Author: Ingrid

ZRT Laboratory Guest Blog Post: Pesticides, Herbicides, Chemicals, Oh My!

ThinkstockPhotos-87453968Here is a recent guest blog post wrote for The ZRT Laboratory Blog. Click here to read the original article.

Spring is here! Now is the time to talk to your patients about the risks of chemicals in herbicides and pesticides to the health of their family and pets.

Roadside, clear cut and yard spraying is polluting our environment, with the chemicals becoming air-borne and also getting into ground water. People and pets walking outside are absorbing these chemicals through their skin and bringing it inside our homes. Rural families have little or no control over their neighbors who may decide to clear cut their land and then aerial spray herbicides.

These herbicides are not safe. “Weed killer kills human cells. A study intensifies debate over ‘inert’ ingredients. Used in yards, farms and parks throughout the world, Roundup has long been a top-selling weed killer. But now researchers have found that one of Roundup’s inert ingredients can kill human cells, particularly embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells. The new findings intensify a debate about so-called “inerts” — the solvents, preservatives, surfactants and other substances that manufacturers add to pesticides. Nearly 4,000 inert ingredients are approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency”. (1)

These herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals are known as “estrogen mimickers,” “hormone disrupters,“ or xenoestrogens. These estrogen-like chemicals bind in estrogen receptor sites which are fat bound. Estrogens and estrogen mimickers from herbicides and other substances, increase vascular patterns and metabolism in the breast. If you have a group of cells that have become abnormal and are growing, or a a cancerous tumor is present, nitric oxide is released from these abnormal cells. If the vascular network has increased in the area of the tumor and the vessels are now dilated due to the release of nitric oxide and the increased availability of oxygen and nutrition, tumor doubling time is likely to become deadly. Tumors set up their own blood flow known as neo-angiogenisis.The medical literature on pesticides/herbicide exposures is clear on the fact that these chemicals harm neurological, reproductive and hormonal systems. (2)

There has been a disturbing pattern involving women who had pesticide and herbicide exposure having abnormal Infrared scans with unusually high estrogen dominance involvement with the tissues and higher incidences of breast cancer. An infrared camera can detect changes in physiology/ heat in the tissues both as vessels and in color palates and has a  97% sensitivity.(3) (4) When abnormal cells begin to accumulate they begin to put up heat signatures due to their metabolic activity. As the cells become a tumor they are warmer still and they create their own vascular system to feed a growing tumor.

Genetics only contribute 7 to 9% to the risk of developing breast cancer. A person’s environment and diet has an impact of 91-93%. This means that avoiding herbicide and pesticide use in and around homes and eating an organic diet will have a positive impact on a person’s health.

I believe I am currently the only person in the US that is looking at the environmental impact of xenoestrogens on breast tissue using an infrared camera. Providers should consider their patient’s body burden of xenoestrogens as they attempt to decide upon hormone replacement regimes. Adjustments should be made according to laboratory hormone levels and also take into account environmental factors including: rural or city living, work environment, use pesticides or herbicides in everyday life, etc.

Please view my research images to actually SEE what these chemicals do to breast tissue. 

Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP from Women’s International Pharmacy stated “This Proactive Breast Wellness (PWB) program is amazing” and wrote an evaluation in the Aug 2014 WIP Newsletter.

When women use my Proactive Breast Wellness program they have the time to try to make changes that will impact their health. Women who are then able to help limit their toxic exposure to xenoestrogens, start eating organically, make lifestyle changes and take supplements that boost their immune system are usually able to make changes in the scans and their other lab work in 6-12 months. This helps to reduce their risk of breast cancer.  This gives the “Hope for prevention and prevention is the cure!”

References

(1) Environmental Health News June 22, 2009

(2)   http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=breast+cancer,+environmental+causes

(3) The American Journal of Surgery (2008) 196,523-526

(4) Int J Surg. 2014 Nov 7;12(12):1439-1443. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.10.010. [Epub ahead of print]

Guest blog for ZRT Laboratory – Breast Cancer Awareness to Action: Prevention is the Cure

I was recently invited to guest blog for ZRT Laboratory, a CLIA certified diagnostic laboratory and the leader in hormone and wellness testing.

October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” with a flurry of activity directed towards “Race for the Cure,” pink ribbons on posters and products, and people on street corners with butterfly nets to accept donations to defeat breast cancer. Yet with all this activity over the past 30 years we are no closer to any cure, and breast cancer rates have escalated.

According to the National Cancer Institute, incidences of breast cancer in the US have risen during the past thirty years from 1 in 30, to 1 in 8 women life time risk (1). Agencies that track these statistics are concerned that in the next 10 years it may reach 1 in five. In Oregon where I practice, we have consistently been among the top five states for breast cancer incidence, and now rank second highest per capita. This is an epidemic!

So, why aren’t we looking more closely at prevention, and considering what a woman CAN DO to reduce her risk of breast cancer or its recurrence? Racing for the Cure is simply not working!

