Archive for the ‘Inflammation’ Category

25-Year-Old With Transverse Myelitis & Lyme

https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-podcast-transverse-myelitis-lyme-disease/

LYME PODCAST: A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH TRANSVERSE MYELITIS AND LYME DISEASE

A 25-year-old man with transverse myelitis and Lyme disease

I will be discussing a 25-year-old man with transverse myelitis and Lyme disease. “He showed gradual improvement in gait, motor and sensory functions of his lower extremities along with a resolution of neurogenic bowel.” wrote the authors. The authors added. “He continues to need intermittent self-catheterization for neurogenic bladder.”

By
 
 
Podcast:  https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS83NzIxNjAucnNz/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0zMDE1NDE4?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjgy6vH3KPvAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg

Dumic and colleague first discussed this case in the journal IDCases  in 2019.

“A previously healthy 25-year-old man presented with inability to urinate and frequent falls associated with bilateral lower extremity weakness and numbness.” wrote the authors.

Two weeks earlier, he described a red circumferential rash. His rash was approximately 10 cm in diameter, which is about 4 inch in diameter. The CDC only requires a 5 cm rash to diagnose Lyme disease criteria, which is about 2 inches.

He lived in Wisconsin, USA, with extensive exposure to ticks. He lived next to the woods, hiked, camped, and fished, and has two dogs. He had no recent history of a tick bite.

He also developed a mild, intermittent headache, mild neck stiffness, and thought he had a fever. Flu-like symptoms have commonly been reported in Lyme disease.

Did he get treated for Lyme disease? No.

The rash disappeared within a week without treatment. The erythema migrans rash of Lyme disease often clears without treatment.

His condition took a turn for the worse. “Five days prior to admission, he developed urinary retention as well as progressive numbness and weakness in his lower extremities.” wrote the authors. He was also not able to move his bowels.

His sensory deficit progressed from “left foot numbness to the upper thorax right below the nipple line anteriorly and below the shoulder blades posteriorly.” write the authors.

He began to fall due to the weakness of both legs and problems with his gait.

His physical examination revealed several findings. He had weakness of both legs, mild spasticity in both knees, increased reflexes in his legs, a diminished sensation in his legs, and a Babinski sign of the left foot.

A positive Babinski sign occurs when a doctor stimulates the bottom of the foot. The big toe bends up and back to the top of the foot, and the other toes fan out. This can mean there is some problem with the nervous system.

He had evidence suggestive of myelitis on an MRI “MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine revealed T2 signal hyperintensity in the central spinal cord gray matter at C5, C6 and T3 to T9 levels suggestive of myelitis.” write the authors. They use the term suggestive as a T2 signal hyperintensity can be from other causes. Myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord.

He had strong evidence of an inflammatory process in his spinal fluid as measured by a pleocytosis in his spinal fluid. These are white cells in his spinal fluid. His antibody test for Lyme disease was negative.

His PCR for Lyme disease was positive. They were able to confirm PCR tests were positive for Lyme disease using a molecular detection test at the Mayo Medical Laboratories.

He was diagnosed and treated for acute transverse myelitis.

TRANSVERSE MYELITIS AND LYME DISEASE

The man’s motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction were typical of acute transverse myelitis. Autonomic dysfunction is a part of the nervous system that regulates internal organs such as the heart, stomach and intestines. The autonomic nervous system is composed of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic system. It has also been called the fight-or-flight response. The man was unable to control his bowels and bladder.

OUTCOME

He was treated for Lyme disease with IV ceftriaxone. He also was treated with an intravenous antiviral medicine, Acyclovir, for two days until the spinal tap PCR was positive. Finally, he was treated with the steroid methylprednisolone 1 g IV daily for three days.

“He showed gradual improvement in gait, motor and sensory functions of his lower extremities along with a resolution of neurogenic bowel.” wrote the authors.

The authors added, “he continues to need intermittent self-catheterization for neurogenic bladder.”

This is not the first case of transverse myelitis and Lyme disease patients according to the authors. Their search revealed six other cases of neurologic Lyme disease associated with acute transverse myelitis.

What can we learn from this cases?

  1. Acute transverse myelitis can occur in Lyme disease.
  2. The spinal tap in Lyme disease can present with a high white count, also called pleocytosis, and still have a negative antibody test.
  3. A positive PCR test was able to confirm Lyme disease in this patient.
  4. The man’s acute transverse myelitis and Lyme disease improved with antibiotic treatment.

