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TBP Blog

The Realities of Cancer and Covid During The Holidays

12/18/2020

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The 2020 holidays have been and will continue to be difficult for all of us. Not being able to travel, see our loved ones, or do many of our favorite traditions is going to be strange. While it might be hard, it might be incredibly beneficial for everyone going through and living with a cancer diagnosis.

Hello, warriors, friends, and dear readers! We know the holiday season can be incredibly difficult for you and for many reasons. While going through your cancer treatments you begin to ask those dark lurking questions; how will this affect my family? How long do I have left? Am I going to beat this? When the holidays come around, these questions tend to get a little darker; what will the holidays be like after I'm gone? Is this my last Christmas? How many more holidays do I have left? While we will try to do everything we can to help comfort and support you on this difficult journey, we also know that sometimes even the most comforting words and actions can't touch those dark places and dark thoughts. However, that doesn't mean we are going to stop our positivity and hope that we want to share with you anytime soon. This blog is going to be a few different things; something to help cheer you up, give you some hope, provide some insight to your loved ones and our readers, and to give everyone a little perspective. We've now all heard it one too many times, that this year is going to be different from all the rest. Through all the difficulties this year has given us, and the fact that this will be hard to spend the holidays apart, this might be something good for all of our warriors going through their treatments, diagnosis, and those living in their survivorship. 

The holidays without cancer are already hard difficult; you're constantly running around, shopping, worrying about seeing everyone, making plans, cooking, attending all the holiday events, and trying to make everyone happy. The holidays with cancer are even more difficult. Its all of your normal holiday stress combined with always being tired, feeling sick, having to say no to things and dealing with the guilt that comes with that, being sick, not being able to taste or eat your favorite foods, not being able to participate in your favorite activities, and more. It's a lot, and when your family and friends outside of your close and supportive care group and team don't quite understand this, it makes it even more difficult. We don't need to go into any more detail, because you already understand this. You're living this right now and you've been going through it ever since you were diagnosed. However, this year might be a little different

A Holiday To Pause

For the past nine months our lives, what's safe, and how we are living has all changed. For our warriors and those in survivorship and remission, you've had to be extra safe, as have your immediate members of your bubble and everyone who lives with you. You are making even fewer trips outside of your house, you could be working from home, seeing a very limited amount of people, you may have been going into doctors appointments and treatments alone, faced canceled and rescheduled doctors appointments, spent a lot of time on Zoom, and more. Now that the holidays are here and the pandemic numbers haven't improved but have instead continued to grow, everyone is starting to see changes. Our favorite Christmas gatherings have been canceled or made virtual, large gatherings are still not recommended, traveling is still not recommended, and it is still recommended that you limit your exposure and stay home as much as possible. While this is devastating for so many, this is something that needs to be observed by our warriors and their families.

While choosing to be healthy and staying healthy, you are also protecting others by limiting your exposure. You can take the opportunity of not being able to gather and travel this year to rest and enjoy the holidays how you choose instead of stressing yourself out. You can slow down and create new traditions with your loved ones inside your bubble and create unique ones with all the family you'll be seeing virtually this year. If your treatments are difficult over the holidays and you're sick, feeling ill, or are exhausted you don't have to make up any excuses or feel bad about not being able to attend a holiday function. As difficult as the holidays are, as difficult as this year has been, take this time to rest, recover, fight, heal, and keep yourself safe while the world is on pause. We do urge you to remember this: please understand to be even more conscious for our warriors who don't have the immune system or strength to battle off what we are all trying to fight off and avoid. Remember, they are already fighting a battle. Don't give them another one to fight. 

Remember, Please

To our dear care teams and family members who make up the family bubbles for all of our warriors, we know this time of year is difficult for you as well, and that 2020 has not made that any easier. Please continue to be safe and to practice all of your safety measures because this isn't just for you. You're doing all of this and being safe for them and everyone else you see this holiday season. Even if it is difficult to say no and you choose to celebrate safely this year, that is the best gift you can give to everyone. With that on your mind, we also wanted to share a few more ideas on how to help your loved ones going through this holiday. We also wanted to share some ideas and tips for our warriors to remember, too! 
  • Remember to set goals that are realistic for you and your loved ones to reach and for this current situation. The holidays won't be perfect, but you still have a holiday to share. 
  • Finances have already been difficult this year. Set an actual and reasonable budget and stick to it. Taking financial stress off of your loved ones right now is very important and needed. Minimize what they have to worry about right now. 
  • Instead of buying a bunch of expensive gifts, change it up this year. Do a secret Santa, do homemade gifts, donate to a cancer organization or food bank, be honest with your loved ones about what you financially need, and let them help you. Don't stress about giving, stress about being there, and loving one another. 
  • Without big gatherings and parties to worry about, create holiday menus full of food that your loved ones going through treatment can eat and enjoy without any difficulties. 
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help. Make sure that if you need anything, that you ask for it. 
  • Find creative ways together to create special moments and a creative new fun and meaningful traditions. 
  • Continue to be open with one another about what you need mentally and physically. 
  • Continue to celebrate every triumph together big and small, and to cheer one another on through the hard days. 
  • With the ongoing and unknown future of cold weather and how that will affect cases, be prepared for your appointments to be changed and moved around for your safety. 
  • Be prepared. Avoid going out as much as possible. Have enough over the counter and prescription medications to last a month just in case, and stock up on all supplies and food in your home as well. 
  • Medications might be prescribed to help in between treatment appointments, as they might be spread out even more than they have been. 
  • Create a backup emergency contact list just in case. Include a few more names in different circles than you normally would. 

Recap
We know this time of year is difficult. We know this blog might come off a little strangely, but we are searching for and highlighting all the silver linings that we can find. We are here for you, fighting for you, and very much in this boat with you this holiday season. If anything, please remember these things when walking away from the blog today: 
  • Know and understand your risk
  • Choosing to stay apart is choosing to be safe and choosing your loved one's safety
  • Keep in communication with your loved ones. A virtual relationship might be strange, but they need it as much as they need you. 
  • If you are celebrating the holidays together this year, wear masks, keep your visits short, maintain social distance, and consider bringing your own food to avoid contact with others. 
  • Don't try to make the holidays any more than what they need to be for your family or children. They are just happy to have you during the holidays. 

