The Breast of Everything

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 skincare line Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty. 

She has made a career caring for some of the most beautiful and frequently photographed faces in the world, and Dr. Devgan is an expert in Botox and other injectables for the face, breasts and body. 

On this episode of The Breast of Everything, Dr. Devgan joins hosts Kim Schott and Dr. Linsey Gold to explore the three major categories of dermal fillers and explain how neuromodulators like Botox work to improve skin quality.

Dr. Devgan addresses concerns around looking unnatural, describing how injectables and even plastic surgery can be done without changing your facial identity—provided you choose a board-certified surgeon with extensive anatomic expertise.

Listen in for insight around preventative Botox and learn how to maintain a youthful, radiant complexion with or without injectables! 

Key Takeaways  

How neuromodulators like Botox work to relax facial muscles and improve skin quality 

How preventative Botox helps women avoid the formation of deeply etched lines in the face

Dr. Devgan’s response to women concerned that Botox will make them look unnatural

What differentiates Botox from dermal fillers and how fillers create structure or volume

The 3 major categories of facial fillers (hyaluronic acid, calcium and collagen biostimulating)

Why it’s crucial to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive anatomic expertise

Dr. Devgan’s insight on getting cosmetic surgery without changing your facial identity

What breast cancer survivors need to know about their rights re: reconstructive surgery

What inspired Dr. Devgan to create her medical-grade skincare line

Some of the skin conditions Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty products address

Why Dr. Devgan is a fan of erbium laser resurfacing and gold microinfusion microneedling

Connect with Dr. Devgan

Dr. Devgan’s Website

Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty [Discount Code THEBREAST]

Dr. Devgan on Instagram

Dr. Devgan on TikTok

Connect with Dr. Gold

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Resources 

Beauty Bosses Podcast

Dr. Devgan’s Blog on Preventative Botox

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 University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelor’s in human nutrition and dietetics and holds a master’s degree in health psychology from National Louis University. 

She shares her professional expertise and personal experience with the hormone-positive breast cancer community on the dam. mad. about BREAST CANCER blog.

On this episode of The Breast of Everything, Cathy joins hosts Kim Schott and Dr. Linsey Gold to explain why she suggests a plant-forward diet with whole foods for breast cancer survivors. 

Cathy walks us through the three most common myths in the breast cancer community around what to eat and what to avoid and offers advice to survivors who are unhappy with their weight. 

Listen in to understand why there is no one ‘right’ nutrition plan for every survivor and learn how to eat for breast health without enduring a diet of deprivation.

Key Takeaways  

Cathy’s experience with hormone-positive breast cancer and why the diagnosis caught her off guard

Why Cathy suggests a plant-forward diet with whole foods if you’ve received a breast cancer diagnosis

Cathy’s response to women who feel like they have to stop eating what they love to avoid recurrence

Why there is no one ‘right’ nutrition plan for every breast cancer survivor and what factors to take into consideration as you make food choices post-treatment

The 3 most common myths in the breast cancer community re: what to eat and what to avoid and how to discern good advice from misinformation

Cathy’s insight into 3 breast cancer diets that harm rather than heal

What foods Cathy recommends to clients to prevent cancer recurrence and what foods to avoid

What research says about the link between alcohol and breast cancer and Cathy’s advice to survivors who aren’t prepared to give up drinking completely

How chemotherapy, steroids and tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor medication can cause weight gain

Cathy’s advice to breast cancer survivors who are unhappy with their weight

How breast cancer survivors can leverage resistance training to improve bone health

How Cathy’s Peaceful Plate program helps hormone-positive breast cancer survivors end food anxiety

Connect with Cathy 

The Peaceful Plate

The Peaceful Plate on Facebook

Cathy on Instagram

Cathy’s Blog

Connect with Dr. Gold

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The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

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Resources 

The 5 Foods Survivors Should Eat

‘3 Breast Cancer Diets That Harm Not Heal’

AICR Nutrition Guidelines

World Cancer Research Fund Continuous Update Project

AICR Recommendations on Limiting Alcohol Consumption

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 Longer. 

A sought-after speaker, TV personality and cooking instructor, Liz is a regular contributor to Today’s Dietitian magazine and recipe writer for the American Institute for Cancer Research.

