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For breast cancer awareness month last October I described some of the history and health hazards of X-rays and mammography. In addition to the cumulative damage incurred from the mammographic penetrating radiation, cancer cells, if present in the breast as a tumor, can possibly be spread from being squashed in the mammogram machine. As for "early detection," the malignant tumor disclosed by a mammogram is, on average, seven or eight years old already!

Do alternatives to mammography exist? The answer is yes and no. Existing alternatives are not embraced by establishment medicine and are generally unavailable to the public.

Cancer researcher Georg Springer MD has developed a harmless skin test that can disclose breast cancer using the body's own antigens that can detect it up to six years earlier than a mammogram can. Developed years ago, this accurate test remains unavailable to women.

Somewhat more available is thermography, a means of detecting breast cancer by measurement of subtle differences in breast skin temperature. As a malignant tumor is warmer than surrounding tissue because of the higher metabolic activity in fast-growing tissue, modern thermal imaging technology can disclose these relative hot spots remotely without harming or even touching the patient.

Not many thermograph machines are in place, and I discovered that information about them is hard to obtain. I have located two of them in Northern California. They are La Clinique in San Rafael (415-460-9722) and the San Francisco Preventive Medical Group (415-566-1000). La Clinique quoted $100 per thermographic breast exam and that includes the follow-up visit. The SF Preventive Medical Group quoted $150 plus $300 additional for the first visit plus more for the follow-up.

In choosing not to cover thermography, insurance companies keep this safe and effective screening procedure unavailable to most women.

Consider what might happen should a $75,000 thermogram breast scanning system be installed here in the Northcoast for breast cancer screening that is price competitive with a mammogram. If women had available an alternative to mammography, one that detected cancer earlier, harmlessly and with no discomfort, how many would choose it? What would become of all the existing mammogram machines and the people who operate them?

I believe we have a widespread conflict of interest, namely the income stream generated by mammography.

There is a proper place for mammography. For example, a thermogram cannot locate the precise position of a tumor once disclosed, but a mammogram can. X-rays are a wonderful medical tool; but, considering the damage they always do, they should not be used on a medical fishing expedition to find disease in otherwise healthy people. There is now a better path to breast cancer screening.

My personal goal is to get a thermograph system placed in Humboldt County so our woman will have a local, non-damaging breast cancer detection option. If you too want this, then speak up! Talk to your doctor, your neighbors, your local medical society. Ask for what you want.

One-time article Copyright 1998 by Humboldt Senior Resource Center.