What questions does these cases raise?

  1. How often does transverse myelitis occur in Lyme disease?
  2. Would the man have been treated for Lyme disease if the PCR test at the Mayo had been negative?
  3. Would the man no longer need intermittent self-catheterization for neurogenic bladder if he were treated with more than a single one-month course of intravenous ceftriaxone?</li
  4. Were there other autonomic issues not described by the authors?</li
TREATING TICK-BORNE DISEASE IN MY PRACTICE

In my practice, each individual requires a careful assessment. That is why I order a broad range of blood tests for other illnesses in addition to tick-borne infections. I also arrange consultations with specialists as needed.

Many patients are complex, as highlighted in this Inside Lyme Podcast series.

We need more doctors with skills recognizing a tick-borne illness in an individual with acute transverse myelitis and Lyme disease. We hope that professionals evaluating individuals with acute transverse myelitis can use this case to remind them to look for tick-borne illnesses and treat accordingly.

Inside Lyme Podcast Series

This Inside Lyme case series will be discussed on my Facebook and made available on podcast and YouTube.  As always, it is your likes, comments, and shares that help spread the word about this series and our work. If you can, please leave a review on iTunes or wherever else you get your podcasts.  Sign up for our newsletter to keep up with our cases.

References:
  1. Dumic I, Vitorovic D, Spritzer S, Sviggum E, Patel J, Ramanan P. Acute transverse myelitis – A rare clinical manifestation of Lyme neuroborreliosis. IDCases. 2019;15:e00479.
  2. Kenney MJ, Ganta CK. Autonomic Nervous System and Immune System Interactions. Compr Physiol. 2014 July ; 4(3): 1177–1200.

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For more:

Category:

Inflammation, Lyme, research

What is a Herxheimer Reaction and What Can I Do About It?

https://holtorfmed.com/articles/lyme-disease/what-is-a-herxheimer-reaction-and-what-can-i-do-about-it

What is a Herxheimer Reaction and What Can I Do About It?

9/21/20

By Holtdorf Medical Group

This natural bodily response is known as the Herxheimer reaction. Being familiar with this occurrence and methods of reducing its intensity can be beneficial for those being treated for chronic conditions, gastrointestinal disease, or toxicity.

An Introduction to The Herxheimer Reaction

The Herxheimer response is a natural bodily process triggered by a greater prevalence of endotoxins. These substances are released when harmful microorganisms and bacteria are destroyed or die off. As damaging bacteria are destroyed, they release previously contained endotoxins into the bloodstream. This allows the toxins to be transported to the appropriate system and subsequently expelled from the body. However, rapid destruction of bacteria can cause an influx of endotoxins resulting in greater toxicity. When this occurs, the immune system responds by triggering an acute immune response resulting in inflammation that may be experienced throughout the body. This can cause worsening of current symptoms and the development of new symptoms.

The Herxheimer reaction is frequently seen during antibiotic treatments because antibiotics destroy numerous microorganisms and bacteria. Although the Herxheimer reaction is typically non-lethal, it does frequently cause temporary pain, discomfort, and worsening of symptoms. Symptom severity is often indicative of the level of inflammation triggered by the immune system.

Common symptoms that develop or worsen due to a Herxheimer response include:

  • Bloating
  • Brain Fog
  • Chills
  • Cold Sweats
  • Constipation
  • Cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Joint Pain
  • Lethargy
  • Muscle Pain
  • Nausea
  • Skin Irritation
  • Sore Throat

Typically, symptoms develop within a couple of hours to several days after treatment. However, depending on the location of the bacteria, symptoms may develop later.

Because of the sudden worsening of symptoms, it is common for patients to feel that the severity of their condition has increased due to the treatment. However, even though treatment causes a temporary increase in symptom intensity due to greater release of toxins the condition ultimately improves. The body responding in this way usually means that the treatment is actually working effectively.

A Herxheimer reaction can last for a week or upwards of multiple months. The duration of the reaction is dependent on individual patient factors. Perhaps the greatest determinant of reaction length is what condition is being treated and its status. For example, Lyme disease is more likely to cause longer Herxheimer reactions. Other factors include the body’s ability to transport toxins and other debris, and the patient’s overall health. Therefore, each patient experiences Herxheimer reactions at a different level of severity and varying duration.