On this episode of The Breast of Everything, Liz joins hosts Kim Schott and Dr. Ashley Richardson to discuss nutrition for longevity, challenging us to start with small goals like eating one extra serving of fruits and vegetables each day. 

Liz discusses what people eat in the five longevity hot spots known as the Blue Zones, describing how the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) fosters heart health and protects against cognitive decline.

Listen in for Liz’s advice on making mealtime less stressful yet more nutritious and learn how to change your diet in a way that fits your lifestyle and promotes long-term health!

Key Takeaways  

How Liz’s interest in nutrition for longevity led to the launch of Eat, Drink, Live Longer

How young moms can lean on conveniences to make mealtime less stressful and more nutritious

Why Liz recommends fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts, beans and seeds

How Liz thinks about high-protein, high-fat fad diets

The 5 longevity hot spots known as the Blue Zones and what people eat there

How the standard American diet lacks important nutrients and promotes chronic inflammation

Why Liz suggests starting with small goals like eating one extra serving of fruits and vegetables each day

Liz’s advice on meal planning and prep as a busy parent or professional

How the MIND diet protects against cognitive decline

Which foods maximize heart health (and which ones to avoid)

What foods Liz recommends for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer

Liz’s strategies for making mealtime a positive time to connect with friends and family 

Connect with Liz

Liz’s Healthy Table

Eat, Drink, Live Longer Podcast

Liz on Instagram

Liz on TikTok

Connect with Dr. Richardson

The Breast of Everything

The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

Subscribe to The Breast of Everything

Email [email protected] 

Resources  

Manic Mommies Podcast

Meal Makeover Moms

Liz’s Last-Minute Black Bean Soup

Nick Buettner on Liz’s Healthy Table Podcast EP099

Liz’s Cookbooks & Freebies

‘Snacking for Brain Health’ in Today’s Dietician

Liz’s Egg & Kale Dinner Muffins

AICR’s New American Plate 

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 interviews, as well as a recent New York Times article, “How to Spot ‘Medical Gaslighting’ and What to Do About It,” and she is the author of the compelling memoir, Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. 

On this episode of The Breast of Everything, Tami joins host Kim Schott to share her journey through GM, describing the painful symptoms of granulomatous mastitis and how she discovered the source of the bacteria that caused it. 

Tami explains how she found a GM support group and why it was invaluable to her, exploring the importance of doing your own research and advocating for yourself in a healthcare setting. 

Listen in to understand how Tami's medical team treated her GM and learn her A List for Advocacy Plan for being an active participant in your own health care journey.

Key Takeaways  

When Tami noticed soreness and a lump in her breast and why she expected a cancer diagnosis

Why it took Tami 7 months to find out she had granulomatous mastitis

The steps Tami took to identify the bacteria from contaminated water that caused her GM

How Tami connected with a GM support group and how it helped her find the cause of her GM

What it's like to suffer from granulomatous mastitis

How Tami found Dr. Kelly McLean and the team at Christ Hospital

How Tami's surgical breast oncologist and functional medicine doctor treated her GM

Tami's A List for Advocacy Plan—act, assemble, ask, acquire and apply

What inspired Tami to write Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis

Connect with Tami 

Granulomatous Mastitis Book & Tips on Facebook

Connect with Kim

The Breast of Everything

The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

Subscribe to The Breast of Everything

Email [email protected] 

Resources  

Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis by Tami Burdick

“How to Spot ‘Medical Gaslighting’ and What to Do About It” in The New York Times

Dr. Kelly McLean at Christ Hospital

Dr. Jared Seigler at the Living Proof Institute

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 episode of The Breast of Everything, Dr. Eric Brown sits down to discuss the importance of shared decision-making in delivering optimal breast cancer care for pregnant and breastfeeding women. 

He walks us through the different types of oncologic breast surgical procedures available and explains the safest chemo and drug therapy options for women in all stages of pregnancy and lactation. 

Listen in to learn about the myths associated with breast cancer in pregnant and lactating women, and the importance of shared decision-making to determine the best treatment options for you and your baby.

