Blog Archives

Breast Cancer Management & Treatment

6/29/2021

Good morning Warriors and welcome back to The Breast Place’s blog! We hope you’ve been recuperating these past few weeks and are up and at’em today! If you’re new here though, I’d like to take a moment to introduce ourselves.

We are The Breast Place; a team of individuals in Charleston, SC that aim to assist with treatment, management, and after care for health challenges men and women face such as breast cancer, body contouring, scar revisions, wrinkles, and general education. Breast cancer management and treatment is one of our more significant services, as you could probably tell from our name, but empowering women is our focus!

Since our team here specializes in both malignant and benign breast disease, we wanted to take some time to describe what breast cancer management and treatment looks like to the common person. Life is challenging alone, and when you throw breast cancer in the mix it can sometimes seem impossible- but don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’re here to listen and support you in your fight against breast cancer, every step of the way.

So, what are some common breast cancer management methods or breast cancer treatments? Well, breast cancer can be treated in many ways and it all comes down to what kind of cancer it is and how much it has spread to other areas in your body. Most times, people with breast cancer may get a combination of treatment methods to help them win the fight with this disease.
Common treatment options for breast cancer are:

Surgery
Chemo / chemotherapy
Hormonal therapy
Biological therapy
And Radiation therapy

Surgery is typically known as the simpler approach where doctors and surgeons cut out the cancerous tissue directly. Chemotherapy is most commonly associated with cancer treatments these days, but the way it works is by shrinking or killing cancer cells. This medicinal treatment can sometimes be pills or intravenously. Hormone therapy essentially practices preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they would need to grow by blocking that off. Biological therapy empowers your immune system to fight the cancer cells more effectively, and can also be used to manage the side effects from other treatments listed. Last but not least, radiation therapy utilizes high-energy rays to kill the cancer cells over time.

Though these are the professional and medical treatments for breast cancer, what happens when the treatments are over and you go home? Breast cancer management is more than just your regular doctor’s appointment, there are things to take note and care of when those treatments are all said and done. These professional treatments may help send the cancer into remission or manage it well, but unpleasant side effects are not uncommon.

With any combination of the listed breast cancer treatments, your body is putting up a fight! It’s important to acknowledge that and take care of yourself as much as possible. Become the epitome of ‘self care’ during these times, and remember to be gentle with yourself. Some side effects you may experience after breast cancer treatments are fatigue, headaches, pain, menopausal symptoms, memory loss, and poor sleep. Give your body what it needs to heal itself and keep going by taking a look at this list of self care ideas and advice!

Be physically active. I’m sure the last thing you may feel like doing after a treatment is exercise, and that’s okay! Studies show that women with breast cancer who were regularly active diminished their fatigue and were more likely to keep their energy up! Daily walks, jogs, workouts, or yoga are great ways to work in that exercise time with consideration to your daily schedule and treatment plans. Be sure to check in with yourself and make sure you’re well enough to complete the exercise or activity first! If you have a low white blood cell count, fever, infection, anemia, or cancer within your bones, be very careful and wary of excessive exercise. Ask your doctor first.
Focus on eating well. A balanced diet can really do wonders for your body by giving it the proper nutrients and resources it needs to fuel you throughout the day! Be sure you are intaking enough calories and protein, eating or drinking your servings of fruits, and consider a multivitamin. It may be a good idea to work with a physical trainer or nutritionist that can help you navigate the changes your body may go through during your treatments too.
Get your beauty sleep! Dimming the lights, having a scheduled ‘no-tech’ time before bed, cooling down your room, and limiting the noise you experience before and during your rest will help you sleep more soundly overall. Studies have shown that the blue light emitted from cell phones and screens keep the brain active and awake, which can be counterproductive if you’re needing sleep! When your body has enough sleep, you will have enough energy the next day to function at your best! Make sleep a priority and you will see beneficial results for sure.

These tips may sound like your typical common sense health tips, right? Exercise, eat right, and sleep a lot. The truth of the matter, our beautiful warriors, is that that’s what has honestly been proven beneficial, healthy, and proactive in keeping your body and mind at its best! If you take the time to give your mind and body these things, you are absolutely sure to put your best foot forward in tackling the difficult days ahead.

To take time and consideration for your mind, we recommend finding the best self care method for you! Self care is less about trendy behaviors and activities and more about what works best for you and your lifestyle. You may be an outdoorsy person where gardening, park trips, beach trips, hiking, picnics, or even just reading or drawing outside makes you happy. Or perhaps you’re an extroverted person who loves being around people! Concerts, public activities, fairs or festivals, networking, clubs, and friend/family gatherings would suit you well. Either way, your favorite hobbies are typically the best route to go when you’re needing self-care. Some of our favorite ways to indulge self care and resting your mind are spa days, massages, beach trips, and meditation!