As long as the Herxheimer reaction is not too severe, treatment should continue. It is common for patients to be alarmed or concerned about the development of new symptoms and stop treatment. However, if the symptoms are caused by a Herxheimer reaction, it is best to continue treatment as long as symptoms are bearable.

Reducing the Impact of a Herxheimer Reaction

Even though a Herxheimer reaction indicates that treatment is working effectively, it doesn’t make the patient’s condition any more comfortable in the immediate. Fortunately, there are many ways of limiting the symptomatic impact of a Herxheimer reaction without inhibiting treatment efficacy. The following suggestions can and should be used when detoxing, using antibiotics, or being treated for infections and other forms of chronic disease to limit Herxheimer intensity.

Drink Plenty of Liquids

Distilled water, herbal teas, and most other non-sugary fluids, aid in the removal of toxins and cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract. Maintaining a high level of hydration also supports liver and kidney function which further improves detoxification. Keeping these systems working at their best can help the body better eliminate toxins released into the bloodstream thereby reducing Herxheimer symptoms.

Limit Exposure to Toxins

Our modern environment contains many toxins that can promote toxicity thereby contributing to the intensity of Herxheimer symptoms. Avoiding alcohol, smoke, BPAs, pesticides, and processed products can reduce the strain on the immune system and support detoxification.

Sleep More

The body conducts many restorative processes while at rest that it cannot accomplish when it is awake. When experiencing a Herxheimer reaction due to greater toxicity, it is best to allow more time for quality sleep. If you believe that you are suffering from toxin exposure, schedule an additional hour or two of sleep per night. It is likely that the body will benefit greatly from getting between nine to ten hours of sleep while detoxing.

Use a Probiotic

Probiotics are collections of good bacteria that support gastrointestinal function including the colon. By supporting the colon with a high-quality probiotic, it can remain clean and efficient thereby improving the detox process and reducing the intensity of a Herxheimer reaction. Probiotics can also help reverse the destruction of good gut bacteria caused by antibiotics. This can help restore gut health and limit Herxheimer symptoms.

Finishing Out Strong

The Herxheimer reaction is a natural response to the destruction of harmful bacteria and other threatening microorganisms. If the reaction is exceedingly uncomfortable or severe, cessation or reduction of treatment may be warranted. A heightened reaction may result in the shutting down of certain bodily systems. However, if possible, it is best to fight through the symptoms and continue treatment because Herxheimer reactions typically indicate that treatment is working as intended. Utilizing the methods discussed above can help limit the impact of a Herxheimer reaction to better support the treatment process, reduce symptoms, and promote greater wellness.

Resources

  1. Herxheimer Reaction – Feeling Worse Before Feeling Better. BX Protocol. https://www.bxprotocol.com/herxheimer/
  2. Herxheimer Reaction: What Is It, How Do I Clear It? Green Smoothie Girl. https://greensmoothiegirl.com/herxheimer-reaction/
  3. Tips for Dealing with Herxheimer or Die-off Reactions. Dr. Jill. https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2012/11/17/tips-for-dealing-with-herxheimer-or-die-off-reactions/
  4. Herxheimer Reaction. CHRCLE. https://www.chronicillnessrecovery.org/5-public/about-it/161-herxheimer-reaction-51139870

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For more:

Category:

Detoxing, Gut Health, Inflammation

How Underlying Conditions Affect Your Immune System

https://holtorfmed.com/articles/immune-health/how-underlying-conditions-affect-your-immune-system

How Underlying Conditions Affect Your Immune System

By Holtdorf Medical Group

12/15/20

The immune system plays the crucial role of protecting the body and defending against pathogens, illness, and disease. As such, a decline in immune function often results in greater occurrence and increased severity of sickness. Unfortunately, chronic health conditions impact 6 out of every 10 American adults and these conditions often impair their underlying immune system and function.

Below are some of the most common chronic conditions and the ways in which they compromise the immune system.

Heart Disease

Heart disease affects 121.5 million adults in the United States. The term heart disease describes a range of conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, and issues that affect the heart’s muscle, valves, and rhythm. All of these conditions have the ability to negatively affect the immune system as the body perceives the cholesterol-containing plaque inside coronary blood vessels as a foreign invader and works to eliminate it, which results in inflammation. If the body continues to attack the coronary blockages, the prolonged state of inflammation strains the immune system as it is forced to continually stay in an active state and fight the plaque rather than potential foreign invaders.