Through the difficulties of this year, your battle with breast cancer and remission, the holidays, the pandemic, and everything in between, we are here. We are here to help comfort, help with your healing, and help you feel better in as many ways as possible. Keep searing for your silver linings and let's carry them into the new year! 

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What Breast Cancer Awareness Means To Us (Part Two)

10/28/2020

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While Breast Cancer is something that all of our warriors experience and fight for every day, October is an opportunity to spread this awareness on an even high level and open the world's eyes to what this disease really is.

Hello, warriors! Welcome back to the blog and welcome back to part two of our blog discussing what breast cancer awareness means to us. While we are rapidly approaching the end of October and the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we hope you know how incredibly proud we are of each of you. We know this year's difficult situation has prevented us from doing what we all normally like to do to spread awareness, raise money, and gather with our fellow fighters, supporters, and warriors. 2020 can't cancel our hope, our fight, our journey, or the color pink. We all continue to stand in solidarity together, continue to fight together, and support one another. We know this year might be weighing heavy on you and your family, but please believe us when we say that we understand and we are with you. Please continue on your journey, continue with your fight, and continue using your story to prepare and educate others. Your fight can be a light in the darkness for others and for the rest of 2020 and beyond. Have you been feeling at a loss this month, that you haven't found your voice in this battle, that you're not giving back enough or doing enough? Don't be discouraged. Your voice and everything you're doing every day speaks volumes. To help give our own bit of help and support for the rest of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, we wanted to create a blog on how to make everyday Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Your voice, your journey, and how you choose to handle and battle your diagnosis is a testament in itself. Even if you aren't particularly vocal or you don't share your experience in a blog or through social media, that doesn't mean your journey doesn't impact others. When you go in for your treatments, consider the people sitting around you. This could be their very first or very last treatment. A kind smile, sharing your experiences with them, or just being a positive presence within this little snapshot of time can cause a ripple effect to those battling around you. How youR battle progresses also doesn't go unnoticed by your doctor or nurses. They find comfort, inspiration, and drive from how hard you fight and in the relationship you build together. 

Your journey and battle can bring you closer to your loved ones than ever before and can create a bond that you never expected. How you live in your survivorship and how you share your experiences with a new friend or coworker leaves an impression too. Don't think you have to shout from the rooftops and put yourself in the spotlight if you don't want to. Every step of your journey affects someone. If you want to be public about your experience, that is a welcomed expression too. Writing a blog, documenting your experiences on Facebook or Instagram, being a mentor to someone recently diagnosed, participating in group meetings, and more can also help others and raise awareness. No matter how you chose to share and express your experience, both are just as important and beneficial as the other. 

There are many steps you and your loved ones can take to promote awareness throughout the entire year, here are some tips and suggestions to make that possible. 
  • Lead by Example: One of the biggest keys in battling breast cancer is to promote, talk about, and support early detection. Talk about how common it is to get breast cancer at an early age and that mammograms don't truly work for individuals under the age of 40. Talk about and normalize self-breast exams, give yourself self-breast exams often, and once you reach the age of getting a mammogram, start going and getting those, and don't keep it a secret! 
  • You can talk to your friends and family: Don't shy away or keep your experience from your loved ones. Share with them what you are or have gone through and what you may have done differently. Plan to go and get screened together and talk about self-breast exams. Make sure to support one another to make sure that each of you is getting the care and support that you need. 
  • Listen to your community: There are so many women who want and need to tell their stories and how it affected their lives and the lives of their loved ones. It's a grueling process to go through, but listing to someone who needs to share their story can be healing for the storyteller and those who are listing. It can make the reality of breast cancer and the fact that true awareness hardly skims the surface very real. It can inspire you to work harder to be an advocate and to push harder for a cure. This is also an opportunity to comfort them through their experience and to spend as much time with them as possible. 
  • You can donate to a charity or multiple charitable organizations throughout the year, not just in October. Everything and anything you give will help. Don't be quiet about your donations or involvement. Don't just share your favorite places to donate in October. Share them as often as you can. Host fundraising events throughout the year, or create a fundraising event or opportunity for your loved ones and friends to donate throughout the year, for your birthday, at every holiday, and any large gathering. Your voice and your actions can set a consistent example, and remind others that breast cancer is a reality for people every single day.  
  • Please remember that there is always something new to learn. Regardless if you are newly diagnosed, fighting, living in your survivorship, or a family member has been diagnosed, there is always more information out there to know, understand, and help spread. The Susan G. Komen foundation reminds us that knowledge is your power and a key device in your treatment and diagnosis. The more you know and understand what you or your loved ones are going through, the more you can feel in control of your life, in control of your diagnosis, and the more you can explain to others to spread awareness. We know this might be your new reality, but it doesn't have to define your whole reality. 

We know that your voice is important. Each of your individual stories is worth telling, saving, and sharing. We know that awareness and what we need to cure breast cancer isn't at the level that it deserves and what it should be. Every day we are fighting to make your voices louder, the cure closer, and helping to educate the world about this horrible disease. While so much of the world just sees Breast Cancer Awareness Month as pink ribbons and fundraisers, we see your stories, your pain, your frustrations, and all that you go through every day. Let us stand together to make Breast Cancer Awareness month more than just a month, and finally beat this disease once and for all. 

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What Breast Cancer Awareness Means To Us (Part One)

10/19/2020

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Every day is breast cancer awareness month, but October is when we all turn pink. During this month, we celebrate those who have fought, those who have lost, and those who stand beside us. One day at a time, we are trying to save as many lives as possible! 

Hello, warriors! As you know, October has dawned and brought in Breast Cancer Awareness month. We know this is a daily fight and battle for you and your loved ones, but October brings your reality into the light of the rest of the world. You finally get the attention you deserve, and you really get to share the truth about breast cancer and how truly devastating it is right in front of the eyes of the public. We wish breast cancer, the need for a cure, and the battle you all fight could get this kind of attention every day and every month. Since we only have one month, we are going to make the most of it. It's time to educate, spread the world, and share your truth. Remember that we see you, we support you, we hear you, and we will be here for you every step of your battle! 