If these things are difficult or are becoming difficult, remember to be kind to yourself as you're going through treatments and aftercare. You are a warrior and part of what makes you strong in this fight is that you’re not alone- the support structure around you made up of your friends, family, and our team here at The Breast Place are here!
Keep going and take care, Warriors!

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Wearing Masks & Skin Care

6/18/2021

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Hello, Warriors! How are you all doing out there? We hope you’re taking the time and care you need to heal, rest, and fight! Life is slowly returning to normal out there, but we all know that the concept of what our normal was has changed. Though more and more people are getting vaccinated and being aware of the ways our world was impacted by COVID-19, there are many out there who are more comfortable with wearing masks regularly.

For some it’s because of the realizations at how easy sickness can spread and for others it is the maintained concern of lingering exposures to COVID. Wearing masks consistently though can be very rough on your face and skin.

Wash your mask!
Our skins’ pores naturally release sweat and oils throughout the day to retain body temperature and a healthy system. Because of this, it’s recommended to wash your clothes regularly, and a common practice is to wear an outfit for a day and then wash. We all know the laundry drill, right?

Well, with more and more people wearing cloth masks regularly, it stands to reason that we should be paying attention to that piece of clothing too! Regularly switching out and washing your cloth masks is our top recommendation when it comes to taking care of the skin on your face while wearing masks, but there are so many others we wanted to share with you today! Being mindful of the action of wearing your mask and how it affects your skin care is important as well in order to prevent damage to your skin or sickness!

Chafing & Inflammation
Wearing face masks can do damage to your skin even when it’s clean!
If your mask is too tight for example, or if you wear it consistently throughout the day, the friction and chafing it can cause on your skin can be a lot like rug burn. The areas most at risk for this kind of discomfort are the areas behind your ears that typically ‘hold’ your mask back, and the bridge of your nose. Hospital workers and nurses have found solutions for some of this discomfort by using monkeys from the typical ‘Barrel of Monkeys’ kids toy to hold the straps against the back of their head instead of on their ears. If you try this and it works for you too, be sure to tag us or comment below!

Skin Sensitivities
For those with skin sensitivities, residue from detergents and fabric softeners that linger on clothing and cloth masks can irritate your skin too! Skin irritation often looks like inflammation, redness, dry patches, peeling, or dark marks, and if you experience a pre-existing skin condition, like rosacea or dermatitis, inflammation can make it flare up.

Acne (Maskne)
Acne is a common skin condition you may experience from time to time due to clogged pores from sweat, dirt, and hormone changes that can also be caused by consistent wearing of cloth masks. Remember that sweat and oil that naturally secretes from your skin? Even though you may wash your mask regularly or switch it out, it takes just one clogged pore to create a typically acne bump, and then picking at it can contribute to a full breakout. Your best defense to this? Keep your mask clean, take appropriate breaks from wearing one, and consider purchasing a tightly woven, 100% cotton mask that can be effective, yet gentle on your skin!

‘Maskne’, a term coined recently for the skin condition brought on by prolonged wear of masks and coverings, is medically named acne mechanica.

Dermatologists Recommendations:
Dermatologists recommend the following steps to fighting maskne and taking better care of the skin on your face:

