But today I would like to discuss Thermography, a test used as an alternative or a complementary test to mammograms and it is non-invasive and safe tool. It detects the areas of heat in the body which can point to areas of inflammation and abnormal cellular changes. Because of this thermography may be able to detect physiological changes associated with cancer even they are just the size of a pinhead.

In addition to that there are certain blood tests currently being studied or used around the world able to give us a little more information about the cancerous cells thus making the treatment potentially more individualized. Hopefully we will see more studies and more accessibility to these tests.

Also, don’t disregard other testing which can give you more information about how and to which extent the cancer is affecting the whole body. I usually check blood glucose, inflammation markers, hormonal and liver tests, vitamin D levels, heavy metals levels and we use those results as well when we design an individualized plan of treatment. We also make sure there are no sleep issues since there are some correlation noted between insomnia and breast cancer, so we check melatonin levels, various neurotransmitters and sleep apnea testing if needed.

It is always exciting when a new test comes to the market and it seems like SureTouch Breast Self-Exam device. It was developed by Harvard scientists, FDA cleared, and it is radiation-free. It is able to produce a digital surface map of the breast where abnormalities may be spotted. Since these technologies are fairly new it is important to  ask a healthcare provider about them first in order to determine if they are right for you.

Very important to know your choices and make informed decisions!

HAPPY FALL!

The Fighting Cancer with Hope Spring Fashion Show and luncheon will be held at the Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta Wednesday, April 18th from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dillard’s will once again provide the latest Spring fashions and the extraordinary models will be 15 cancer patients and survivors from right here in Georgia. You will be treated to an unforgettable fashion show, seated lunch, silent auction, and live music. New this year is a photographic narrative exhibit “The Warrior Within”, highlighting the courageous stories of the models. We hope that you can make it. If not, please consider donating a ticket to a cancer patient here in Georgia. Last year we had 200+ attendees and ran out of tickets, so don’t delay! For more information about sponsorship and tickets,
please visit feelbeautifultoday.org.

It is mentioned in the Bible and by the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)textbooks. Yoga traditions use the term samskara which means the “subtle impressions of our past actions” and describe how this can impact your physical health.

And now finally, modern science is discovering how certain emotions can have a direct effect on disease and healing.

What Science Says about the emotions

The profound effect that emotions have on health and lifespan was discussed in a groundbreaking series of 10-year-long studies published in the British journal Psychology and Psychotherapy in 1988. The study concluded that “emotional stress was more predictive of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease than from smoking.” It also found that individuals who were the most affected by stress had an overall death rate that was 40% higher than non-stressed participants. Unbelievable, isn’t it?

So just how can emotions have such an effect on our bodies?

Doctors have been using the term psychosomatic for a long time to describe imaginary illnesses-no evident physical cause is found but the patient is exhibiting a series of symptoms. In fact, the term simply relates to the physiological connections between mind and body. In modern scientific terms, this connection happens through tiny molecular structures called peptides.

Peptides are tiny bits of protein that are produced throughout the body. They are found in hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and insulin, for example, and are key elements for life.

 Peptides make the connection between the brain-emotions and the body. When a thought triggers an emotion, peptides transmit those feelings through neuropathways and extracellular fluid. And it’s that simple for your anger or stress to transform into a stomach ache or breathing problems.

When a thought triggers an emotion, peptides transmit those feelings through neuropathways and extracellular fluid.

How Your Emotions Affect Your Body

Here are just a few ways in which specific emotions affect specific bodily functions:

• A University of Arizona study found that expressing affectionate feelings towards your loved ones can lower cholesterol;
• A study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology discovered that when subjects simply recalled the situation that had been the initial cause of stress, their blood pressure rates raised significantly.
• A study at Loma Linda University in California found that when individuals laughed at a funny movie, the levels of beta-endorphins, responsible for mood elevation, rose as well. In addition, Human Growth Hormone, which aids in sleep and contributes to cellular repair, rose by 87%.