Heart disease can also impact your lung function. Because a compromised heart struggles to effectively pump blood from the lungs to the rest of the body, blood can build up and raise the pressure in the pulmonary veins. This results in fluid being pushed into the lungs, making it harder to breathe. It is important to note this connection between the heart and lungs and the strain that results between the two with heart disease patients, as it makes them more vulnerable to respiratory infection when their lungs are weakened.

Chronic Lung Disease

The lungs are not only weakened by heart disease but also conditions such as severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic pneumonia. All of these diseases block airflow to the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and resulting in irritated lung cells and inflammation.

These inflamed lung cells also strain the immune system as they fuel an immune system cycle in which the body sends additional inflammatory immune cells to the lungs in an attempt to fight the chronic conditions. Long-term lung inflammation leads to both extensive lung damage and an impaired immune response to respiratory infections.

Diabetes and High Blood Sugar

With more than 100 million U.S. adults now estimated to have either diabetes or pre-diabetes and 47 million estimated to have metabolic syndrome, it is important to understand how this affects the body’s capacity to fight off illness.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired resulting in elevated blood sugar levels, a state called hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia, which can occur in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, can damage the function of white blood cells such as neutrophils and T cells, which help fight off viruses, toxins, and bacteria.

High blood sugar compromises the body’s antioxidant system, which helps fight against free radicals and oxidative stress. Additionally, people with high blood sugar often have reduced blood flow because the sugar creates increased blood viscosity, which makes it more difficult for the blood to reach smaller blood vessels in the eyes, heart, nerves, feet, arms, and kidneys. The reduced internal blood flow makes the body less capable of mobilizing immune cells that are responsible for defending the body against infection.

Immunocompromised Conditions

There are many conditions that can result in someone being immunocompromised, or impaired or unable to fight against pathogens. Cancer, bone marrow or organ transplantation, HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of certain medications can all lead to someone being immunocompromised.

Regardless of the condition or cause, those who are immunocompromised produce fewer T cells, macrophages, and complement proteins, which are all key parts of the immune system. Therefore, when the immune system lacks these aspects of its defense response, its ability to combat illness is impaired.

Autoimmune Conditions

Unlike those that are immunocompromised and have an underactive immune system, the 24 million Americans with autoimmunity have an overactive immune system. Patients with conditions such as lupus, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis may suffer from their immune system being overactive to the point of attacking its own healthy cells. Therefore, unlike the previously addressed conditions, those with autoimmune conditions do not necessarily have a weakened immune response rather, they are more likely to have complications from illnesses when their body overcompensates and begins to attack itself.

If you do have an underlying condition that puts you at a higher risk of developing a severe illness, the good news is that chronic health issues can be well managed through nutrition, lifestyle, and medications. At Holtorf Medical Group, our expert physicians utilize innovative treatments to strengthen your immune system. Give us a call at 844-844-2981 to learn about our immune-supporting therapies, and see how we can help you!

Resources
  1. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201503-126AW.
  2. “Autoimmune Diseases.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune/index.cfm.
  3. Bentley-Lewis, Rhonda, et al. “The Metabolic Syndrome in Women.” Nature Clinical Practice. Endocrinology & Metabolism, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2007, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4428566/.
  4. “Cardiovascular Diseases Affect Nearly Half of American Adults, Statistics Show.” http://Www.heart.org, http://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/01/31/cardiovascular-diseases-affect-nearly-half-of-american-adults-statistics-show.
  5. “Chronic Diseases in America.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Sept. 2020, http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm
  6. Forfia, Paul R, et al. “Pulmonary Heart Disease: The Heart-Lung Interaction and Its Impact on Patient Phenotypes.” Pulmonary Circulation, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, Jan. 2013, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3641739/.
  7. Kingwell, Bronwyn A., et al. “Type 2 Diabetic Individuals Have Impaired Leg Blood Flow Responses to Exercise.” Diabetes Care, American Diabetes Association, 1 Mar. 2003, care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/3/899.
  8. “Metabolic Syndrome.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Mar. 2019, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916.
  9. “New CDC Report: More than 100 Million Americans Have Diabetes or Prediabetes.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 July 2017, http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html.
  10. “What Are Congenital Heart Defects?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Nov. 2020, http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/facts.html.
  11. Zhou, Tong, et al. “Role of Adaptive and Innate Immunity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.” Journal of Diabetes Research, Hindawi, 8 Nov. 2018, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6250017/.