According to the Susan G. Komen foundation, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, 115 lives are lost to metastatic breast cancer every day, and 2 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. What's even more shocking than those numbers is the fact that each of these statistics is still a surprise to millions of people every day. It's still a shock that it is more common to be diagnosed with cancer before you turn 40 than most people realize, and it is still possible to be diagnosed with cancer during your pregnancy. While these are all topics we have touched on many times in our blogs, across our social media, and as much as we possibly can in our offices, it's still not enough. That is why we must continue to raise awareness every day. 

This is the perfect time to use your voice and your story to educate others in realizing their chances of getting breast cancer and what signs they need to be looking for. Use your survivorship to spread the word about early education and to promote self-breast exams from a young age. While this is a battle that you wage every day, when October rolls around, it's time to turn that fight in a new direction. The world needs to hear your stories and your truth, and you deserve to be heard. October goes beyond wearing pink. We are finally getting the opportunity to fight publicly and with the public's attention. To all of our warriors, we are so sorry that you don't get this kind of support and attention every day, and every month, you deserve it. Your fight and the struggles your family goes through every day deserves to be more than a trending hashtag for 31 days that casually gets overlooked by Halloween. Let us join together to change this and continue to spread information out into the world together, and to finally cure this horrible and devastating disease! 

While we are standing strong together spreading awareness and teaching about the importance of early detection, what else can we do this month and beyond to make the most out of breast cancer awareness month, outside of wearing our pink tags? Obviously, because of the current pandemic, this year might look a little different. We might not be able to gather like we have been used to. We might not be able to cheer each other on or walk for our loved ones in person or in big crowds, but that doesn't mean you can't make the most of this month and still support the future of the breast cancer cure. We have been doing our research and listening to all of you on how we can continue to support one another. One of the first resources we stumbled upon was Breast Cancer Now. This incredible foundation, set in the UK, will give you an incredible outside look at what the world is doing to help all of us achieve our common goal of curing breast cancer. They have an incredible social media presence and an incredible website. In years past, we might not have been able to attend some of their events, but the silver lining is that thanks to the wonders of the internet and needing to stay home for our safety - we can join together and be a stronger community than ever before. Make sure to visit their website by following the link below! 

https://breastcancernow.org/breast-cancer-research

They also have two very important and inspiring ways of getting involved in your community that were so inspiring to us that we had to share. These fantastic ideas are all things that you can do right now here in the US and that will both be a wonderful addition to our fight this month and beyond. These events are all inspired by their "press play" platform, and we just think it's outstanding. So let's sit back and press play together! 
  • Idea One. You can hold your own charity event! You don't have to wait for others to hold a huge event to participate in this year, or any year. As long as you are participating safely, every little bit counts. Everything you do brings cancer research one step closer to finding a cure. Wear pink, and spread the message every time you do get the chance to (safely) go outside. A pink mask, a pink shirt, and any clothing item that could strike up a conversation. This is a great opportunity to talk about awareness and early examination, plus you will look fabulous. You can also fundraise from your home! There are hundreds of ways to do it thanks to social media, money-raising campaigns, apps, and more! This even promotes safety during our current pandemic while still raising money and awareness. There is also no wrong way of doing your own fundraising. Contact your local breast cancer organizations like the American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen foundation, and others for tips and suggestions on how to fundraise your own way this year, and as safely as possible. 
  • Idea Two. Picking up the phone. While we are fighting to stay healthy and safe from the coronavirus, it has also gotten in the way of vital research, has delayed diagnosis, put screenings on hold, and it has also resulted in a huge loss in cancer referrals. This means that unless we do something right now, this could become a huge stall in the hope of a cure. You can help make a difference by picking up your phone and campaign with your local and federal legislation to change this. Call your representatives and work hard to commit funding for breast cancer and breast cancer research. Push them to find the safest way possible for breast cancer research to return as quickly as possible, and to help get treatment and care for breast cancer patients back to its normal capacity. This can all be done from the safety of your home and it only takes a few minutes. This is something you can do every day of October and beyond to make a continued fight, effort, and difference. 

Have you been feeling like you're not giving back enough, doing enough, or that you haven't found the right voice of action for your personal path? That's okay! This month we are going to continue to share more ideas on how all of our warriors and their loved ones can give back, keep fighting, and how to bring awareness into everyday life - and not just in October! Be well out there, we know that you're fighting hard. You are not alone in this, and you never will be!
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Lumps, Bumps, and Masses - Oh My.

9/2/2020

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Early detection is extremely important. During your self-breast exams, you might find a lump or mass that may or may not be cancer. Here are a few things to keep in mind. 

Hello warriors! We hope this blog finds you happy and well. We've talked about the importance of early detection in almost every blog, eblast, and social media post we've ever made. We can't stress enough just how important they are. With our last few blogs discussing the realities of breast cancer appearing in younger generations more often than many people realize, self-exams continue to become more and more important. When you're young, your breast tissue is denser and harder to penetrate and locate anything out of the ordinary in a mammogram. This makes your self-exams so important. You know when something doesn't feel right on your body or has seemed to appear overnight, and you will know and notice better than anyone else. Bringing these changes to your doctor's attention is crucial, but sometimes these aren't always lumps that are connected to cancer. It is so easy to get wrapped up and scared, constantly asking yourself "is this cancer, or is this something else?". This is why it is so important to understand what the different lumps and masses are that could appear inside and around your breast. 

First of all, you need to know a little bit more about the breast tissue and the breast itself. The breast tissue is made up of adipose (fat) tissue, lobules, and ducts. There is a chain of lymph nodes known as the intramammary lymph nodes that run within the breast tissue as well. There are many benign masses like cysts, fibroadenomas, abscesses, and fat necrosis that occurs in the breast. Some should be removed by a breast surgeon and some are fine to let be as long as they don't grow or become painful - always make that decision with a trained surgeon. The density of your breast tissue can also affect how these lumps are to be felt or palpitated. As you age, your breast tissue becomes replaced with fatty tissue that is not as dense, making visualizing these abnormalities on mammograms easier. Some benign masses can increase your risk for breast cancer so even though they are benign, it;s important to notify your provider of any changes. When in doubt, get it checked out! 

