 When dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis, one of the first things you'll have to deal with head-on is what is true and what is false in the information available to you. Just like any medical diagnosis, you will come across myths and falsehoods that need to be debunked right away. Today we are going to be tackling the top three most common myths about breast cancer.
Hello, Warriors! We hope this blog finds you well and fighting hard. We hope you are keeping up the hope in yourself and your treatment. If no one has told you recently, you are incredible. You are getting up every day and facing every challenge head-on. With how this year has turned out, that is truly an amazing feat. We are constantly blown away by your journies, strength, and how you balance your everyday professional and personal lives while going through treatment and recovery. We are in awe of you and are inspired by you every day. Keep up the incredible work, we believe in you. Out of everything that you've already been dealing with and what you're going through, one thing you should never have to deal with is incorrect information and myths. We are the biggest proponents of education and early detection, but we also want to eliminate any fear or misinformation due to old wives' tales or poor information that has turned into what seems like it could be true facts. To deal with this, we want to discuss and debunk some of the most common myths about breast cancer. Myth #1: If I don't have breast cancer in my family history I won't get it; If I do have breast cancer in my family I will get it. We wanted to roll this into one myth because to a point both myths are incorrect. It is true that if your family's medical history does include breast cancer you will be at a higher risk, but this doesn't mean you will for sure get breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, only about 13% of women who have breast cancer had a direct relative who was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, please be aware that even if breast cancer hasn't been in your family history, this does not mean you won't get it. Breast cancer will appear when it wants to and can happen to anyone at any age. According to BreastCancer.org, most people who do get breast cancer have no family history of it at all, which means other factors besides heredity are most likely the cause. These other factors could be your environment or your lifestyle. Myth #2 Wearing a bra with an underwire, wearing deodorant, carrying a cellphone in your bra, or using a cell phone can all cause breast cancer. Please remain calm, if you do any or all of these things, there is nothing to worry about. Keep wearing a bra if you want, use it as a handy pocket for your phone when you need to, put on your deodorant in the morning, and keep up with your nighttime scrolls. None of these statements have actual scientific proof that links them to causing breast cancer. Although, some are still being studied to see if there is a link that could have been overlooked. According to the Susan G. Koman foundation, there are certain chemicals found in certain antiperspirants and deodorants that, "can enter the skin and cause changes that could lead to cancer". Even with that knowledge, there is still no direct link between the two. There is also no direct link between how you use or carry your cell phone that links either activity to breast cancer. There is also no increased risk of getting breast cancer connected to using your phone for long periods. Myth #3: When you have breast cancer, a lump always forms so you know it's there. This is very untrue. While discovering a lump can indeed be a sign of breast cancer, our last blog should be proof enough that one lump does not automatically mean you have breast cancer. Actually, most lumps are not connected to breast cancer at all. Sometimes there are no warning signs, while some are slight or drastic physical changes that you can see. Some cancers don't form a lump at all. Any change to the breast that is abnormal for your body could potentially be a sign of the early stages of cancer. When you do notice something, your doctor needs to be alerted right away! It's easy to get caught up in everything you hear when you're dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. You want to have something to blame for what you're going through, you want to justify why you have it, and to know what caused it in the first place. Sometimes these answers won't be easy ones to find if you can even find them at all. Do your research, talk to your care team, and try to avoid anyone who thinks they've heard something to share with you. Leave the myths at the door! 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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By now most of you know The Breast Place and Empower at The Breast Place ladies are obsessed with Environ skin care, and that our staff, including Dr. Beatty, uses the products every day. We have decided to carry Environ Peels so we can start offering the benefits of these peels to our patients. We want our clients who are new and old to peels, to understand the Environ Peel, and the difference a non-acidic solution makes. What are Environ Peels? The principles of Environ peels are based on physiology of skin cells; these are to be protected and treated very well. If the skin cell is aggressively peeled this disrupts the skins natural barrier and water will easily be lost and environmental toxins can enter the skin more easily. Hence Environ peels remove the excess horny layer of the skin and yet maintain the water-proofing barrier qualities of the skin. Environ Peels are ideal for hydrating and refining; they repair cells and encourage cell exfoliation revealing fresh and youthful skin. Especially effective to treat scarring, rough textured, sun damage, acne and rosacea. How do Environ Peels work? Environ have a variety of peeling systems, using acidic creams and gels instead of using acid solutions. These peels preserve as much epidermis as possible while at the same time, getting the safest effective concentration of hydronium ions into the dermis. These peels are designed to preserve the architecture of the skin simultaneously stimulating the fibroblasts in the dermis to increase the quantity of collagen in the dermis. What skin issues do Environ peels treat? • Environ peels are an ideal way to treat acne that has not responded to prior simple treatments. • Rough skin will respond very successfully to peeling and skin that is in need of hydrating. • Wrinkles and fine lines. • Rosacea. • Solar keratoses (known as age spots) • It enhances facial surgery. What