Balance emotions for Better Health

Learning how to manage emotions and dealing with the stress go hand in hand. Before you can handle emotions, you must learn how to manage stress in order get cortisol levels down. Remember, there is a direct and proven correlation between chronically high cortisol levels (i.e. chronic stress) and many illnesses.

Here is a picture that make it easy to understand how cortisol impacts our body and how a prolonged high level of cortisol can destabilize this delicate balance.

Here are 4 basic ideas about how to manage stress, lower cortisol levels, and clear stressful emotions so that true healing can occur:

1. Find out what keeps you stressed in your life and DECIDE to make a change. Divorce, the death of a loved one, finances, even happy occasions like getting married can add to the stress factor. Which one is yours? On a scale from one to ten, how would you rate this stress? Then make a commitment to yourself and your health and lower that score.
2. Try EFT tapping, acupuncture, tai chi, massage, chiropractic care, meditation, prayer, journaling, exercise, and eating healthier. These are all things able to lower stress responses and add a little more self-care to your life. And you don’t have to do them all. Simply choose one or two modalities, then try it. Even taking 10 minutes each day can sometimes do the trick.
3. Let others help you or support you. Study after study has shown that those who have the support of a caring group of loved ones have a better chance of coming out of a cancer diagnosis than those who do it on their own. So, whether it is a church group, a cancer support group, or a group of loving friends, let them be part of your healing journey.
4. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your emotions. It is natural for deeper issues, memories, or events to rise to the surface once the initial shock is gone. Practice sitting with emotions as they rise to the surface and always remember that no matter how bad you may feel, these emotions are coming up to be released.

In our culture, we often feel as if we have to “do” something about it. Feelings, however, sometimes just need to be “felt.”

All the above suggestions would apply to any illness or stress but perhaps people diagnosed with cancer are the ones who need it the most.

Being told you have cancer is one the most stressful events you and your family can go through.

During a study of over 20,000 cancer patients, Dr. R.G. Hamer saw a direct link between psychological stress, no matter the cause, and how it can directly lead to DNA damage.

That means the anxiety and depression you may be feeling from a cancer diagnosis  or any other illness can affect how well your body functions on a genetic level.

No one wants to have this happen to them but if it does happen, know that you still have the power to affect your outcome!

To your health,

Dana Neacsu, MD

REFERENCES

http://www.newmedicine.ca/excerpt.php

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK4011/

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/many-women-have-ptsd-symptoms-after-dx

Integrative medicine emphasizes personal empowerment to choose a healthy lifestyle that can help prevent cancer from occurring, support the body through treatment or prevent recurrence. Many factors may not be in our control, but certain lifestyle choices are.

1. During cancer treatment, food should not only support the body, but also minimize the adverse reactions and even possibly  potentiate the treatment effects. Eat a plant-based  diet rich in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage), avoid trans fats and increase the amount  of omega-3 fatty acids (fish, flaxseed, walnuts) consumed. Avoid sugar and processed foods. Buy organic as much as possible. One great website to check for information is Environmental Working Group for their extensive database including  food, safe cosmetics or cleaning products, to name a few. Drink 2-3 cups of green tea a day and don’t forget your water. Incorporate mushrooms in your diet, particularly the medicinal  varieties such as maitake, reishi and shiitake.

2. Use dietary supplements cautiously and always check with your healthcare practitioner. Some of the most
common supplements  used are aloe vera, vitamin  D products, melatonin for sleep and milk thistle for liver protection.

3. Consider testing for intracellular nutrient deficiencies and replenish accordingly to make sure your body has enough resources to detox and heal.

4. Exercise! Combine aerobic activity, such as walking, with strength training and also consider more meditative movement like yoga or tai chi. Many studies actually show improved strength, immunity, well-being and survival rates.

5. Try alternative treatments for the various chemo adverse reactions: acupuncture  is great for fatigue, nausea, postmenopausal symptoms, pain or lymphedema. Massage therapy is great for anxiety, insomnia  or pain; look for a massage therapist who is trained to work with cancer patients. Any form of stress reduction therapy also helps: meditation, art therapy, music or mindfulness-based stress reduction.