammography, thermography and xerography.” CA Cancer J Clin 17(3): 108-12.

Gotzsche, P. C. and O. Olsen (2000). “Is screening for breast cancer with mammography justifiable?” Lancet 355(9198): 129-34.

Haberman, J. D. (1968). “The present status of mammary thermography.” CA Cancer J Clin 18(6): 315-21.

Head, J. F., F. Wang, et al. (1993). “Breast thermography is a noninvasive prognostic procedure that predicts tumor growth rate in breast cancer patients.” Ann N Y Acad Sci 698: 153-8.

Holloway, C. M., A. Easson, et al. (2010). “Technology as a force for improved diagnosis and treatment of breast disease.” Can J Surg 53(4): 268-77.

Isard, H. J. (1976). “Cancer in the “cold” breast thermogram.” AJR Am J Roentgenol 127(5): 793-6.

Isard, H. J., W. Becker, et al. (1972). “Breast thermography after four years and 10000 studies.” Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 115(4): 811-21.

Johns, L. E. and S. M. Moss (2010). “False-positive results in the randomized controlled trial of mammographic screening from age 40 (“Age” trial).” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 19(11): 2758-64.

Kennedy, D. A., T. Lee, et al. (2009). “A comparative review of thermography as a breast cancer screening technique.” Integr Cancer Ther 8(1): 9-16.

Kontos, M., R. Wilson, et al. (2011). “Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) of breast lesions: sensitivity and specificity of detection of primary breast cancers.” Clin Radiol 66(6): 536-9.

Lee, P., K. K. Ho, et al. (2011). “Hot fat in a cool man: infrared thermography and brown adipose tissue.” Diabetes Obes Metab 13(1): 92-3.

Njor, S. H., A. H. Olsen, et al. (2007). “Predicting the risk of a false-positive test for women following a mammography screening programme.” J Med Screen 14(2): 94-7.

Oliver, C. (1977). “Thermography, a Canadian invention finding wider applications.” Can Med Assoc J 117(6): 680, 683-5.

Parisky, Y. R., A. Sardi, et al. (2003). “Efficacy of computerized infrared imaging analysis to evaluate mammographically suspicious lesions.” AJR Am J Roentgenol 180(1): 263-9.

Plotnikoff, G. and T. Carolyn (2009). “Emerging controversies in breast imaging: is there a place for thermography?” Minn Med 92(12): 37-9, 56.

Salhab, M., L. G. Keith, et al. (2006). “The potential role of dynamic thermal analysis in breast cancer detection.” Int Semin Surg Oncol 3: 8.

Sterns, E. E. and B. Zee (1991). “Thermography as a predictor of prognosis in cancer of the breast.” Cancer 67(6): 1678-80.

Sterns, E. E., B. Zee, et al. (1996). “Thermography. Its relation to pathologic characteristics, vascularity, proliferation rate, and survival of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.” Cancer 77(7): 1324-8.

Wang, J., K. J. Chang, et al. (2010). “Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of infrared imaging of the breast: a preliminary study.” Biomed Eng Online 9: 3.

Williams, K. L., B. H. Phillips, et al. (1990). “Thermography in screening for breast cancer.” J Epidemiol Community Health 44(2): 112-3.

From my clinical experience, it’s rarely just one cause. From one cancer cell to a tumor takes about ten years. Imagine a young woman named Sarah. Sarah had scoliosis when she was a young girl, so she received more x-rays than usual. She also grew up eating ultra-processed foods. Then one day, while walking to her car, she fell and landed on her breast. Several years later, during perimenopause, her doctor gave her synthetic hormone therapy. During all that time, she was also working a very stressful job. I often hear some form of this story with new breast cancer patients.

ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

Estrogen dominance is likely the most important factor when it comes to breast cancer. This is because estrogen can feed many types of cancers and cause them to grow. Is estrogen a “bad” hormone? No, but it can quickly accumulate when the body isn’t functioning correctly, and that’s when the problems begin. Our bodies can become overloaded with an excess of estrogen and estrogen-like chemicals in tissues. Thus, resulting in impaired fertility, PMS, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, miscarriages, problems breastfeeding, and increased risk of estrogen-related cancers. It’s important to note that many factors, including nutrition, can cause estrogen dominance. It’s vital to eat a healthy diet and avoid ultra-processed foods. Peruse the scientific literature on breast cancer, and you will find that the following nutrients are considered protective against this terrible disease: vitamin C, carotenes, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin CoQ10, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), sphingomyelin, and butyric acid.

