In a modern office building in Oakland, there is a project underway which may be very literally a matter of life and death.

The breast Cancer Detection Center is screening women between the ages of 35 and 70 to find out if early detection of breast cancer can save lives.

Yes.

That's right.

Alright.

Now this is a consent form that we ask you to fill out the top part here.

It explains the program and your signature would go here.

And then the references that we ask you to bring in will go on those lines.

One of 29 such centers across the country, funded by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, the Breast Cancer Detection Center uses specially designed machines and techniques to uncover possible abnormalities in the breast.

Do you have any breast cancer history in your family?

No, no, alright then routine checkup is usually what we marked for that one, now.

And page two.

How did you hear about the program?

A friend told me about it.

How many times has the doctor examined your breast?

Well, every time I go for an examination.

Once a year, every year.

Good.

Okay.

Do you do self breast exams every month?

Regularly?

No.

Not regularly, no.

Well, you're in for a lecture then.

If you don't do it regularly.

Why don't you do it regularly?

I don't know, I guess I just don't even think about it.

I'm not.

Not in the habit of doing it.

It seems as if you go to the doctor once a year that would be enough.

No, it isn't enough.

If you go to your doctor once a year.

Say you went in January.

Something started growing within your breast, whether it be a just a cyst or a tumor in March.

You didn't go back to your doctor for nine months until the next January.

That would have nine months to grow.

And that is against you.

That is time working against you.

If you do your breast every month you went in January, the doctor checked you.

You were all right.

March.

You felt something.

You could call your doctor immediately and say, doctor, I think I found some a lump and he would tell you to come in.

There, time is working for you.

Not nine months against you, but you are right on top of the situation, and it's the most important thing that you can do.

You.

The breasts are right there for you to examine.

They're not hidden.

Okay, okay.

That's good.

She's then escorted in into the dressing room, where she changes into a paper gown and proceeds on to the waiting room from the waiting room, she's called by the technician to have a thermogram done.

Before the woman can have a thermogram done, she has to sit in a room with a temperature of 68 to 70 degree 70 degrees for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

We have to lower your outside body temperature so that we can get a good heat reading on our thermogram exam.

Okay.

Take a hold of the bar above your head.

Step forward slightly.

Try not to move.

This is not an x-ray.

It's an infrared scanner that picks up the heat from your breast.

Turn to your right about halfway.

Theres a theory that increased heat in one breast could indicate that there may be some abnormal growth in that one breast.

The thermogram is never used alone.

It's always used in correlation with the mammogram and the physical exam.

Okay.

Do you want to step right over here, take your top off.

Put it on the stand.

I'd like you to have a seat on this stool.

Have you ever had any children?

No.

Okay.

Sit up real straight.

This is your breast X-ray.

Okay.

I want you to sit real still and I will move you.

Okay.

Sit up real straight.

Okay.

Now you're going to feel some compression on your breast.

Now, it will be a little tight.

Okay?

Now hold very still and don't breathe.

All participants agree to an annual examination over a five year period.

Most women's examinations fall within normal limits.

Those who do not are immediately referred to their own physician.

Slingback.

Okay.

Why dont you sit up real straight.

Okay.

During a picture, right hand on top of your hand.

That's an eyebrow straight.

Hold your left breast back.

You can lean away just.

We use a Xerox process here so that the X-ray picture comes out on paper instead of black film.

In the picture, it's blue and white.

It shows us a detailed X-ray of the breast and the chest wall and the rib cage.

Finally, a physical examination of the breasts and instruction in the simple procedures of self breast examination are carried out by a nurse.

Although the primary purpose of the yearly visit is an examination, it also serves as an important educational tool.

Out there.

So would you put your hands on your hips Alright, raise your hands over your head thats fine, put your hands back on your hips.

So far we've screened 6050 women.

And what is your ultimate goal?

We plan to screen 10,000 women and follow these 10,000 women for five years.

The cure rate for breast cancer today is no better than it was 35 years ago.

But early detection, the mission of the breast cancer Detection Center and prompt treatment can dramatically increase the chances for cure.