By Dr.
Jon Thomas, DC, PSc.D, Board Certified Chiropractic Physician.
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Dr. Thomas and Tracy Thomas
Courtesy of Vibrant Life |
October
is Breast Health Awareness Month with many national and local events to raise
awareness about breast health and cancer. The awareness is important to
maintain not only throughout the month but to make sure it is an integral part
of your preventative health plan. Understanding the steps you can take to
screen, exam, and monitor breast health is a potent strategy. At Vibrant Life
Health Center we are excited to share that we have added Meditherm Thermography
which is the new gold standard in breast prevention which is described in more
detail below.
There are
many events going on in Jacksonville during October to raise awareness about
breast cancer and breast health. Check out the calendar on the Florida
Times-Union website for a list of events. Breast Cancer Awareness Calendar.
Important
Facts to know About Breast Health Prevention:
•
Mammograms are currently not recommended for
women under age 50 (who are most at risk for developing aggressive breast
cancer) or women with breast implants.
•
Annual thermograms are recommended for women
under 50, followed by ultrasound if the thermogram is abnormal.
•
Mammography is not capable of detecting breast
cancer early, when quick action could improve long-term survival; mammography's
error rate is unacceptable; and, exposure to the X-Rays used in mammography is
reported to actually increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
•
Thermography is safe, accurate, and approved by
the FDA for breast cancer risk assessment. It is successfully used throughout
the world to detect signs of breast cancer up to 10 years before the cancer is
detectable using mammography.
•
Extensive clinical trials have shown that breast
thermography significantly augments the long term survival rates of its
recipients by as much as 61%.
•
When used as a multimodal approach (clinical exam
+ mammography + thermography), 95% of early stage cancers will be detected.
Why is early detection so important?
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| Courtesy of Vibrant Life Health Center |
What Are
the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?
According
to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms of breast cancer can include any
change in the size or the shape of the breast, pain in any area of the breast,
nipple discharge other than breast milk (including blood), and a new lump in
the breast or underarm. However, some people have no symptoms at all.
Most
women who get breast cancer have no obvious risk factors and no family history
of the disease. Factors that influence a person’s risk for breast cancer
include being 50 years old or older. Although breast cancer screening cannot
prevent breast cancer, it can help to identify breast cancer early, when it is
easier to treat.
Early
Detection is the Key to Survival!
Vibrant
Life Health Center now offers Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). DITI has
been recognized as a viable diagnostic tool since 1987 by the AMA Council on
Scientific Affairs, the ACA Council on Diagnostic Imaging, the Congress of
Neuro-Surgeons, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation.
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| Courtesy of Vibrant Life Health Center |
Medical
DITI is a non-invasive diagnostic technique which allows a practitioner to
measure changes in skin surface temperature. An infrared scanning device
converts infrared radiation emitted from the surface of the skin into
electrical impulses. Those impulses produce a color image on a monitor. The
images are referred to as thermograms, and they provide a map of a body’s
temperature. Since there is normally a high degree of symmetry in body
temperature, abnormal temperatures can be easily identified.
When
people have a disease or an injury, one way to pinpoint it is by finding any
thermal abnormalities in the patient’s body. DITI enables practitioners to
detect and monitor diseases and injuries. DITI helps doctors to monitor
injuries by comparing new images to images taken previously. DITI’s role in
breast cancer and other breast disorders is to help in the early detection and
monitoring of abnormal physiology. It takes years for a tumor to grow. The
faster a malignant tumor grows, the more infrared radiation it generates.
Early
detection of any abnormality is one of the keys to successful intervention and
treatment. For younger women in particular, results from DITI screening can
lead to early detection. DITI is non-invasive and it takes only fifteen
minutes! There’s no waiting for days, or even hours, on the results. Color
images are provided which help doctors and their patients visualize exactly
what’s going on in the body.
DITI for
Pain and Injuries
DITI is
also used to locate problem areas associated with injuries. DITI is frequently
used to help in the diagnosis of ankle injuries, shin splints, stress
fractures, spinal pain syndromes, shoulder injuries, and foot pain syndromes.
DITI can also be used to locate the sources of muscle, ligament, and nerve
injuries.
If you
would like to set up an appointment for DITI at Vibrant Life Health Center,
please contact the office. If you’re suffering with pain in any part of your
body and you’d like to find out how Chiropractic can help, or if you’d like to
find out more about our Life in Balance program, please call.
This
article discusses Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is in October. I’ve also
provided information about Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) which can be
very effective for the early detection of breast cancer. Vibrant Life Health
Center now offers DITI to patients.
If you
have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section
below. If you know of someone who might benefit from the information in this
blog, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and also on social
media.
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Google Plus button and other social media sharing buttons are below.
At
Vibrant Life, we address all of the key elements to add vibrance and vitality
to your life. This includes nutrition, chiropractic care, and fitness. If you
need to consult with a chiropractor about your neck, back, or any other health
concern, please contact our office to set up an appointment.
 |
Courtesy of Vibrant
Life Health Center |
Dr. Jon Thomas is a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician. His
practice, The Vibrant Life Health Center, is located in the Mandarin section of
Jacksonville. His interest in health and fitness started early, and his
athletic pursuits have included BMX racing, Professional Snow Skiing, Water
Skiing, Baseball, Weightlifting, and Martial Arts. After studying and learning
from some of the top health experts throughout the world, Dr. Thomas dedicated
his life to helping people of all ages to transform their lives. The objective
for each patient is to initiate the body’s healing and to work progressively
toward a body that functions optimally. Dr. Thomas is seen regularly on TV on
First Coast Living, where he discusses the transformations of his patients. He
also speaks at events throughout the community and writes informative articles
to improve the health of residents throughout Northeast Florida.