Radiation exposure is cumulative, and each dose increases the risk of breast cancer. The more X-rays a woman is exposed to and the higher the radiation dose, the greater risk of breast cancer. Radiation appears to do the most damage in young women with undeveloped breasts. In fact, girls who were exposed to radiation in the bombing of Hiroshima during World War II had double the risk of breast cancer.

Sixteen studies published between 1984 and 2011 found that women identified stress as one of the causes of their breast cancer and the leading cause in five of the studies. Stress hormones can inhibit a process called anoikis, which kills diseased cells and prevents them from spreading. Psychological stress and affective responses, including depression and anxiety, are known to produce neuroendocrine responses that can alter important immune, angiogenic, and inflammatory pathways in cancer development, progression, and control. It’s essential to find peace. Our breasts are integral to our emotional health. They have often been deemed the fourth emotional center, which is associated with the ability to express love, joy, grief, and forgiveness, as well as anger and hostility. Therefore, forming loving relationships is beneficial for our breast health. Many women overcome their personal issues with success through meditation, counseling, and even exercise.

INSUFFICIENT IODINE

Insufficient iodine can be an issue because iodine is required in breasts, ovaries, and the prostate. Iodine balances estrogen and has a strong anti-breast cancer effect. Animal studies conducted over 40 years ago showed the breast tissue of animals with iodine deficiency developed cancer when the deficiency was not corrected. The same study showed that the risk of breast cancer was directly related to the length of time the iodine deficiency was present.

MEDICATIONS

Medications like synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are linked to breast cancer. HRT is likely linked to breast cancer because synthetic hormones are less easily metabolized, which makes your liver work harder. The liver is where estrogen is metabolized.

• Synthetic hormones are less easily metabolized — which makes your liver work harder. The liver is where estrogen is metabolized.
• Synthetic hormones are not the hormones found in the body.
• Synthetic hormones are often not dosed properly.

It’s important to note, bioidentical hormone therapy has not been linked to breast cancer.

EXCESS IRON

Excess iron in the body works as a powerful oxidant, increasing free radicals, thereby raising a woman’s risk. Ferritin (a measure of iron storage) stimulates breast cancer cells through an iron-independent mechanism and is localized within tumor-associated macrophages. Iron issues tend to arise when a patient has a history of consuming fortified iron. Flour and pasta almost always contain iron which has been artificially added as ferrous sulfate. Unbound iron accumulation in body tissue has been shown to contribute to breast cancer.

All of these factors are considered part of the environment of the patient. “As we react to unsuitable environments, our internal environments become limiting for our cells, and instead of renewing themselves, repairing damage, and preparing for new challenges, our cells find themselves in blind alleys.” – Dr. Ray Peat Ph.D. The good news is our cells are constantly responding to new environments, which means we can be proactive in our breast health. But there’s still no magic pill. It’s a multifaceted approach to our well-being. Our mind, body, and spirit must be working together to let us thrive.

A breast cancer screening is essential for diagnosing tumors that have the potential of developing into cancer. Early detection can help women fight breast cancer to improve their chances of a better outcome. Mammography is an effective procedure that uses X-ray images to detect calcifications in the breast tissue. It is by far the most well-known screening method for breast cancer, but it’s not the only one.

Thermography screens for breast cancer by detecting physiological changes in breast tissue, rather than structural changes. Specifically, thermography detects changes in surface temperature and blood flow that are indicative of abnormal cell activity and tumor growth. Once a tumor reaches a certain size, it must start generating its own blood supply in a process called angiogenesis. This, in turn, generates heat, which is detectable with thermography. Here are some differences between the two methods that can help you decide which is right for you.  

Thermography Is Noninvasive

Unlike mammography, thermography is a noninvasive procedure. Since a thermal infrared camera is used during the screening, there is no physical contact required. Thermography may be preferable if you are uncomfortable with the breast compression that occurs during a mammogram. 

Exposure To Radiation

Another difference is that a thermographic screening does not expose you to radiation. Having a routine mammogram puts you in contact with low levels of radiation. Studies show that radiation may increase your chances of developing cancer by a small amount. Thermography uses a highly sensitive, medical infrared camera to capture images of the breasts. Thermography has shown to be a safer screening alternative because it does not expose the body to any radiation.