[Breast cancer lumps]
Let's start with the more dangerous lumps and bumps on this list before we talk about the more benign things you might be feeling. According to Stony Brook Cancer Center, most of the breast lumps you'll be feeling will be benign, won't be cancerous, and most won't have to be removed. If they are, this won't affect the breast's natural function. 

The early signs of breast cancer are different for every woman. According to the Susan G. Komen foundation, the most common warning signs of cancer in its earliest stages are nipple discharge, a change in how your nipple looks or feels, or a change in how your breast looks or feels. If you have these symptoms, please notify your doctor. 

Breasts themselves have a lumpy texture. Not every unique lump that you feel is a tumor or lump that needs attention, but a part of your natural breast makeup. The lumps that should catch your attention are those that feel different from the rest of your breast tissue, ones that feel hard, and ones that have suddenly appeared. 

According to Stony Brook Cancer Center, these lumps or thickenings will appear most often in the top part of the outer breast and into the armpit. The tissue is thicker there than anywhere else on your breast. According to VeryWellHealth, some other warning signs include these hard bumps not moving during your self-examination and that your breast might feel like it has a very pebbly surface. There are a few precancerous lumps that also need strict attention and should be removed right away. 
  • Intraductal Papillomas. These often cause the nipple discharge that we've mentioned because they are tumors that begin growing in the milk ducts. They are usually benign but are associated enough with an increased risk that they need to be checked out and removed. 
  • Atypical Lobular or Ductal Hyperplasia. These lumps are also not cancerous, but they do have the chance of becoming cancerous and should be removed right away. 
  • Phyllodes Tumors. These tumors are known to be uncommon but what makes them dangerous is the fact that they can be either benign or malignant. 

[Benign lumps and masses]
There are many different types of benign masses that you might come across in your lifetime. As we've mentioned, many of them are not dangerous and you might not have to have them removed at all. You should still be aware of what you're feeling. 
  • Cysts. Breast cysts are sacs filled with fluid inside of the breast tissue. They are very common in women nearing or in menopause but they can appear at any age. They feel almost like a water balloon inside the breast; smooth and round and with a soft give when you push on them. They can appear anywhere in the breast, and they can sometimes move - or not. They can be mistaken for breast cancer because they can change the size and they can become painful or tender. These changes and pain happen close to your period starting. Cysts are rarely linked to breast cancer. 
  • Fibroadenomas. These lumps are found in women generally between the ages of 18 and 30. According to Johns Hopkins, they are a painless lump that feels rubbery and moves around very freely when pushed on by your fingers. They can vary in size and can also be found anywhere in the breast. They are solid lumps of fibrous and glandular tissue and are usually not tender or painful when touched or moved. 
  • Fat Necrosis. This condition, according to Johns Hopkins, is when painless, round, firm lumps appear in the breast from fatty tissue that has been damaged or is disintegrating. This happens to women who have received damage to their breasts or who have very large breasts. They are not cancerous lumps and they do not increase the risk of cancer. 

Knowing your breasts and the lumps and bumps inside them are very important. Being educated on what you're feeling can calm your fears and worries, and help you to action rather than panic. If you have any questions or concerns, never hesitate to reach out. We would rather look and find something benign than being kept in the dark about something serious.

Did you know we will donate $1 for every unit of Botox administered to breast cancer patients and research? We are partnering with various organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge and *soon* Share Our Suzy Lowcountry to give back to the breast cancer community. Be well out there, we know that you're fighting hard. You are not alone in this, and you never will be! 

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Insight Into Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer

8/18/2020

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Being diagnosed with breast cancer at any age is difficult. Being diagnosed with breast cancer during your pregnancy can make that difficultly paramount. In this blog, we will be discussing pregnant associated breast cancer and its realities.

We hope that if you've been reading our blog consistently, or have stumbled upon it recently, that there are few things we always want our readers to walk away with; that early detection is key, no one determines how you fight your battle, and to eliminate the stigma that breast cancer only appears later in life. While it is more common to be diagnosed with breast cancer after menopause, we hope that you've seen in our blogs that it is more common than you'd think to be diagnosed at a much younger age. Even more eye-opening, you can be diagnosed during your pregnancy. Just like any condition, there are plenty of rumors and myths floating around the internet. One that we've debunked before is that pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause cancer. While the two are not related, it is still possible to be diagnosed with breast cancer during your pregnancy.

  • Pregnancy-associated breast cancer or PABC is when an expectant mother is diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or in the year or two after her baby is born. Treatment is, of course, looked at with much hesitation when diagnoses comes early in the pregnancy. Generally, most doctors prefer to wait to do surgery and chemo until after the first trimester. We've also talked about this a little bit before in previous blogs. When this treatment is delayed until after the 1st trimester, there are no medical findings or studies that show that it harms the baby. When it comes to radiation or IV therapy, that can be harmful to the baby, and in almost every single case, doctors will wait to use these treatments until after the baby is born. According to the Wiley Online Library, PABC affects 1 in every 3000 pregnancies and is more commonly found in women who what to have children in the 40s or 50s. It is also one of the "most common malignancies to complicate pregnancy". However, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, recent research has shown that pregnant women diagnosed with breast cancer "do as well or even better than non-pregnant women" when it comes to treatment or recovery. Most women and their children go on to have very healthy and happy lives after they go through their diagnosis and treatment.

  • The reason why doctors wait for surgery and chemo until after the 1st trimester is that both could cause birth defects or the loss of the baby. Treatment will of course depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and how far along you are in your diagnosis. According to Johns Hopkins, if your tumor is estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 positive, certain types of hormone therapy is recommended but will be performed after the baby is born. Surgery can be done during pregnancy and can be followed up with radiation after birth in certain situations.