Read the entire article at ZRT Laboratory

Ingrid Edstrom to appear on PBS WBAI Radio

Our own Ingrid Edstrom was interviewed on PBS Radio WBAI out of New York City for their fund raising event.  The broadcast features a two-hour interview to reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer or its reoccurrence by presenting the Proactive Breast Wellness Program to their 250,000 listeners.

Further information, including a schedule of broadcasts can be found on their website.

Proactive Breast Wellness Program Reviewed by Women’s International Pharmacy

From the Women’s International Pharmacy:

Our current medical system has been designed to take our hands and give us direction when disease has become evident, but it has left us sadly wanting when it comes to prevention. Finding and accessing the information necessary to prevent disease is difficult and time consuming. And, even if we do find it, interpreting it and understanding it may take some help.

Thankfully, a comprehensive compilation of what we currently know about keeping our breasts free from disease, including breast cancer, is available as an engaging multimedia presentation offered by Ingrid Edstrom, FNP, M.Ed., CTT. The Proactive Breast Wellness Program is her magnus opus and a labor of love.

Read the rest of the article here

Holistic Physician Dr. Brownstein urges women to consider thermography

There are many wise doctors and care providers out there who are questioning the traditional health care advice that women are given. One of these wise doctors is a Dr. Brownstein, a holistic family physician at the Medical Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

We just discovered his new blog post about mammograms and urge you all to read it. Dr. Brownstein is commenting on a recent Canadian study that shows that mammograms do not result in less breast cancer deaths. He urges women to do their research make up their own minds, and consider thermography. Here is what he says, in part:

“There is no question that mammograms pick up abnormalities in the breasts at a much earlier stage as compared to the physical exam–palpation of the breast.   However, as the Canadian studies showed, early diagnosis of breast cancer has not translated into improved mortality rates.  A similar situation occurs in men with prostate testing via the PSA test–early diagnosis does not change the course of the illness for the vast majority men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Keep in mind that mammograms are associated with adverse effects.  Mammograms utilize ionizing radiation which is a known to cause cancer.  In fact, there is a one percent increase risk of developing breast cancer for each mammogram a woman receives.  That means, after 10 years, the risk could be as  high as ten percent.  Some think the risk is higher.

What should you do?  Don’t blindly follow anyone’s recommendation, mine included.  Do your research. Just because a doctor says that a yearly mammogram is needed doesn’t  make it so.  Thermography provides a non-toxic way to image the breast using heat.  Since it does not expose the breast tissue to ionizing radiation, thermography should be an option.  More information about thermography can be found at: www.thermascan.com.

Final thoughts:  The war on breast cancer has been a dismal failure.  Presently, we have one in seven U.S. women suffering with breast cancer.  The best that the Powers-That-Be can offer us, after spending trillions of our scarce health care dollars, is the screening mammogram– which has never been shown to lower mortality rates.   I say we need to refocus our efforts.  We need to spend our money figuring out what is causing one in seven women to have breast breast cancer.  We need less money spent on diagnosing cancer and more spent on how to prevent it.  What can you do?  Make your views known.  Congress will listen to us if we speak loudly enough.  And, finally, don’t donate to organizations that are not trying to figure out why so many of us are getting cancer.  These same organizations are busy, in the case of breast cancer, promoting screening mammograms.”

Read the entire post at this link: http://blog.drbrownstein.com/the-mammogram-debacle/

 

Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer through Nutrition

Perhaps some of the most powerful testimony for the success of the Proactive Breast Wellness program is the section on our site of “Before and After” images. The PBW program offers an easy-to-follow comprehensive plan to improve nutrition, make life style changes, achieve hormone balance, help you identify and avoid environmental toxins that can impact our health. Making these changes will improve the health of your whole family !

In my daily practice I have worked directly with women who have been concerned about their breast health. I was able to take a thermal picture (there’s more about thermal breast imaging or thermography on the website, www.proactivebreastwellness.com, of some of my patients both before they began following the PBW program and  after they completed the program. The results are striking.

Breast Health improved through nutrition.Breast health improved by nutrition

The dark blue color in the After image shows that these breasts are cooler, less inflamed, and less tender to the patient.Oregon has the second highest breast cancer rate per capita in the US. It appears that is because Oregon and  Washington had been the testing ground for Agent Orange since the early 1970’s and the states has continued  herbicide and pesticide use for years in the timber and agricultural industries. Check out what the infrared images  show if the woman eats organically versus women who had been toxically exposed to these chemicals.

There are more examples of how this program has changed breast tissue. Please take a look at them. Also, view the “Protect Your Breasts” section on our site, which has more information in PDF form about how herbicides and pesticides affect our breast tissue.

Science has shown that family history may only have a 7% to 9%  impact  on a woman  future risk of developing breast cancer,  while lifestyle and environmental factors account for the remaining approximately 91% to 93%. This means that you can take concrete action to begin protecting your breast health, as these “Before and After” images  have shown. You can even improve your breast health, starting today ! Visit our store to see what resources you can get started with.

 

 

Relaxation and Breast Wellness: How Does Relaxation or Meditation Help?

