| Our medical system focuses primarily on early | | | | They indicate a couple of important points. |
| detection and the destruction and removal of cancer | | | | The first is that women with breast cancer have a |
| cells. This is important yet isn't it just common sense | | | | high incidence of thyroid issues. We know that these |
| to prevent breast cancer in the first place? | | | | issues, thyroid goiter, low thyroid hormones and |
| Our federal government spends about $900 million | | | | Hashimoto's have their origin in inadequate intake of |
| annually on breast cancer research and programs. | | | | iodine and iodide. |
| There are also many outreach community programs | | | | Your physician may not agree with this last |
| such as the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer | | | | statement regarding Hashimoto's but that is only |
| Foundation which has invested roughly $1 billion since | | | | because they are not familiar with the latest |
| its inception 25 years ago. | | | | research. |
| But what about focusing on real prevention rather | | | | So, might an iodine deficiency cause a woman to |
| than on more technology for earlier detection? | | | | develop an enlarged thyroid? Most definitely. |
| Are we any closer to discovering effective means of | | | | Might an iodine deficiency cause a woman to develop |
| preventing breast cancer? According to our media | | | | Hashimoto's? Certainly. |
| which drives sensational news and is financially | | | | Might an iodine deficiency predispose a woman to |
| supported by the world's wealthiest industry, the | | | | develop breast cancer? Yes and this research along |
| pharmaceutical companies, there are very few | | | | with about another 20 articles should be compelling |
| specific preventatives which western medicine can | | | | enough to incite us to take action. |
| endorse. | | | | Medicine always turns to research to prove its point |
| BUT we do have medical research which DOES | | | | and to establish protocols and guidelines for their |
| prove viable alternatives for prevention. I will cover | | | | physicians to follow. |
| just one of them. | | | | But our system, when it comes to breast cancer, is |
| One risk of breast cancer is thyroid disease. This | | | | one sided, focusing on surgery, prescriptions and |
| comes from several research articles. The first to | | | | radiation. Our system does not focus on prevention |
| make this connection was one out of Pisa, Italy | | | | but sides with treatment from a narrower |
| where they demonstrated that 50% of the 103 | | | | perspective. |
| women with ductal cell carcinoma (breast cancer) had | | | | I suggest that any woman with a family history of |
| undiagnosed thyroid conditions. These included thyroid | | | | breast cancer or thyroid disease should be fully |
| goiter (most often caused by low iodine), | | | | screened for any thyroid issue. And by the word |
| Hashimoto's (thyroid autoimmune condition) and | | | | 'fully' I mean a much more in-depth screening than |
| sub-acute thyroiditis (inflammation). | | | | what is being recommended these days. This topic of |
| This percentage of the participants with thyroid | | | | diagnosing thyroid issues requires much more |
| disease would have been even higher if both | | | | explanation. |
| subclinical and sub-optimal hypothyroidism had been | | | | The point here is that we have the research. We |
| included. The conclusion of this research suggested | | | | know a lot about the prevention of breast cancer. |
| that physicians should screen their breast cancer | | | | We just need to implement it. |
| patients for thyroid problems. | | | | Will it reach mainstream some day? Maybe. |
| Yet here is such a typical example of how a | | | | But I suspect it will never happen until women |
| conclusion can be too narrow because it does not | | | | become informed and educated. It is, after all, our |
| connect itself with other relevant research. | | | | bodies, our lives which we have so trustingly placed |
| There are many studies from around the world which | | | | into the hands of professionals who are looking at us |
| have made the connection between iodine and the | | | | through their own set of lenses. |
| lowered incidence of breast cancer. | | | | Thank you. |
| In 1976 the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, | | | | Dr. Alexander Haskell's recent publication, Low |
| published a study focusing on the incidence of | | | | Thyroid Hormone Symptoms, 7 Causes & 7 |
| cancers in various countries around the world. At that | | | | Solutions, dives deep into the topics of low thyroid |
| time this study shook the world because it exposed | | | | hormones and breast cancer to offer answers, |
| the much higher rate of breast cancer in U.S. women | | | | solutions and hope to millions of women. His 30 years |
| as compared with Japanese women. Their conclusion | | | | of clinical experience as a licensed Naturopathic |
| found the only variable between the two cultures | | | | Physician and his last 2 years of medical research |
| was the high intake of iodine rich foods found in | | | | have provided him with a unique voice and practical, |
| Japan. | | | | clinically relevant point of view. His publication is a |
| How are the two studies, the one from Italy and the | | | | testimony to the ideology of medicine; to educate, |
| one from The Lancet, possibly related? | | | | to empower and to encourage. |