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28 Comments

  1. Amazing, article Meghan! Thanks so much for sharing and letting people know there are options to having a mammogram!

  2. Thank you for the article. I agree that having a ‘garage door’ smashing the crap painfully out of your breasts cannot be the only way to go. However, your suggestions as to ‘how to (allegedly help to) prevent” all cost money that most of us do not have.

    Also, this thermography sounds great – if you have what is likely to cost LOTS. NO WHERE on their website do they offer the costing of initial nor follow up visits, and while I’m sure they will return calls, they haven’t answered the phone so far.

    We love what you have to say, and how you say it, but if you are going to post a commercial then please post all the facts – cost being a major consideration for those of us who don’t get called to try their service and write about it.

    FYI, for some concerns I started with Ultrasound so as to avoid The Smash, and the tech was the most incompetent and unprofessional woman I have ever encountered. I share this so you can BEWARE of where you go, and just because a place has a ‘great’ reputation, if you don’t feel good about it, LEAVE. Even if you already went to the trouble to go all the way there, and undress, and contort as she demanded…. I should have left, and now have to do it all over again – once the infection I got from their unsanitary wands goes away, that is. For all that trouble I would love to just head for a test like this that you write about, but for sure can’t afford it.

    What was amazing, as are most things you post in being interesting and a learning opp, was the jaw grinding being associated with breast health.

  3. Hi Meghan! For years I clenched my jaw and grinded my teeth and although a mouthguard saved my teeth from the grind – it didn’t solve the actual problem, cost a lot of money, let saliva sit against my teeth all night, and made me look like a boxer. One (amazing) dentist fitted me for a NTI device and not only did it stop the grinding, it stopped my clenching. I no longer need to wear it – it ‘taught’ my brain to stop. Small piece that fits over the front top teeth. I highly recommend looking into it. Saved my teeth as well as morning jaw pain. Not quite sure why the NTI isn’t the go-to device vs. the full night guard.

  4. Thanks Meghan for sharing your experiences on this. I think you’ll really enjoy checking out Breast Cancer Action (bcaction.org) based in California – they are the best independent source for breast health, breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment options, and advocacy around prevention in particular looking at environmental and systemic issues to address.

  5. GREAT post, Meghan. I am working on becoming a holistic nutritionist myself, and often just kind of file myself in the “super healthy” category. Your article reminds again me that we are complex beings and that there are always areas to pay attention to. I think I forget as well that I’m not 20 anymore…I’m 33…and I think it’s time I went and got scanned and looked at an overall action plan for myself, working with who I am TODAY. Thanks!

  6. Last year I was treated (surgery) for ovarian cancer. With wanting to get pregnant now and a history of cancer in my family (but not genetic), my GP suggested I get a mammogram before I become pregnant, just in case. I am not so keen on mammograms either, so I asked a naturopathic specialist for cancer what she thought about them and alternatives. She had worked with thermography directly for a while and in her experience results were varied and inconclusive, so now she does not recommend thermography at all. I’ve also spoken to a woman whose breast cancer did not show up when she did thermography. The best bet? Ask for an ultrasound instead (and save yourself hundreds of dollars and possible unnecessary stress because of potentially wrong results in the process).

  7. I work at an Integrative doctors office in Cincinnati Ohio where we do breast thermographies and we were wondering if we could use this link on our website. It is a wonderful description of therms and why mammograms are so bad. It would be wonderful to spread the word! Thanks for your consideration.

  8. I had breast cancer in 2008, several mammograms, ultrasound and biopsy later, I had a lumpectomy, 35 radiation treatments followed. I see my GP every 3 months and have an annual physical. I also see my Oncologist annually. I have an annual mammogram and have had to have an ultrasound once after. My oncologist told me to continue annual mammograms even if I’m told I don’t need them that often. I am 66 years old and my friends are being told every 2 and 3 years is fine now. I have had mammograms since I was 50 years old. If they are my crutch then so be it, I feel protected. I love your article.

  9. One of my wife’s close friends is going through this and is very saddening for her and the entire family as she has young kids. This is a very helpful article and I’ll be sure to pass it on. Thanks!

  10. Thanks for this info! I remember you posting this or something similar a while back and it helped me make the decision to forego a mammogram for myself. I have fibrocysts on my breasts and have had many ultrasounds so I thought why do I need the mammogram if they’re just going to send me to get an ultrasound right after? Also my doctor wanted me to get it as a ‘just in case… might as well…’ type of thing which was annoying.

    I’m now learning that fibrocysts are related to excess estrogen in the body so I’m going that route now. Thanks again for the info!

  11. Great article! Thank you for all your tips and resources. What are your thoughts on MRIs? They seem to be lower risk (and if a woman is high risk for breast cancer and eligible, she can access MRIs through Princess Margaret hospital). Also do you use ground flax seed as a cancer preventative?