  • One of the biggest challenges you will be facing with PABC is breastfeeding. Surgery on a breast that is lactating can be much more difficult and the chemo or hormonal therapy you could be on can contaminate your breast milk, making it unsafe for your baby. It is recommended to postpone or stop breastfeeding until it is safe to do so. There are lactation specialists that you can add to your care team that can help you make the best decision and help guide you through breastfeeding during your treatment. Depending on where you are in your pregnancy and how far along you are in your diagnosis, if it is safe for the baby and necessary for your treatment, your care team might possibly discuss delivering your baby early. This will allow treatment to begin faster. Any lump or any warning signs found during your pregnancy need to be brought to your doctor's attention right away, just like they would be in any other part of your life. Early detection in this situation is not only crucial for your health but also that of your children.

  • Remember that rumor we brought up at the beginning of this blog about how breastfeeding and pregnancy can make it more common to get breast cancer? According to BreastCancer.Org, studies have shown that breastfeeding and pregnancy improve survival rates. When a woman's breast is producing milk, this limits the cell's ability to behave or to act abnormally. This, in turn, will limit the ability for cancer cells to being growing. Also, women have fewer menstrual cycles during the time they spend breastfeeding, which lowers estrogen levels. Lowering these estrogen levels cuts down on the probability of cancer. Not only is breastfeeding good for you and your baby to connect and for the baby to be healthy and happy, but it is also natural prevention against breast cancer. So again, please don't believe everything you read!

Being diagnosed with breast cancer at this point in your life can come with a huge mix of emotions, ranging from joy of expecting your first child to the fear and panic of what could happen next. Please know you are not alone, and that there are many positive options to keep both you and your baby safe and healthy. Never hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns, and know we are always here for you!
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Beauty Regimes During Treatment (Part 1)

7/14/2020

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You fight so hard during your treatment while your body gets beaten up every day. What can you do to make yourself feel better in your daily regime of self-care?

As we've discussed throughout many of our recent blogs, claiming and celebrating who you are is a challenge during breast cancer treatment and recovery. Coming to terms with and allowing yourself to feel positive about how you look, feel, and care for yourself is part of your battle and survivorship journey. Self-care and self-love are just as important to your battle as your doctor's visits are. You might be rolling your eyes as you read that, but think about the days where you felt good or were truly realized through your treatment and recovery. Did you get a good night's rest? Feel like yourself again? Feel good in your skin? Did you take time for yourself and maybe had a bath and a facial?

[Mental Health and How It Feels]
These little moments of good have such a huge and positive effect on your mental health, which is one of the first things affected by your diagnosis and treatment. Improving any part of your health and quality of life during these difficult times can help strengthen your battle. So please, don't turn your nose up at self-care. Before your diagnosis, you had your beauty regime and care that was unique and so wonderfully you. That doesn't have to stop with your diagnosis. It might change and evolve, but that's ok too! In this two-part blog, we are going to be sharing some tips and suggestions on how to have and maintain a beauty regime that celebrates you and is dedicated to making you feel better during and after treatment.

The physical changes that you can see are sometimes harder than the effects that chemo and treatment leave behind. It sinks in when you can see the changes, and not see you looking back in the mirror. Your body hair can be gone, your skin is dry, blotchy and pained, your nails are weak and cracking, the shape of your body can change, and you could have pieces of you removed and then added back, with scars left behind. Every fashion item you used to come into contact with affects you differently than it did before, from how it feels to how it will affect your skin or toenails. Fashion magazines offer little when it comes to positive reinforcements or guidance. Thankfully, designers like Stella McCartney has designed bras for those who have had double mastectomies. Jewelry like statement earrings and necklaces can really pop against scars or bald heads or hide a chemo port. More and more designers are creating comfortable, flattering, and beautiful clothing pieces, head scarfs, and other garments with breast cancer patients in mind. But what about your skin and the rest of your regime?

[Skincare]
Chemo affects your skin in so many ways and can leave your complexion blotchy and even change it completely. Chemo also affects your sense of smell, so anything overly perfumed or has a strong smell can make you sick during or after treatment. Try finding and investing in natural skincare that has little to no fragrance and is paraben-free. Nontoxic beauty products can limit the exposure to harmful chemicals and ingredients while your skin and body are so sensitive and susceptible during treatment. They are also much gentler on the skin, which could have become extremely sensitive as a result of your treatments. This goes beyond facial lotions, washes, and toners. Look into all-natural and fragrance-free nontoxic eyeliners, lipstick, lashes, lash glue, eyebrow pencils, and more. Be mindful, there are toxic ingredients that still exist in manufactured makeup and beauty products that can cause cancer. You don't want to put these in or on your body, as you are already at risk with a compromised immune system. Adding natural deep hydrating lotion and healing ointments can combat whatever chemo does to your skin and soothe it away. Add in under-eye patches, face masks, sheet masks, and at home facial kits to help you relax, care for your skin, and give it a new glow.

When washing, make sure all of your skin is cared for, and not just your face. Use very gentle soaps that also have light or very little fragrance. Avoid products that contain alcohol and put away your antiaging creams and products. Many of which, according to Everyday Health, can irritate your skin even more than it is during treatment. Cornstarch can soothe irritation on your skin, and limiting shaving can help avoid irritation as well. Make sure to limit your sun exposure, and always wear sunscreen. Don't forget to cover your head and always bring your lip balm!

[Makeup Choices]
In the same safe non-toxic and organic world of beauty products, you can add some fake lashes and brows too. The options are staggering when it comes to these products. You can even professionally have sets of eyelashes put in, and you have the option of stencils, stamps, pencils, and eyebrow wigs to fill your eyebrows. Using bronzers and highlight can help with a natural glow without wearing too much makeup, and quartz colors around your eyes and a bold flash of red can make your lips pop!

Please remember, the choice to do any of this is yours and yours alone. Not societies, not a family member, not a friend. Many of our patients use these tips to feel more like themselves, to feel more feminine, and to care for their skin during and after treatment. But, just like your journey through survivorship, it's unique to your personal needs. In the second part of this blog, we will be discussing tips for your nails, regrowing your hair, and hair care.  If you have any questions about this any of our services, don't hesitate to reach out. Continue to fight, be proud of the journey you're on, and be well.

