Breast Health

Upcoming Events

June 11-Breast Awareness Information Night
Danu Health Center is pairing up wish SHE Apparel to host a Breast Awareness Information Night which will include talks on topics such as proper bra fitting, posture, breast massage, nutrition and breast thermography screenings.
Call Danu (258-3268) to book your spot.

When: Wednesday June 11, 7pm-9:30am
Where: SHE Apparel, 602-17th Ave SW
Cost: $10.00 (including GST)

August 18-Thermography Infrared Breast Screening & Information Day
Danu Health Center will be hosting a Thermography Infrared Breast Screening Day run by Medical Thermography International Inc.

When: Monday August 18th
Where: Danu Health Center (call 258-3268 to register)
Cost: $250.00 (including GST)
How to prepare:

• Call to register. Payment due upon registration.
• Arrive 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment.
• Do not shave underarms or use anti-perspirants. Do not use perfumes or fragrances.
• Do not bathe/shower 1 hour before appointment.
• Do not smoke or drink hot beverages 2 hours before appointment.
• Bring your health professional's full address and postal code to whom you want a report sent.

August 18- Breast Information Day
In addition to the Thermography Breast Screening, Danu will be offering a range of practitioners available for information on breast health including:

• Proper bra fitting
• Nutrition & breast health
• Breast massage
• Posture
  

What's the Difference Between Breast Screening Methods?

Tests for breast health are not 100% perfect. So, digital infrared imaging, mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not stand-along tests. Each gives different information. The following questions will help you to understand what each of the tests are for. All the following information is adapated from www.medthermonline.com. For more details please visit their website.

Digital Infrared Screening (Thermography)

Digital infrared imaging scans shows the function, the physiology, and the metabolism of breast tissue. It gives a picture of the functional activity in the breast tissue.

Usually abnormal cells are hotter because a malignant tissue mass is greedy. To feed thei rapid growth they produce a chemical that makes new blood vessels grow. The is called angiogenesis (angio means blood vessel, genesis means creation).

A digital infrared imaging scan shows the heat difference between normal breast tissue and problem areas. In scientific terms, the normal breast tissue acts as the control against which any hot areas are compared.

Not all malignancies are hypervasculyar; that is, a small number do not show increased blood supply. Unless there are other signs, a thermography scan will not detect a non-hypervascular malignancy.

A digital infrared imaging scan provides the earliest evidence of breast disease. The sensitivity rate is 90%. This means that 90% of the cases, the scan accurately indicates a presence of absence of disease. Digital infrared imaging has a 10% false positive rate; in 10% of the cases the results may suggest disease where these is none.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses sounds waves aimed at breast tissue. The sound echose back when it encounters a mass. Sent to a computer, the echo waves show the shape and density of the mass. When strict criteria are used, ultrasound can distinguish between a simple benign cyst and other masses.

A negative ultrasound does not mean there is not a breast mass. There may be a mass, but if it has the same density as other breast tissue, no echo is produced.

Ultrasound is not a screening method. It is a follow-up diagnostic tool to explore the shape and edges of a breast mass which suggests whether the mass is benign or malignant.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Like ultrasound, the MRI is not a screening method but a follow-up diagnostic tool. MRI is being studies for its ability to distinguish between benign and malignant tissue masses, and to help physicians and the patient to decide whether a lumpectomy or mastectomy should be done.

MRIs are also used to examine breast implants to see if they are leaking. While ultrasound and mammography can only visualize the shell of the breast implant, MRI can tell if there is leakage.

MRI is not a screening method. It is a follow-up diagnostic tool useful for breast implant. Its role in breast disease and breast cancer is still being studied.

Mammography

Mammograms show the physical anatomy or structure of the breast. When an x-ray encounters a mass, it does not pass through as easily as it does through normal breast tissue so the mass shows up as a whit area on the x-ray. Medical guidelines recommend a baseline mammogram so physicians can compare the first one with later ones. When a mass is found, an ultrasound may be done to get more information about the size and shape because the mass could be a dense cyst. At this stage a needle biopsy may be recommended.

Mammograms work best for soft post-menopausal breast tissue, and for slow-growing tumours. Mammograms do not view the whole chest wall; they are not effective for young, dense breast tissue, large breasts, fibrocystic breasts, enhanced breast (implants) and breasts of women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Mammograms are used for breast cancer screening and show the location of a mass or tumor. Mammograms have a 25% false positive rate, meaning that in 25% of the cases results suggest disease where there is none. They have a 20% false negative rate (missed tumours) mostly in younger women, due to the density of the breast tissue of women under 50 years of age.

A breast biopsy provides the only definitive diagnosis of breast cancer. All other methods are investigative and adjunctive diagnostic tools.