will my skin feel like during and after my Environ Peel? During your Environ peel, you may experience a warm, tingling sensation, however most clients experience no discomfort. After your peel, your skin may feel tight and slightly warm. How long do Environ Peels take? Environ peels of the face are generally performed in approximately 60 minutes. However, this will vary if it is combined with a facial or if it is done as a stand-alone treatment. During the consultation, Rachel would be able to direct you as to how to go about the procedure. Speaking generally, one would need a series of peels to treat a specific condition. How long after an Environ Peel may I return to normal activities? You must avoid sun exposure and tanning beds. Avoid exercise for the 24 hours after your peel and do not pick, scratch or peel your skin. Make up can be applied immediately. You may experience mild redness or tingling following your peel. One to three days following your procedure, you will notice mild to moderate peeling of the skin that can be concealed with the consistent use of mineral makeup. ENVIRON’S APPROACH TO PEELING Cool Peeling with Environ Environ peeling systems that I use are based on • Lactic Acid which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid, made from asses milk,(Lac-Pamgel), • TCA (tri-chloracetic acid), which is a man-made chemical based on acetic acid. These are very safe and allergic reactions or serious medical complications have never been described, (TCA Pamgels) and • TCA (tri-chloracetic acid) which Environ pioneered in a cream as a peeling agent to give a controlled, even, safe and effective peel. (Acid Cream Mask – ACM) Advantages of the Environ Peel: • Safe • Versatile system • Can be customised according to each client’s requirements • No down time • Cool and painless Why are Environ Peels Different? Environ is different from other companies producing peels, because Environ pioneered the production of acidic creams and gels instead of using acid solutions. Since strong acid solutions are usually colourless, one might end up doing a deeper peel than intended as one would not be able to see where the skin has been treated once the solution dries. Also, when a strong acid is applied to the skin it burns a great deal. Effects of Peeling • Superficial peels: visible effects barely perceptible • Skin becomes dryer for a while • Then skin becomes smoother • Healthy cells survive • Damaged cells are removed • Promotes collagen formation • Blackheads melted / removed • Acne less active • Reduces inflammation • Kills bacteria to sterilize the skin • Refines enlarged pores. Care of Skin After Peeling • Avoid sun exposure, including sun beds, for the next week • Avoid exercise for 24 hours • Avoid swimming – chemicals could irritate the skin • Don’t rub, pick or irritate skin • Do not use any Alpha Hydroxy products for 24 hours (normal skin) or 72 hours (sensitive skin) • Avoid Alpha Cream for 1 week before and after an Environ peel • Moisturize the skin adequately day and night. The B-Active range can be used immediately after the peel. • Use sunscreen. Interested in learning more about peels or scheduling a peel? Contact Rachel directly 843-797-1941 ext 203 or email rachel@thebreastplacesc.com!   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.
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. Taking the confusion out and adding the zinc to your sunscreen... We have all been told at least once the miracle ingredient we need to add to our skin care regimen… SUNSCREEN! SUNSCREEN! SUNSCREEN! I, like many of us from my “era”, worshiped the sun as a teenager. I cringe when I think about life-guarding 10 hour shifts covered in baby oil; and how every spring break and summer started with a 3rd degree burn. If the SPF in my tropical tanning oil was higher than a 4, and didn’t smell like Hawaii, it wasn’t going in my pool bag. Turning 40 exposed all those years of abusing my skin with emerging hyper-pigmentation, dark spots, and broken capillaries. Now, the one item that I won't leave the house without is a BROAD SPECTRUM sunscreen with Zinc. Zinc sits on the top of the skin and starts protecting you immediately when applied. Broad spectrum SPF refers to sunscreens that protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Even with a high SPF (sun protection factor), if a sunscreen isn’t broad spectrum, you won’t be protected from UVA rays. It’s important to protect from both types of UV rays because they damage your skin differently. Here is a short breakdown:
work! If these reasons don’t persuade you, let the coral reefs be a reason to use an environmentally safe zinc based sunscreen. Chemically based sunscreens break down coral, causing it to lose its nutrients, turn ghostly white or bleach and often die or become unable to reproduce.  Now, you probably envision zinc sunscreen from the eighties… the white gooey stuff more suitable for the circus… well, here’s a welcome update! My all time favorite , ELTA MD sunscreens, are mixed with 9% transparent zinc oxide.
You don't have to worry about a clown like or chalky finish, and it's water-resistant up to 80 minutes, passing the test of beach waves and summer runs. The Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 is a fantastic option for your face—particularly if you have oily skin, as the infusion of lactic acid simultaneously kills lingering breakouts, while reducing shine. The formula is also rich in hyaluronic acid, so you won't have to pile on the moisturizer beforehand, and the side of niacinamide can help to fade existing sun damage. The tinted version is like magic, it seamlessly blends into almost anyone’s skin, acting either as a light foundation or the perfect primer! As far as the rest of your body goes, Elta MD has a full line of products, including a Sport Sunscreen, to protect you and your family...all containing zinc! On a side note, for those of us who began protecting ourselves a little later in life, there is an option to help reverse some of that hyper-pigmentation and those broken capillaries from our previous sun goddess days. My newest treatment obsession, Laser Genesis, uses micro-pulses of laser energy to diminish the signs of vascular facial redness and stubborn brown spots. Added bonus…Laser Genesis also improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with collagen remodeling! The Breast Place is excited to offer packages of this no down time laser treatment, as well as many other skin rejuvenation packages personalized for your individual needs at your free skin consultation. Call me anytime at The Breast Place, extension 203! |
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