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Breast Lift and Reduction; What to Expect

6/29/2020

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We have several services to make you look and feel exactly how you want, and to provide natural options for oncoplastic surgery. What should you expect when you're about to go through a breast lift and reduction?

In our last two blogs, we've discussed some of our many treatments and services we offer to help your battle with breast cancer and survivorship journey. Each of these services can improve your quality of life mentally, physically, and emotionally. Today we want to talk about and discuss one of our oncoplastic surgery services, breast lifts, and reductions. Oncoplastic surgery is aimed at breast cancer surgery with or with reconstruction to improve cosmetic outcomes for our patients. Our medical providers are trained and certified in oncoplastic surgery as well as Hidden Scar (trademarked) surgery, nipple spanning mastectomies, breast lift and reductions, implant repair, and natural reconstruction. Today, our blog is going to be focused on breast lift and reduction, what our services look like, and what to expect with the procedure. The surgery itself is the rearrangement of tissue after breast disease is removed. It allows the shape and size of the breast to be repaired.

Depending on your needs and what your cancer diagnosis is, you might choose to have both of your breasts removed (a double mastectomy) to remove the breast with cancer and to eliminate any risk of it returning. You also might choose to have both of your breasts removed to eliminate any diagnosis if you are a high-risk individual. Some choose to or only need to remove one breast, replacing it with natural reconstruction or an implant to match their other breast. Some only have cancerous tissue removed from one breast, leaving the shape and size of the breast altered and different from the other breast. This is where our breast lift and reduction services come into the picture.

The removal of the cancerous tumor and lymph nodes, not the whole breast itself, is called a lumpectomy. Breast tissue will also be removed with the tumor that it was connected to that could continue to put the patient at risk. This will cause the shape of your original breast to change during this surgery. This is where the lift begins. Your breast will be reconstructed, along with the placement of your nipple and areola. It will naturally be placed higher on your body and look "perkier" since tissue and skin have been removed to create a smaller firmer breast. Your other breast will still be its original size, and your nipples will no longer be symmetrical. This is where the next step, reduction, begins. Your surgeon will remove tissue from your other breast to match the newly constructed breast and move the nipple as well.

You can have a reduction and lift, or oncoplastic surgery, during your lumpectomy. There are many advantages to doing so. One is that you'll only have to go through one surgery, instead of two. It also helps with limiting or eliminating the risk of cancer returning to the breast that held the cancerous tumor, because it allows for more tissue to be removed. It is easier for a surgeon to achieve better symmetry when doing a lift and reduction at the same time as a lumpectomy. Also, those suffering from pain caused by having naturally large breasts will receive relief from that pain while keeping their risk of returning cancer very low.

Please note that a breast lift doesn't make the breast bigger or smaller. That is done with the removal of tissue or adding in tissue from another part of your body or with the use of implants. The lift itself is your surgeon tightening and reshaping your breast tissue, the removal of excess skin, and making sure your areola and nipple are in the desired position. Our services allow the shape and size changes of your breast to be repaired on both the affected breast and the non-cancerous breast. A breast reduction will allow your non-cancerous breast to be reshaped into a smaller, lighter, firmer breast that will sit higher on your chest. Both surgeries can be outpatient procedures, with a short recovery time. Many women can return to work 2-3 weeks after their surgery. As it goes with any surgery, there are some risks involved. Those risks can include the loss of feeling in the nipple or breast, bleeding, scarring, and infection. It can also inhibit the ability to breastfeed. Make sure to speak with us about your pregnancy plans and plans after surgery before deciding to take this journey.

Your breast cancer battle is tough, but you're tougher. We are here to make it as easy as possible and to stand with you along the way. If you have any questions about breast lift and reductions, or about any of our services, don't hesitate to reach out. Continue to fight, be proud of the journey you're on, and be well.

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What Does Survivorship Look Like?

6/16/2020

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Life after treatment looks different for everyone, but what could it look like for you? 

Healing, as we mentioned in our last blog, comes in may waves. Survivorship becomes a way of life, and it looks a little different for everyone. It's a daily battle to deal with but you are strong enough, wise enough, and worthy enough to live with it and through it. You are allowed to claim how you want to live your life. We do offer several services to help your survivorship feel a little easier. After life-changing events, we offer total wellness through IV therapy to help with energy, laser scar revision following surgery, skin resurfacing and rejuvenation using the latest laser technology, dermal fillers for fine lines and wrinkles, body contouring to address unwanted areas of fat with noninvasive treatment, and more. We are here for you in many ways, please never hesitate to reach out. 

What else can survivorship look like? For some, it begins when you've finished treatment, and there are no signs of cancer left. For others, it begins with their diagnosis and continues through a long term treatment that helps manage their illness or helps reduce the risk of it returning. It is a different process, because how you physically and mentally respond is not the same for everyone, and that's ok. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to handle what you might be feeling and going through to provide some peace and guidance. 
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  • Continued Care
For some, continued medical care is needed. Medical checkups, tests, and other health care monitoring recommended and prescribed by your doctor and medical care team needs to be taken seriously and followed. This can range from emotional counseling to physical therapy and all forms of continued care are important to your healing and survivorship journey. These appointments can cause some anxiety and worry. Continued care after your cancer has been beaten into remission can still bring on the worry that it could come back. It can be hard to change care teams and doctors for this continued care when you're already so used to the one you've had this whole time. If you are feeling this way, feeling anxious, or feeling worried, it is important to talk about these concerns with your current care team, family members, and potential new care team. Putting continued care first and making it a priority in your life allows you to stay ahead of what could become. It can also help you remain productive and independent in your life and with your health. Just like chemo and radiation, continued care is focused on keeping you healthy and happy for as long as possible. 

  • Giving To Your Body
Health and wellness have been a part of your battle since your diagnosis, and taking care of your body might move to a whole new level through your survivorship. This might mean embarking on a whole new workout regime with your partner, a trainer, or on your own. This can help build your strength back up after treatment, increase your energy, and make you feel better overall. It can help manage stress and anger, too. Changing your eating habits, eating healthier, quitting smoking, and limiting your alcohol intake can also improve your daily and long term health. It can also continue to make you feel better. Making room and time for your emotional and mental health is very important too. Make sure you have a good support system in your caregivers and with medical professionals if and when it is needed. 

