Many women rule out getting Botox or dermal fillers because they don’t want to look unnatural. But if you ask Dr. Lara Devgan, neuromodulators like Botox and other facial fillers can improve your skin without making you look plastic or frozen in any way. In fact, if you work with the right professional, you can retain normal movement and achieve very subtle, natural-looking results. Dr. Devgan is a top board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of the luxury medical-grade skincar...

Many breast cancer survivors second-guess their food choices and worry that the foods they love caused their breast cancer. But do you have to stop eating what you love to avoid recurrence? Cathy Leman is the registered dietitian, nutrition therapist, certified personal trainer and breast cancer survivor behind the Peaceful Plate, a program designed to help women stop feeling anxious and confused about food after breast cancer treatment. Cathy graduated with honors from the Unive...

We all want to live a long, healthy life. And we know that what we eat directly impacts our ability to do just that. But for busy parents and professionals, it’s often challenging to make healthy choices on a budget, given our time constraints. Are there simple, convenient ways to make mealtime more nutritious? And what foods best address your specific health concerns? Liz Weiss, MS, RDN, is the voice behind the food and nutrition blog Liz’s Healthy Table and the podcast Eat, Drink, Live Long...

In 2017, Tami Burdick noticed a hardened area and lump in her breast. And she braced herself for a breast cancer diagnosis. But after seven grueling months of testing, she was diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis or GM, a poorly understood and under-practiced chronic inflammatory breast disease. Beyond being a survivor of GM, Tami is an advocate for women suffering from breast disease and passionate proponent of patient self-advocacy. Tami has been featured in multiple TV i...

A breast cancer diagnosis can lead to many questions and concerns for a pregnant or breastfeeding mother. What type of treatments are available? Are chemotherapy and other cancer treatments safe for my baby and me? And will breastfeeding my baby still be an option, and what are the risks? Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and misinformation surrounding the treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy and lactation. August is National Breastfeeding Month, and on this epi...

If you have scarring from breast surgery or a skin issue of any kind, you may have considered visiting a dermatologist. But there are so many different treatment options. Should you consider laser rejuvenation? Microneedling? Cryotherapy? How do these treatments work? And which one is right for you? Dr. Eshini Perera is a Specialist Dermatologist and Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists who practices at Cutis Dermatology in Brisbane, Australia. She holds a Master of Medi...

For pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, finding a lump or experiencing other symptoms of breast cancer comes with extra anxiety. Is it safe to do a screening mammogram when you’re expecting or lactating? What if you need a breast biopsy? Will the procedure interrupt breastfeeding or negatively impact your breast milk? August is National Breastfeeding Month, and on this episode of The Breast of Everything, Dr. Eric Brown sits down to discuss the diagnostic workup and evaluation of women ...

Do you have symptoms of a hormone imbalance? Many women struggle for years with issues like heavy or irregular periods, acne, hair loss, fibrocystic breasts, fibroids and infertility. And most people think that hormone imbalances are the problem in and of themselves. But the truth is, hormone imbalances are a sign that something's imbalanced elsewhere in the body. So, how do you identify and address the root cause of these hormone challenges? Could it be as easy as modifying your diet a...

How does a cancer patient prepare for hair loss? “I don’t think any woman ever is prepared,” announces Hair Restoration Specialist Maggie Varney. The licensed cosmetologist and facilitator for the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good, Feel Better” program, was a featured guest on The Breast of Everything podcast, hosted by Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeon Ashley Richardson, DO, FACOS. She talks about the importance of women feeling a sense of normalcy during their cancer treatment and how th...

“When cancer comes into a marriage, it really can alter your life.” That is why cancer survivors Darren and Jen Delvaux started their own podcast – “Mr. Worldwide and His Bride” – where they share stories about their cancer experiences, what they have learned along the way and how it has impacted their relationship and their marriage. During The Breast of Everything podcast, they talked with Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeon Ashley Richardson, DO, FACOS, about paying attention to the subtle s...