Keep your face clean!
- Be sure to use a gentle cleanser and clean water to prevent dirt and oil from being trapped on your skin's surface. You should try to avoid putting your mask on if you’re sweaty or dirty. A good idea would be to keep a back-up mask in your car, purse, etc, so you can easily switch out when one becomes over-used. Some gyms are asking or recommending their members to wear masks during workout, or while alternating between equipment. If this is familiar to you, you know how dirty or gross your mask can become even after a short workout session! Limit the amount of time you wear your mask while doing strenuous activities, and be sure to wear a clean mask as often as possible.
Use a lotion or moisturizer.
- Keeping your skin hydrated and creating a barrier between your skin and your mask? Yes please! You know here at The Breast Place we are obsessed with skin care, and we’re more than ready to share with you our favorite products to fill this need! Everyone’s skin care requires different products- no two people are completely alike and your skin care routine may be unique to you and your needs. Some individuals have more dry skin, others oily, and for some a combination of the two in ‘patchy’ behavior. If you’re still seeking the perfect formulation for your skin type, stop by sometime and let us help! We also offer monthly specials that often involve our skin care product selections, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our regular deals, or reach out to us today to learn which ones we have going on now or coming up! We’d love to see you and help make a difference in your skin care and wellness routine!
Limit Makeup.
- Limiting makeup is beneficial for regular mask wearers because makeup can directly clog your pores and contribute to breakouts. You’ve more than likely heard that sleeping in your makeup is terrible for your skin right? That’s because the longer your makeup sits on your skin, the more likely it will be to cause a reaction in some way. If you wear your mask on top of makeup, you can cause friction that quite literally presses the makeup into your pores; so we definitely recommend limiting your makeup look in the general mask area if you plan on wearing it throughout the day! Some people we know can’t part with their makeup routine but to be on the safe side they still wear their masks. The middle ground? Putting makeup on the upper portion of their faces instead of their whole face overall. This way, they can still experience feeling made up, with their eyeshadow, lashes, and brows the way they prefer, while still being comfortably safe. Have you tried this for yourself?
Keep your mask clean and regularly wash it.
- Do this to keep your mask from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria which can have an impact on your skin and your health! When you breathe, through your mouth or your nose, you exhale moisture. These small droplets normally scatter through the air, but when you wear a mask they don’t have much room to go anywhere other than that small encapsulated space. The trapped moisture could create a breeding ground for bacteria on your mask and slowly cause it to smell over time. If this sounds familiar to you too, go wash your mask and wear a replacement for the time being! You could essentially be breathing in mold and that’s not healthy for anyone!
Choose fragrance-free laundry detergent.
- Skip the fabric softener and the floral scents; your cloth mask is up close and personal and you don’t need the extra irritation! Most women know that scented products can cause irritation. Scented toilet paper, tampons, pantyliners, and for some, some brands of deodorant, can cause irritations or allergic reactions! Itching skin, feeling unwell, hives, and other typical symptoms of skin allergens make themselves known.

It’s important to reference here as well that the skin on your face is so much more sensitive than the skin elsewhere on your body. Take a moment and compare the skin on your face to the skin on your hands or feet. Typically your hands or feet will be more well-worn with thicker skin, wrinkles, and calluses. Your face, though regularly exposed to the day, is typically gentler, more sensitive, and more likely to react to changes (such as wearing a mask).

Have you noticed your skin being more irritated, sensitive, broken out, or stressed since wearing masks more often? We hope some of the tips and advice for skin care while wearing masks were helpful to you! Please feel free to share this blog with someone who may be experiencing skin issues or discomfort related to this topic, we’d love to help!

And if you’re ever on the lookout for the perfect skin care product for you, come visit us today or take a look at our products page here on our website for more information on the wonderful skin care brands we carry! We hope this blog has served you well, Warriors! Take care of your skin and wear your masks to help take care of yourself and others.

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Avoiding Troubles Ahead; Issues with Lactation

6/2/2021

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Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting, difficult, rewarding, and beautiful things you can experience. While many parts of your journey as a new mother will have their challenges, lactation can be one of the most difficult. Let us help you with The Breast Place's lactation services!

Hello, Warriors! All of us at The Breast Place hope each of you is doing happy and well out there. We hope you also know that we are here to help and support you no matter what is happening in your life! We understand that life is challenging and we will always be here to listen, treat, and make your life more hopeful. We are so glad you've joined us today! To all of our returning warriors, thank you for your support and we hope you've found comfort, hope, and guidance in our blogs! To all of our new readers, welcome! Let us introduce ourselves a little more before we dive into today's topic about lactation! We are The Breast Place and we work hard to provide hope through wellness and beauty for women facing life's continued challenges. Our team specializes in both malignant and benign breast disease. As a team, we work together with you, educating, treating, and caring for you. We will also grow with you as you change, age, and survive offering self-confidence with scar revision and body contouring, and physical wellness. We offer skincare treatments like resurfacing and rejuvenation using the latest laser technology to address fine lines, wrinkles, and textural issues and antiaging products to keep your skin healthy and youthful. Injectables and IV therapies are available as well!

A part of life's changes and processes that many of our warriors go through is becoming a mother, and one of the most common issues that so many go through is troubles with lactation. Here at The Breast Place, our providers are not only lactation specialists, they have first-hand knowledge of the difficulties of breastfeeding. If you are experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding including clogged ducts, mastitis, pain, nipple bleeding or cracking, or fungal infections, please feel free to contact us for a consultation, a latch evaluation, education, and support. Today, we are going to be talking a little bit more about lactation and the difficulties many face while breastfeeding, sharing a little insight on what can cause these issues, and how you can help improve them while waiting to come see us!

The decision to breastfeed your child is a very personal one, and we are here to support and respect your choice. However, if you are wanting to breastfeed, that is today's topic of conversation and this blog is for you! Breastfeeding your child is incredibly healthy, providing them with all the essential vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients that your baby needs. However, it can take a minute for both mom and baby to get the hang of it. So please mamas, don't worry or fret if this journey hasn't been the easiest. It is very common and you are not alone in these struggles.