  • Your Loved Ones
As your journey changes, it also changes for your loved ones and caregivers. Survivorship means something different for them, and it evolves as it does for you. They are impacted daily from the moment you are diagnosed and beyond. As you go through and finish treatment, their roles as caregivers change from being involved in every step to being needed less and less. This adjustment can be a hard one for them, as they figure out how and how much they are needed in the next steps of your life. 

  • The Next Challenge
As we've talked about in our last blog, your body may experience long term or permanent changes from treatment. These changes are had to adapt to and to live with. But, knowing what challenges you're facing, knowing how to face them, how to live with them, and how to treat them can empower you and ease your burden. Having the care you need physically, emotionally, and professionally is also very important in making this step successful. You may also be experiencing financial issues, changes in your career, and changes in your day to day living. Talking with your insurance companies, your financial planner, and a career counselor can help you manage these next steps as well. Your body might also take you down a different path than you expected. For younger patients now living with survivorship, infertility and early onset menopause could be something you're now facing. If you are wanting to conceive after treatment, discuss this with your doctor. There are new options that are now available to help with these struggles. 

  • Your Voice Matters
Your journey, your survivorship, and what you want to share about it with others to help comfort them through their journey is valid, worthy, and empowering. Join the movement and help educate others. Share the importance of early detection, share your story, and support when and where you can. A blog, meeting with support groups, becoming a mentor, and sharing what you've been through can make all the difference. It can empower those you meet and it can also empower you. The pen and paper are very mighty, as is the social media world. 

It is common for the first year after your treatment has finished to be the hardest of all the years to follow. Take these tips to heart, and know we're here to help you through your whole survivorship journey. If you are interested in any of our services, please contact us at your earliest convenience and visit our website to request a consultation. We are here when you need us. Your survivorship is as unique as you are, and that is ok. We can embrace it together and give you the best quality of life as possible. Continue to fight, be proud of the journey you're on, and be well. 

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Healing from Emotional Scars

6/2/2020

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Breast cancer and its treatments leave behind scars of many kinds. Healing from your physical and emotional scars are a part of your healing process. Both need to be looked after with equal amounts of care. 

Hello dear friends. We hope where ever you are while reading this, you know you are not alone. Where ever you are on your journey, you are strong enough to fight. In this blog, we will be talking about scars. Not necessarily the scars that are left behind from radiation, chemo, and surgery. We will be talking about the emotional scars that come along with fighting this battle. These scars need to be cared for and healed just as much as your physical scars do. This process can take time, but we promise it's worth it. Not dealing with these scars can make the journey into returning to the life you want difficult or even impossible. A scar is something a warrior should be proud of. You went through the fight, and you won. You are now more aware, realistic, stronger, and wiser. 

Your cancer treatments will affect your body physically, but it goes way beyond that. It can affect how you feel, think, and like to do things in your life. Treatment can even change the way your brain works. Yes, chemo brain is a real thing! You could be facing mental changes in how you learn, how well you concentrate, and how well you remember. There is nothing wrong with you, these are common effects for many people going through treatment. Also, how your treatments will affect you mentally and physically is unique to each person. It is important to be informed and educated about what is happening to your body before, during, and after your treatment. Discussing and researching how you can help yourself stay as healthy mentally and physically as possible is also key to this process. 

Long term and short term effects of treatment can affect your mental health. Depression, anxiety, and fear can develop during treatment. After treatment a lot of this fear is based on the worry and possibility that your cancer could return. Anxiety can bloom out of the initial shock of taking in all of the information you're given at the beginning of your journey. This can make it very difficult to cope or comprehend what is going on.  

While going through and working on your emotional healing, keeping an open line of communication is very important. Make sure to talk about how you're feeling. Express it, work through your emotions, and try to continue past them. Working through these emotions can help you move towards a more positive attitude, and to help you cope with life in general. Make sure to be open with your care team, a medical professional, or a trusted loved one. Holding in these emotions and feelings can be very hurtful. Feeling angry can get in the way of taking care of yourself. Sometimes, it can energize you. Use these emotions for a positive outcome, don't stew inside of them. Prioritize your mental health. You are allowed to feel how you do. They are valid emotions and you are worthy to feel this way. Allow yourself to grieve, but don't let it last forever. 

Your body could be facing many different kinds of changes, too. Some may only last for a little while, while others could stay forever. Even if you don't show these changes, you could still see them. Anger and grief are natural reactions to this situation. It can affect your sex drive. It might make you feel that your appearance has changed how your loved ones look at you, respond to you, and will act around you. These natural reactions can also cause depression, anxiety, and fear. 

Things That Can Help: 
  • Find the time to stay active
  • Control what you can, and let go or delegate what you cannot. Keeping on top of your schedule of treatments and the things you love to do can help you stay focused, positive, and help you feel more in control of your life. 
  • Ask your doctors and nurses if there are ways to care for your skin if it has been damaged, discolored, or burned during treatment. 
  • Contact us about survivorship. 
  • We can help with lactation, abnormal breast imaging, oncoplastic surgery, scar revision, body contouring, facial rejuvenation, and laser hair removal. Each of these services can help you make the process back to feeling like yourself a little easier. 
  • Make sure that any prosthetics fit properly. 
  • Ask if you can stay in touch with your doctors and nurses. Sometimes just knowing that you can have them as a contact can be very beneficial. 
  • If you need help with your mental care, ask for it. Your doctor can refer you to health care providers that are specifically trained in helping with these situations. Your mental health can get worse if it is not cared for. 
  • Continue to keep an open and honest line of communication with your partner and children. 

After treatment, it might be strange that you aren't always in panic mode. You're so used to that feeling, that it can be mentally jarring to start going back to some sense of normalcy. But that normalcy can place a lot of burden on you as well. Getting back to your sense of normal can take time. Even with the victory and empowerment that you've successfully beaten cancer. It might take time to feel like you can go back to your life again. Your normal may not be the same again, and it's difficult to adjust to that. Remember, your breasts are not who you are nor do they represent who you are. 