One of the aspects of the Proactive Breast Wellness program that we are offering to help women protect their breasts is called “Waves of Serenity.”

This progressive muscle relaxation and guided beach imagery narration. “Waves” also includes ocean sounds with gentle harp music in the background for the narrative. It includes instruction on how to practice these techniques for people who have not tried these techniques before. “Waves of Serenity” is 45 minutes long and is available as a CD, DVD or digital download. You can even listen and watch a segment of the program by clicking here to visit our YouTube video.

You may be wondering what relaxation has to do with breast health, right? Well the fact is that our minds and our bodies work together to establish and maintain our mental and physical health. It really is all connected. If we have a running internal dialogue that we aren’t worthy, that we’re sick, or that we’re getting sick, we will feel as if we aren’t worthy, that we’re sick, or that we’re getting sick! Relaxation and guided visualization can help clear your mind and help you cope with your daily challenges, as well as any overwhelming feelings you may be experiencing as you work to increase your health.

When we’re stressed, we tend to take shallow, quick breaths. Shallow breathing does not allow enough oxygen to enter our bodies, which can make us even more anxious and doesn’t support the body’s attempts to heal itself. You can help yourself by simply remembering to breathe deeply throughout the day, particularly when you are feeling tense or stressed. To work more deeply with breathing and relaxation, see our website where you can order the “Waves of Serenity” program.

You can use “Waves” for general stress, if you have high cortisol levels or have insomnia. These techniques will be helpful if you will be facing surgery and want to be as relaxed as possible to support your healing process. It makes a wonderful gift of health for a loved one. Children and teens have enjoyed “Waves“ to help them relax and get to sleep easier. Teaching children how to “chill out naturally” and decrease their own stress and manage their challenges is very helpful indeed. Here’s what one of our customers has said about the Waves of Serenity program available in the Proactive Breast Wellness store:

“I tried your Waves of Serenity CD for the first time this morning and it was Great ! Just left a little graffiti in the sand…. ‘I was there.’ Of course, it washed away, so I will have to revisit the beach tomorrow. It was truly relaxing and I felt much calmer afterwards.” -Veronica T

The Proactive Breast Wellness Program

Many of my patients know about the Proactive Breast Wellness program because I’ve been providing it on a one-on-one basis since 2006. Over the intervening years I have shared nutritional information and the results of studies I’ve seen that have helped my patients make better choices. But if you haven’t been to our Eugene, Oregon office for your thermography scan of your breasts, you probably have some questions! What is the PBW program all about?

The Proactive Breast Wellness program is an educational tool to help you reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. I narrate nearly 5 hours of information on several aspects of breast care. The program is available as digital downloads or on 4 CDs, plus a free data disc/resource download with research information to go with the 9 chapters. As more and current research is conducted, I’ll update these resources annually. “Waves of Serenity” has been included as a relaxation CD/DVD or Digital Download to reduce stress, decrease insomnia and improve cortisol levels. We believe that the mind and body connection is important and medical researchers have learned a lot about how your emotions impact your health. Take a little “mini vacation” and enjoy a segment of “Waves.”

Our website, ProactiveBreastWellness.com, has a lot of information available about the program. We also have a store where the supplements and books that we recommend are easily available for purchase. You can get 20% off your supplements to help keep you healthy.

Visit the “Chapter Plan” on our website to see the complete 9-chapter outline of the program. If you have questions that aren’t answered, let us know, and we’ll do our best to answer them for you here in the comments section of our blog. Email us and we’ll do our best to get you the information you’re looking for.

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for Proactive Breast Wellness! We’re new at this but we would like anyone who is reading this to know that we are dedicated to informing women about how they can protect their breast health. Whether you’re reading this first blog post right as it is published or years down the road, we hope to be a source of inspiration and information for you and your current and future health.

But first, some introductions. I’m Ingrid, and as President and Author of Proactive Breast Wellness LLC, I’ve devoted the past seven years of my life to breast cancer prevention. I’ve been nationally certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 1978. In addition, I was awarded a Masters in Health Education in 1981. I have assisted thousands of women since I created Infrared Breast Health LLC  based in Eugene, Oregon. I became nationally certified as a Clinical Infrared Thermography Technician, CTT in 2007.  My entire 35-year professional career has been dedicated to helping people achieve health. Visit my biographical info on our site  if you’d like to know more about me.

The Proactive Breast Wellness program has been in development for seven years, as I expanded my breast thermography clinical practice and worked on the program at the same time. I am pleased to now be able to offer the complete program to everyone, not just my patients.

As I said in the opening of this blog post, the staff here at Proactive Breast Wellness are dedicated to gaining and sharing information that will help women protect their breasts. We hope that this blog will be a place where we can share this information and have discussions about nutrition and lifestyle that will help you to preserve the healthy state of your breasts right now and to help you decrease your risk of developing breast disease in the future. By making these changes you protect the health of your whole family!

Let us know what questions you have in the comments, and we’ll try to answer them here. We’re here for you and we appreciate that you’re here too!