Today, we are going to give you some insight on how to make this process a little easier and to avoid as many of these situations as possible. Thankfully with our guidance and what we are going to be talking about today, we can help both you and your baby get through any difficulties you face, together. While you may not experience every difficulty that we will be mentioning today, don't think that it will be a perfect ride, either.

Poor Latch - This can be one of the first hurdles that you and your baby will need to overcome. Latching is when your baby properly and comfortably latches onto your nipple to eat. To guarantee that the milk ducts in your areola are compressed to being the milk flow, your baby needs a good latch to encompass both the nipple and the areola. Not achieving a proper latch can lead to difficulties feeding and nipple pain. Other signs of poor latch can include chewing, a fussy baby, or your baby turning red out of frustration. Practice, getting your baby into the correct position, and trial and error can help improve latching dramatically!

Breast Engorgement - This is a very common problem with first-time mothers. Your breasts will continue to grow throughout your pregnancy, your milk will come in, and your breasts will grow hard a few days after giving birth. This is a result of your milk production being in full swing, leaving your breast extremely tender and getting used to the amount of milk your producing. Thankfully, this will only last a few days at most and will go away as you continue breastfeeding. Nursing frequently will help with the pain, massaging the breast while feeding will also help, along with wearing a well-fitted bra and switching up positions while feeding can all help with pain related to breast engorgement.

Cracked Nipples - This can be one of the many results of dry skin, thrush, not pumping correctly, or a very shallow latch from your baby. This might be a little frightening and uncomfortable, but this is a very common result of breastfeeding and is nothing to worry about! One of the best steps in avoiding this is to make sure your baby is in the right position to breastfeed to avoid a shallow latch. Check with your doctor before you move onto other treatment solutions, but make sure you clean your nipples at least twice a day, let some breast milk sit on the cracked nipples after feeding, use over the counter pain meds, cool gel pads, and nursing ointments can all help with cracked nipples.

Clogged Ducts - This can happen if you've gone longer than normal between feedings or if you're breasts are overly full, milk can get backed up into your ducts and clog them up. One sure way of knowing you have a clogged duct is if you have a hard lump on your breast and if it is sore to the touch and a little red. It can also happen if you're not pumping correctly, compressing your breasts while sleeping, or hitting the breast in the same spot over and over again. Make sure you're getting enough rest, apply warm compresses to the breasts, massage the breasts, and have the baby feed on the affected breast first when feeding begins. Each of these steps will help with your clogged ducts.

Leaking Breasts - These leaks can happen anywhere and anytime while your body is getting used to the whole feeding cycle and process, and as your body is amping up to supply as much milk as possible. This will usually happen and will last for the first two weeks of your baby's life while the supply of your milk matches up to demand. Nursing pads can help you through these first few weeks, and make sure to use cotton or disposable pads. We also recommend wearing darker clothing with no prints to help disguise any leaks and don't over pump. While you think this might help this situation, over-pumping will actually stimulate the breast to make even more milk. Once your body and baby are in sync, the leaking will begin to slow down and finally stop.

Mastitis - One of the more serious lactation and breastfeeding issues, mastitis is an infection of your breast tissue that can cause redness, fever, breast pain, and muscle pain. It is usually a result of a clogged duct and the breast milk gets infected from the bacteria from your baby's mouth. Antibiotics will most likely be prescribed by your doctor to make you feel better, along with using over-the-counter pain meds and applying warm compresses. You can continue breastfeeding and will most likely be encouraged to do so!

Thrush - This is a yeast infection that happens in your baby's mouth and can spread into your breasts. Signs of thrush include red, shiny, and flaky nipples, and also itching or deep shooting pain can also be signs of thrush. Both you and your baby will be prescribed an anti-fungal medication to take at the same time so you don't keep passing it back and forth to one another. You will need to keep your nipples clean, sanitize all pumping equipment, wash all of your bras, clothes, and nursing pads in hot water mixed with vinegar to kill any remaining yeast spores to also help the healing process along.

These are just some of the common lactation and breastfeeding hurdles and issues many women deal with during their first or through every pregnancy. As we've stated before, you might experiences some or just one of these issues, but all of them are common and there are plenty of ways to deal with each issue to help comfort you and your baby. Each healing step is there to help make the breastfeeding process special and enjoyable for both you and your baby. We are here to help you with the whole process. You are not alone, and we are here for you and your baby when you need us most! Until next time, stay safe and be well out there. We understand life is challenging. We are here to listen, support, treat, and help make life a little easier.

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Breast Cancer Management & Treatment

Wearing Masks & Skin Care

Avoiding Troubles Ahead; Issues with Lactation

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