Healing doesn't just happen overnight and then you're better. It has many stages and steps along the way. Take the time to do what you need. We are here for you along every step of the way and are always here to talk when you need us. Never hesitate to reach out. Continue to fight, be proud of the journey you're on, and be well. 
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The Realities of Early Detection

5/19/2020

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Early detection is one of the most important life-saving factors when wanting to prevent and fight breast cancer. If you can start on the journey early in your life, it might save and protect that life you've built and created. 

We've made it to May, friends! We are so thankful to be here with you today and thankful that there is a little more positive news in the world these days. There is still so much that we need to be cautious about, but as breast cancer warriors, that is not a new idea. We've shared some important facts on the realities of what it's like to live with breast cancer while raising children, personal stories of those fighting breast cancer, and how to better your quality of life while living through diagnosis and treatment. One topic that we are extremely passionate about is early detection. We spend a lot of time educating on the topic, spreading awareness on how to begin early detection, and helping those who could benefit from early detection. In this blog, we wanted to share some of the realities of why early detection is so important, tips on what you should be looking out for, some tips on how to stay as healthy as possible, and what early detection could mean for you. 

We know that breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in women and one of the most fatal. At the end of the day, catching it as soon as possible is key. As of now, there isn't a cure for breast cancer, making early detection more important every day. The purpose of early detection is to find and identify any breast abnormalities as soon as possible. If breast cancer or it's beginning stages are found and caught sooner, it can be treated more efficiently. There are more treatment options available to you and there is a higher rate of survival if caught sooner. 

We've talked about the reality that breast cancer can appear in women under the age of 40 in some of our most recent blogs. It does happen more often than the general public cares to admit. Mammograms are not efficient enough for women under the age of 40, as the breast tissue is still to firm for the mammogram to penetrate through and provide a clear reading of what's happening inside the breast itself. This is when self-breast examinations come into play and become incredibly important. By the time you've reached early adulthood, you should be doing a monthly breast exam, regardless of your family's history of breast cancer. It never hurts to be safe. Self-breast examinations are the best tool for discovering early stages and signs of breast cancer, and any findings should always be reported to your doctor. 

  • Maintaining a Watchful Eye 
With it being such a deadly disease, it's scary to know that many symptoms of breast cancer can very easily go unnoticed. Thankfully, if you're proactive and know what signs you should be looking for in self-breast exams and in the health of your body overall, you can help improve your chance of early detection. 
  1. You should be giving yourself monthly breast exams. 
  2. If there is any change or abnormality in your breast that you've discovered, they need to be reported to your doctor right away! 
  3. If you find a lump in your breast, please alert your doctor. But remember, not all lumps mean that you have cancer. Also, remember to look and feel for lumps and tenderness on the side of your breast and in your armpit. 
  4. If the texture of your skin or the size of your pours changes on your breast.
  5. If your nipples become extremely tender. 
  6. If the size and shape of your breast changes out of the blue with no rhyme or reason, either growing larger or shrinking.
  7. If your breast has a milky discharge and you're not breastfeeding. 
  8. If your nipples have turned inward or have become inverted and there is a dimpling anywhere on the breast. 
  9. There are more signs you need to be looking for and aware of, but these are some of the most important warning signs you need to be looking for now. 

  • Starting Now
Fighting against your body, genetics, and forces that are out of our control is a daily battle women with breast cancer or who are high risk are very aware of. There are some things you can be doing now to lower your chances of developing breast cancer and to give your body a fighting chance that it doesn't appear. Take these to heart, along with your monthly breast exams, and be good to your body. 
  1. Maintain a healthy weight consistently and in a healthy manner. 
  2. Don't begin to smoke or stop if you already are. 
  3. Limit your alcohol intake. 
  4. Exercise often, and maintain a healthy exercise plan throughout your life. 
  5. Eat a nutritious and balanced diet to maintain your active lifestyle and healthy weight. 
  6. Breastfeed your children.
  7. Hormone therapy treatments.
  8. Genetic counseling and testing for those at high-risk.

  • The Truth In Now
Early detection means something different to everyone. For some, it becomes a healthy habit that they do once a month. For others, it's because they know the risk of getting breast cancer is already incredibly high. If your sister, mother, or daughter has had breast cancer, your risk of also getting it doubles. If two of these close relatives have been diagnosed, then your risk is five times higher than normal. When these numbers begin to add up, it becomes more than just a monthly breast exam. You will need to pay closer attention to your breast's health both at home and with more frequent visits to your doctor. 
  • If you come from a high-risk family, sometimes it can be linked to having an abnormal gene like the BRCA1 or BRAC2 gene. Getting tested for these genes becomes very crucial when coming from a high-risk family. There is hormonal therapy available to help prevent these abnormal genes from turning into cancer and to lower the risk of developing cancer. There are four different hormone therapy medicines that have been developed that have proven to reduce the risk of cancer if you do test positive for these abnormal genes. But, they do not reduce the risk of hormone receptor negative breast cancer. 
  • Protective surgery could also be in your future if your risk is extremely high. This choice is one that needs serious consideration, as it is a form of irreversible risk reduction. This form of surgery, known as prophylactic surgery, removes one or both healthy breasts or ovaries to reduce the risk of breast cancer. This surgery can reduce a woman from developing breast cancer by over 90%. Women with a history of breast cancer in their families or those who have tested positive for the BRCA1 or BRAC2 gene who have their uterus removed before menopause can reduce their risk by 50%. 
  • If you are at high risk and have decided to move forward with hormone therapy treatments genetic counseling, or prophylactic surgery, this will become a part of your everyday life. You will need to implement healthy life changes to maintain your health and to begin the best steps to keep you healthy and strong during your fight for prevention. 

Breast cancer is a risk for everyone. The path you take will just be a little different depending on who you are, what your body has decided to do, and what your family history is. But know that no one is alone on this path. You might need to deal with these realities a little sooner than later, it might become a part of your medical appoints and gynecologist visits every year, but it will keep you healthier longer. Be kind to your body and follow the necessary steps to preserve your life. Stay strong, Lowcountry! We are in this fight and all the fight the world has currently given us, together. Today is another day that we have to live to the fullest. 
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