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Category:

Activism, Inflammation

Opinion: Neurologic Problems in Lyme Disease Also Seen in COVID-19

https://danielcameronmd.com/neurologic-lyme-disease/

OPINION: NEUROLOGIC PROBLEMS IN LYME DISEASE ALSO SEEN IN COVID-19

neurologic lyme disease patient in hospital

Doctors have been describing neurologic problems in Lyme disease patients for decades. Thirty years ago, Lyme encephalopathy and Lyme neuropathy were discussed in the New England Journal of Medicine. Since then other neurologic problems in Lyme disease have been described including Neuropsychiatric Lyme disease and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). Now, patients with COVID-19 are reportedly experiencing neurologic problems.

By

In their study, “Frequent neurologic manifestations and encephalopathy‐associated morbidity in Covid‐19 patients,”Liotta and colleagues describe neurologic manifestations in 509 patients with confirmed COVID-19.¹ The authors sought to identify the incidence of neurologic complications in COVID-19 patients.

The study found:

  • More than 8 out of 10 COVID-19 patients suffered from neurologic complications.
  • Nearly 1 out of 3 COVID-19 patients suffered from headaches, encephalopathy, and dizziness, which are also common neurologic symptoms in Lyme disease.
  • Other symptoms included myalgia and fatigue, which occurred in 43% of patients at the onset of illness and in 79% of patients during COVID-19 disease.
  • COVID-19 patients with encephalopathy were less likely to have a good outcome.
  • COVID-19 patients with encephalopathy were hospitalized 3 times longer than COVID-19 patients who did not have encephalopathy.

Author’s Note: Encephalopathy typically refers to altered sensorium and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. There is no standardized test for encephalopathy. It appears the authors diagnosed their cases of encephalopathy using clinical judgment.

Encephalopathy has been associated with a poor outcome in other diseases. Some patients with Lyme encephalopathy have had a poor outcome. I have found that patients with this condition can be more challenging to treat.

The authors encourage further research and studies of encephalopathy in patients including those with “Covid-19 who complain of protracted inability to concentrate or decreased short-term memory (referred to as ‘brain fog’).”

READ MORE: Lyme disease manifesting as acute transverse myelitis

There are several potential causes of encephalopathy in this group of COVID-19 patients, which include: systemic disease and inflammation, coagulopathy, direct neuroinvasion by the virus, endotheliitis, post-infectious autoimmune mechanisms, intensive care unit delirium, sedation and analgesia doses, disruption of sleep/wake cycles, and infectious complications.

But due to limitations from the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors were unable to determine the exact cause of their patients’ encephalopathy.

Although I am unable to determine the cause of encephalopathy in Lyme disease patients, I encourage doctors to recognize the condition, so that prompt treatment may occur, improving the chances for a complete recovery.

Screening for encephalopathy

The authors advocate for broader recognition and targeted treatment of encephalopathy. “Broad recognition and screening for encephalopathy as a contributor to disease severity in Covid-19 may have utility in resource allocation and potential to improve patient outcomes,” writes Liotta.

“Prospective cognitive and neurologic-focused evaluations through specialized clinics dedicated to further diagnostic assessment and tailored rehabilitation needs could play a significant role in recovery from this pandemic,” the authors write.

Johnson and colleagues reported better outcomes in Lyme disease patients who were treated by doctors with expertise in treating Lyme disease.²

Related Articles:

Six cases of neurological Lyme disease

Chronic neurological Lyme disease or co-morbid conditions?

Neurological damage/dysfunction found in early Lyme disease patients

References:
  1. Liotta EM, Batra A, Clark JR, et al. Frequent neurologic manifestations and encephalopathy-associated morbidity in Covid-19 patients. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2020.
  2. Johnson L, Shapiro M, Stricker RB, Vendrow J, Haddock J, Needell D. Antibiotic Treatment Response in Chronic Lyme Disease: Why Do Some Patients Improve While Others Do Not? Healthcare (Basel). 2020;8(4).

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**Comment**

The concern is people being misdiagnosed with COVID-19 when they have Lyme/MSIDS.