During The Breast of Everything podcast, Justin Riutta, MD, director of Breast Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema for Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, Michigan, sets the record straight on lymphedema, dispelling the many myths and misinformation patients are hearing and reading. For example, here are a few facts: Fewer than 10 percent of breast cancer patients will develop lymphedema.Exercise is recommended for patients with lymphedema.Don’t reach into a hot oven if you have lymphedema.Thanks ...

What is genetic testing and what does it mean for cancer patients? During The Breast of Everything podcast, Dana Zakalik, MD, a medical oncologist and medical director of the Nancy and James Grosfeld Cancer Genetics Center at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, talks about genetic testing, why it is important and how the newest advances in cancer treatment promise to make a significant impact on patient outcomes. She begins the podcast by talking about the genetic mutations inherited fr...

In 2004, just three months after her wedding, 31-year-old corporate giant Caryn Sullivan was diagnosed with breast cancer. Caryn’s treatment of choice was aggressive therapy; she had a bilateral mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. Physically and emotionally, she was a mess, she recalls, until she got the green light. She was cancer-free. She jumped back on the corporate bandwagon believing she was one and done, and nine years later, the cancer returned. Caryn was diagnosed with Stage 4...

“From the spiritual perspective, there is no disease or illness. There is only undiscovered purpose.” When Melissa Laborsky, MD, heard this quote, it opened her eyes to a whole new world in the field of medicine. A family medicine physician who practiced traditional western medicine for many years, Dr. Laborsky has dedicated the past 12 years of her practice and life to studying Chinese medicine and qigong. Her training involved the Chinese energy approach to understanding, preventing and hea...

“When you say the words ‘breast cancer survivor,’ it can’t get any more personal for me because that is my mother,” announces Shelly Rood, inspirational speaker, co-founder of Mission: Ambition LLC and a decorated military intelligence officer who served our country for 16 years. “Sometimes we are so concerned with getting through it, with surviving it, that we don’t take the time for genuine connection and reflection,” she says during The Breast of Everything podcast hosted by Linsey G...

Nikki Barclay just turned 41 when she learned she had breast cancer. “My doctor recommended I start having mammograms every year beginning at age 40. This was my second routine screening,” or so she thought. “I did not expect any issues at all, especially at my age,” she begins telling her story during The Breast of Everything podcast. The mammogram showed suspicious-looking calcium deposits that required a biopsy. The results? Nikki had extensive DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), consid...

Tina Craciun, a 46-year-old wife, mother of two, and speech pathologist, recently added breast cancer survivor to her list of “accomplishments,” and gladly will share her story in hopes it will help other women who are just beginning their uphill battle with the disease. “You will reach the top of that mountain, and the other side is so full of hope and relief,” she says during The Breast of Everything podcast. Comprehensive Breast Care Surgeon Ashley Richardson, DO, FACOS, the podcast host a...

Inflammation is a main driver of disease, and it all starts in the gut. Lauren Kelly, nutrition therapy master, knows this all too well. She used to live in Hollywood where everyone is obsessed with being beautiful. She was wrapped up in that world until at the age of 29, she learned she had a malignant melanoma and needed emergency surgery. “It flipped my life upside down,” she asserts. “My Hollywood-style world came to a screeching halt!” Lauren looked long and hard at her life. It was toxi...

During their 32 years of marriage Rick and Janet Stanfield have plenty of life adventures to share, but never did they think breast cancer would be one of them. They both were diagnosed within a few months of each other. While Janet was undergoing treatment, Rick learned he had Stage 3 breast cancer. It wasn’t easy, they both admit, but through support and love, they are on the road to recovery. To hear their story, listen to The Breast of Everything podcast, hosted by Comprehensive Breast Ca...

Survivor guilt … it’s time to talk about this reality We don’t talk enough about it … the guilt, the stress, the feelings that it’s just not fair … Cancer flips you on head. The question of “why me?” can haunt any cancer patient. Everyone knows someone who had cancer and died, and those stories surface and circle around in your head. Everyone knows someone who had cancer and survived with fewer treatments and a faster recovery, and you wonder why this isn’t you. Everyone also knows some...