Detecting Tumors In Dense Tissue

Unfortunately, the results of a mammogram tend to be less accurate if you have dense breast tissue. The dense tissue can hide the presence of tumors since both appear white on the X-ray. The results may come out as a false-negative or a false-positive. Thermography does not have this issue relating to dense breasts, which means false-negative and false-positive results are significantly lower. 

Detecting Lumps Near The Armpits

It is important to check your armpits for lumps as you perform a breast self-exam, a large percentage of breast cancer occurs in this area. A mammogram is not always accurate in detecting tumors in the armpit area. It is difficult to image this area with mammography because this type of procedure requires the image area to be placed between two plates. Because thermography images the entire chest area, it is not limited to just breast tissue. 

Bear in mind that neither of these techniques can diagnose cancer. Mammography and thermography can identify signs of breast cancer, but only a biopsy can offer a definitive diagnosis.

Thermography is a great way to detect early changes in the breasts. If you would like to learn more about how you can benefit from thermography, feel free to contact us today @ 086 1623683. 

October 8, 2014//  by Midwives Of New Jersey// 

HRT and the Pill – Known Breast Cancer Causing Agents

I was a midwife for more than 10 years before I realized that the government KNOWS that the birth control pill and hormone replacement therapy increases risk for breast cancer.  In just perusing a midwifery blog, I came across the National Institute of Health’s list of cancer causing agents and it confirmed that the birth control pill was a KNOWN cancer causing agent.

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/report_on_carcinogens_13th_edition_the_508.pdf http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Publications/OrganSitePoster.pdf

Early in my career, I was told that women “needed” Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in order to save them from heart disease and incontinence.  They quietly admitted to the “possibility” of increased risk for breast cancer expecting that we wouldn’t notice and go ahead and write a prescription for every woman from childhood to nursing home.  I raised my hand at the educational (in doctrinal) meeting I was at and commented that I would much rather die of heart disease than cancer.  My colleagues were mortified.

But I never believed that it made sense to give estrogen to women at the point when their body was naturally down-regulating estrogen production.  I am not happy that HRT has been directly linked to increased breast cancer risk but I am not surprised.

It never made sense when looking at women’s health throughout the lifespan, that giving estrogen containing products would be helpful to the normal development of a teenager’s reproductive system.  It has now been shown that the longer a woman is on “the pill” before the birth of her first full-term pregnancy and birth, the greater the risk of breast cancer.  Breast cancer risk is also increased in women who have delayed childbearing until well into their 30’s and so the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill creates another risk factor for breast cancer.

Correlation Between Estrogen Dosage and Cancer Risk

Compound this with a study released this year showing a direct correlation to the amount of estrogen in birth control pills and the amount of breast cancer diagnosed.  We have pills with only 10mcg of estrogen now, compared with those with 30-35 mcg of estrogen.  If 10mcg work- why do we have pills with 3 times the dose?  And at least 3x’s the risk?

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-08/aafc-ruo072914.php

How to Avoid Xenoestrogens

So now we are all becoming aware that XENOESTROGENS (toxins that behave like estrogen in our bodies and disrupt the natural balance of hormones in our bodies) give us exceptionally high levels of estrogen that increase our risk for breast cancer.  Mercola’s tips for avoiding Xenoestrogens.

• Store food in glass containers, the most inert containers you can use
• Use natural cleaning products
• Buy and eat organic foods as much as possible, especially milk, which is frequently contaminated with bovine growth hormone
• Avoid processed foods
• Avoid MSG, artificial food additives and artificial sweeteners
• Stay away from unfermented soy
• Use natural brands of personal care products, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics

Many Xenoestrogens are banned for human exposure in other countries.  Americans need to be educated to avoid these toxins since it seems like our government is more concerned about light bulb energy than cancer prevention.  Meanwhile the Susan G Komen organization states that they are committed to breast cancer prevention, yet have little or no information about the huge impact of estrogens on the development of this devastating cancer.

Take Control of Your Breast Health

Learn your body’s cycle to avoid pregnancy, eat organic green vegetables and get some exercise.  Don’t delay, make your appointment today! Contact 086 1623683