I was just contacted by a patient right here in Wisconsin who tested POSITIVE for Lyme THREE times but was told by the infectious disease doctor it was a “false negative.”  

Wow.

Nothing has changed in Lyme-land.  Infectious disease doctors are typically the worst in my experience regarding tick-borne illness.  They still follow ancient unscientific advice from the CDC that Lyme/MSIDS is hard to catch and easy to treat.  Get to a Lyme literate doctor asap!

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/05/30/a-tale-of-two-pandemics-lyme-covid-19-dr-bransfield/

Category:

Inflammation, Lyme, research, Viruses

Mammography: The War on Women’s Breasts

Apologies for the tardiness of this, but PLEASE watch it while you can & share it widely.  The information contained within the documentary is not only eye-opening but imperative for women to understand for their health.

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/10/10/mammograms-documentary.aspx  See documentary here.  FREE until Oct. 19

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • The documentary “Boobs: The War on Women’s Breasts” explores how mammography is causing more harm than good for many women
  • One of the harms of using mammography as a screening tool is that it can often lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, including false-positive tests and unnecessary biopsies
  • Due to the introduction of mammography, breast cancer was overdiagnosed — meaning that tumors were detected that would never lead to clinical symptoms — in 1.3 million women over a 30-year period
  • Mammograms and their resulting biopsies may increase the spread of cancer, and up to 1 in 4 breast tissue biopsies may be incorrectly diagnosed by pathologists, with unnecessary mastectomies being performed as a result
  • There’s also the issue that mammograms use ionizing radiation at a relatively high dose, which in and of itself can contribute to the development of breast cancer
  • Other potentially safer options to mammography such as thermography and ultrasound are not widely available because the billion-dollar mammagoraphy industry prevents the widespread use of these beneficial tests

When asked how much radiation women are exposed to from mammograms, Dr. Ben Johnson, author of “No Ma’am-ograms,” says, “At least the amount of 100 chest X-rays.”

It’s a statement that would surprise many women who are advised to receive a mammogram as the standard of care for breast cancer prevention in the U.S. — and it’s just one of the eye-opening facts presented in the documentary “Boobs: The War on Women’s Breasts.”

The film begins with a written statement informing viewers that all of the information you’re about to hear is supported by scientific literature, even though much of it opposes the assertions made by conventional medicine. Doctors from across the United States and around the world — including California, Georgia, Switzerland, Virginia and Arizona — are interviewed, providing expert testimony on why you may want to rethink this controversial procedure.

The ‘Early Detection’ Myth and Biopsy Risks

One myth perpetuated by conventional medicine is that mammography is the most important screening test for breast cancer because it can detect breast cancer “up to two years before the tumor can be felt by you or your doctor.”1

However, the film points out that by the time you can feel a cancerous lump in your breast, the cancer has already been growing for two to five years. “Mammograms are not early detection,” Johnson says.

The myth that mammograms don’t spread cancer is also addressed, via the story of one woman who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given only 1 year to live. She made significant changes to her lifestyle and many of the tumors disappeared. The cancer was stable years later, until she received a biopsy and subsequent mammograms, which she says made the cancer spread — and a tumor appeared in the area where the biopsy was done.

During a biopsy, a piece of tissue from a tumor or organ is removed so that it can be examined under a microscope, often to determine if it is cancerous. Needle biopsies, for instance, are widely used as part of the traditional allopathic approach to diagnosing breast cancer. But they may accidentally cause malignant cells to break away from a tumor, resulting in its spreading to other areas of your body.

One of the harms of using mammography as a screening tool is that it can often lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, including false-positive tests and unnecessary biopsies.2

One study from the John Wayne Cancer Institute revealed that a needle biopsy may increase the spread of cancer compared to patients who receive excisional biopsies, also known as lumpectomies.3 They concluded, “Manipulation of an intact tumor by FNA [fine-needle aspiration] or large-gauge needle core biopsy is associated with an increase in the incidence of SN [sentinel node] metastases, perhaps due in part to the mechanical disruption of the tumor by the needle.”4

Johnson said he calls biopsies “the kiss of death,” describing how the needle gets driven through a billion cells, blows through the cancer and goes out the other side, dragging cells back through and spreading the cancer. Dr. Manfred Doepp, medical director of the Couros Center in Switzerland, agrees that biopsies can spread cancer, while the physical act of squeezing the breast during mammography may also trigger the cancer to spread.

