About Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ or DCIS is a pre-cancerous condition in which dysplasic cells or metaplasia is encapsulated in the mammary ducts. Research shows that 35% of the female population has DCIS and occassionally it does move outside of the duct and become malignant. These cases are rising because of the excessive use of synthetic hormones such as HRT, Birth Control Pills and fertility drugs which increases the development of neo-angiogenesis (the blood supply that feeds a tumor).

Mammography as a Screening Tool: In the case of DCIS, mammograms note an indication by the presence of clusters of micro-calcifications with about a 20% accuracy. This means 80% of the time these micro-calcifications are simple cholesterol deposits. The medical procedure commonly instigated as treatment for DCIS is as follows: Mammography as a screening tool, biopsy, lumpectomy or mastectomy with follow-up treatment of radiation and possibly chemotherapy if the lymph nodes are involved which is very rare. In this case the patients are traumatized with unnecessary invasive procedures (biopsies). The biopsy, which pierces a needle into the tumor, can spread the DCIS or dysplasic cells that were originally confined to the duct. Once outside of the duct these cells are exposed to a blood supply, causing them to grow into a malignant tumor. It is a great concern that these biopsies are in fact spreading the disease they are claiming to be preventing. Many debate that trying to remove a duct with DCIS is not prudent because it is more often in other locations within the same breast. Once a surgical incision is made in the area it is difficult to get 'clean margins' making a mastectomy the only option. The debate has growing opposition that feels that it is better left alone, as it is so rare that it does move outside the duct.

Thermography for Earlier Breast Cancer Screening: Thermography uses an Infrared Camera that detects varying degrees of temperature that can be distinguished within a tenth of a degree. There is no harmful radiation, and because the images are three- dimensional there is no painful, tissue damaging, compression.

With Thermography, DCIS shows up as a TH3, in most cases can appear as a diffused hyperthermic pattern around the peri-areola (nipple) and surrounding areas that still responds to the autonomic (cold water) challenge, appearing like a regional inflammation or metaplasia. It is no wonder that it looks like an inflammation as the immune system is trying to clean it out. As the DCIS becomes invasive (moving outside the duct) it develops a blood supply or neo-angeogenesis and this no longer can respond to the autonomic challenge, thus moving up to a TH4. Eighty percent of patients, having a TH3 in their thermography reading, indicating DCIS, have followed the Staying Healthy Protocol, and have received a normal reading within 3 to 6 months. Because it is something that can be seen with infrared imaging, it is also a good monitoring technique to see if it is responding to the protocols or not. If not, then conventional medical back up is always an option. Quite possibly, if we don't try to improve the immune system in women with DCIS and continue with traditional allopathic treatment, then the rate of breast cancer will eventually be one in three instead of its current one in eight.