The film cites a rapid response published in the BMJ, which states “robust scientific data, published in prestigious medical journals, have lent meaningful support to the concept” that the squeezing motion of mammography is in itself potentially harmful.5

Breast Cancer Overdiagnosed in 1.3 Million Women

The notion that mammography is an accurate screening tool is another myth busted in the film. Both false positives and false negatives occur, and even the skill of the radiologist in reading the mammogram is a factor in whether or not mammography is able to detect cancer.

Overall, when researchers examined trends in early-stage breast cancer and late-stage breast cancer from 1976 to 2008 among women 40 years and older, they found the introduction of mammography in the U.S. was linked to a doubling in the number of early-stage breast cancer cases detected each year.6

However, the rate at which women developed late-stage cancer decreased by 8% during that time, leading the researchers to suggest that only a small number of early-stage cancer diagnosed would progress into advanced disease:7

“Despite substantial increases in the number of cases of early-stage breast cancer detected, screening mammography has only marginally reduced the rate at which women present with advanced cancer.

Although it is not certain which women have been affected, the imbalance suggests that there is substantial overdiagnosis, accounting for nearly a third of all newly diagnosed breast cancers, and that screening is having, at best, only a small effect on the rate of death from breast cancer.”

They concluded that due to the introduction of mammography, breast cancer was overdiagnosed — meaning that tumors were detected that would never lead to clinical symptoms — in 1.3 million women over a 30-year period.

Up to 80% of Breast Biopsies Are Benign

The overdiagnosis of breast cancer comes with serious risks, including needless treatments and unnecessary stress and anxiety. In another study cited in the film, it’s stated that more than 1 million breast biopsies are performed annually in the U.S., 75% to 80% of which turn out to be benign.8 Sometimes, the benign result isn’t uncovered until an unnecessary mastectomy has already occurred.

Up to 1 in 4 breast tissue biopsies may be incorrectly diagnosed by pathologists,9 and unnecessary mastectomies have been performed as a result. In a case that went to trial in 2020 in Israel, a woman was diagnosed with breast cancer after a biopsy tested at two medical centers came back positive.

She underwent six months of chemotherapy as a result, as well as a partial mastectomy to remove the growth. After the growth was removed, the lawsuit alleges, it turned out to be benign.10 In 2015, researchers with Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts revealed that false-positive mammograms and breast cancer overdiagnoses among women ages 40 to 59 cost the U.S. $4 billion each year.11

Mammograms May Not Work for Women With Dense Breasts

The story of Nancy Cappello is also covered in the film. Cappello was diagnosed with breast cancer after receiving two normal mammograms. The cancer was missed because she has dense breast tissue, and was only revealed when her doctor felt a ridge in her breast and prescribed an ultrasound test in addition to a mammogram.

Cappello was a pioneer in the movement to teach women about dense breast tissue and how using a mammogram to detect cancer in such tissue is “like finding a polar bear in a snowstorm.” She said:12

“So I went on a quest — for research — and I discovered for nearly a decade BEFORE my diagnosis, six major studies with over 42,000 women concluded that by supplementing a mammogram with an ultrasound increases detection from 48% to 97% for women with dense tissue.

I also learned that women with extremely dense tissue are 5x more likely to have breast cancer when compared with women with fatty breasts and that research on dense breast tissue as an independent risk factor for breast cancer has been studied since the mid 70s.

… I endured a mastectomy, reconstruction, 8 chemotherapy treatments and 24 radiation treatments. The pathology report confirmed — stage 3c cancer because the cancer had traveled outside of the breast to my lymph nodes. Eighteen lymph nodes were removed and thirteen contained cancer — AND REMEMBER — a “normal” mammogram just weeks before. Is that early detection?”

As a result of Cappello’s movement, 38 states have passed mandatory breast density reporting laws. The film states that up to 90% of women may have some degree of dense breast tissue that may affect a mammogram’s outcome and could benefit from whole breast ultrasound — a procedure that’s not widely available. Women are also interviewed that were told they had dense breast tissue, but not what that meant for the effectiveness of mammography.

‘Precancer’: Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to the abnormal growth of cells within the milk ducts of the breast forming a lesion commonly between 1 to 1.5 centimeters (cm) in diameter. While the cells appear malignant under a microscope, they have not invaded surrounding tissue and are considered “precancer,” noninvasive or “stage zero breast cancer.” Some experts have also argued that DCIS should be considered noncancerous.

Despite this, the film tells the story of one woman who had both breasts removed due to a DCIS diagnosis. Such diagnoses now represent 20% to 25% of all “breast cancers,”13 and the standard of care is to treat all DCIS with mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy. According to a review in the British Journal of Cancer:14

“In effect, women with DCIS are labelled as ‘cancer patients’, with concomitant anxiety and negative impact on their lives, despite the fact that most DCIS lesions will probably never progress to invasive breast cancer.

Owing to the uncertainty regarding which lesions run the risk of progression to invasive cancer, current risk perceptions are misleading and consequently bias the dialogue between clinicians and women diagnosed with DCIS, resulting in overtreatment for some, and potentially many, women.”

Is Radiation From Mammograms Dangerous?

There’s also the issue that mammograms use ionizing radiation at a relatively high dose, which in and of itself can contribute to the development of breast cancer. In a 2016 study, it’s stated, “ionizing radiation as used in low-dose X-ray mammography may be associated with a risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis.”15

They point out that people who carry certain genetic variations or have an inherited disposition of breast cancer, in particular, should avoid ionizing radiation as much as possible — the latter group being one that conventional medicine often recommends for routine or even extra mammography screening. Again, they refer individuals to a different, safer, form of testing: ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).16

A “new and improved” type of mammogram called 3D tomosynthesis, which is basically a CT scan for your breasts, is particularly problematic, as your radiation exposure is even greater than from standard mammograms — and by a significant margin.

According to one study,17 annual screening using digital or screen-film mammography on women aged 40 to 80 years is associated with an induced cancer incidence and fatal breast cancer rate of 20 to 25 cases per 100,000 mammograms. Meaning, annual mammograms cause 20 to 25 cases of fatal cancer for every 100,000 women getting the test.

The 3D mammogram requires multiple views in order to achieve three-dimensionality, so it stands to reason your total radiation exposure would be considerably higher than from a standard 2D mammogram.

Thermography and Ultrasound Use No Radiation

In order to make informed decisions, women should be provided with all of their screening options, along with an explanation of their strengths and weaknesses, and be allowed to utilize the option of their choice.

Mammography is only one option, with considerable drawbacks. Other potentially safer options include self and clinical breast exams, thermography, ultrasound and MRI. Thermography and ultrasound use no radiation, and may detect abnormalities that mammograms miss, especially in women with dense breast tissue.

These are explained in detail toward the end of the film, but they can be difficult to access in the U.S., as the billion-dollar mammography industry prevents the widespread use of these beneficial tests.

It’s also important to understand that mammography doesn’t prevent breast cancer in any way. Breast cancer prevention involves a healthy lifestyle, avoidance of toxins and attention to certain nutritional factors, such as vitamin D. It is absolutely vital to know and optimize your vitamin D level as it can radically reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Ignoring these factors and simply getting an annual mammogram and believing you’re protected is the end result being foisted upon many women trusting the advice of conventional medicine. By leading a healthy lifestyle, and seeking to get informed about all of your breast cancer screening options, you can avoid this potentially deadly pitfall.

About the Director

Megan S. Smith, M.S.

I believe in bringing quality to my readers, which is why I would like to share some information about the filmmaker, Megan S. Smith, M.S., and what went in to making “bOObs: The War on Women’s Breasts.” Thank you, Megan, for sharing with us.

What was your inspiration for making this film?

My inspiration for making this film, as well as in making my next film on alternative cancer therapies, was the death of my husband 11 years ago from lung cancer. Specifically, for “bOObs,” my inspiration was emboldened by the death of my three dear friends in as many years after their breast cancer returned following 10-plus years in remission.

What was your favorite part of making the film?

My favorite part of making this film was interviewing the patients and doctors. I learned during my interviews of Drs. Ben Johnson and Galina Migalko about the detriments of mammograms and that we might instead be using thermography in conjunction with ultrasound. This nonradiation protocol made sense to me.

Also, my interview with The American Cancer Society’s Dr. Otis Brawley was an eye opener, as he disclosed, “Mammography is a suboptimal test” and “We need a better test.” All these doctors were spot on. More information on the film can be found here.

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Activism, Inflammation, research, Testing