Key Takeaways  

Why radiation therapy is contraindicated for pregnant women

The different mastectomy options and their outcomes for breastfeeding 

What are the options for obtaining the health benefits of breastfeeding for post-mastectomy patients and their babies

Why Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is safe for pregnant women (but not those breastfeeding)

The safety concerns of antiestrogen therapy for hormone-positive breast cancers and pregnancy

Why aromatase inhibitors (Tamoxifen) are contradicted during breastfeeding

How to determine when pregnancy after breast cancer treatment is the safest decision

Connect with Dr. Brown

The Breast of Everything

The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

Subscribe to The Breast of Everything

Email [email protected]  

Resources

National Breastfeeding Month 

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

United States Lactation Consultant Association: USLCA

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 Medicine with First Class Honors from The University of Melbourne and a Master of Public Health and Epidemiology from the University of Sydney.

Dr. Perera has been published widely in both Australian and international medical journals and is first author for multiple textbook chapters. She has a special interest in medical, pediatric and cosmetic dermatology.

On this episode of The Breast of Everything, Dr. Perera joins hosts Kim Schott and Dr. Linsey Gold to explain how a personal struggle with acne inspired her interest in dermatology and share her expertise in treatments for scar removal. 

Dr. Perera describes when it’s appropriate to treat scarring with laser rejuvenation versus radiofrequency microneedling, discussing how each process works and what to consider before you seek treatment.

Listen in to understand what skin conditions Dr. Perera treats with cryotherapy and learn how her individualized approach to dermatology helps patients look and feel better about themselves! 

Key Takeaways  

How Dr. Perera’s personal struggle with acne inspired her interest in dermatology

Dr. Perera’s individualized approach to a consult with women who want to look younger

The different types of scars and how hypertrophic and keloid scarring are common after surgery

Why Dr. Perera typically treats thick keloid scars with steroid injections

When it’s appropriate to use laser rejuvenation to treat scarring

What people with darker or Asian skin types and patients with photosensitizing conditions should consider before getting laser treatment

Dr. Perera’s experience diagnosing systemic illnesses based on skin manifestations

Why dermatologists get referrals from breast surgeons, gynecologists and ophthalmologists

What to expect after getting CO2 laser scar treatment and how long it takes to heal

The process of radiofrequency microneedling and how it’s used in scar treatment

What conditions Dr. Perera treats with cryotherapy and how it works

Connect with Dr. Perera

Dr. Perera on Instagram

Dr. Perera’s Website

Connect with Dr. Gold

The Breast of Everything

The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

Subscribe to The Breast of Everything

Email [email protected] 

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 with breast symptoms during lactation. 

He walks us through the American College of Radiology guidelines for breast imaging of pregnant and lactating women, explaining how little radiation exposure is involved in each technique and why there’s no need to ‘pump and dump’ after any breast radiology study.

Listen in to understand why women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should feel safe with any of the three breast biopsy techniques and find out what to do if you experience symptoms of cancer during lactation.

Key Takeaways

What to do if you find a breast lump or have symptoms of cancer during lactation

How breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer

The ACR guidelines for breast imaging of pregnant and lactating women

What’s involved in 3D Tomosynthesis and why it’s better than a traditional mammogram for lactating women

How much radiation exposure is involved in traditional mammograms, 3D Tomosynthesis and breast ultrasounds

Who should use a breast MRI to screen for cancer (and who shouldn’t)

The rare complication of biopsy in a lactating breast known as milk fistula

Why Dr. Brown recommends a core needle biopsy to obtain tissue for diagnosing breast cancer

How anesthesia impacts breast milk

Why pregnant or lactating women should feel safe with all 3 biopsy techniques

Connect with Dr. Brown

The Breast of Everything

The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

Subscribe to The Breast of Everything

Email [email protected] 

Resources

National Breastfeeding Month 

American College of Radiology Guidelines for Breast Imaging of Pregnant and Lactating Women

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

La Leche League International

United States Lactation Consultant Association

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 and making a few lifestyle changes?

Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LD, is Founder of The Hormone Dietician, an integrative health practice that helps busy women with hormone imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other fertility issues regain regular, symptom-free periods and get pregnant naturally.

Melissa is also the creator of The Period Problems Root Cause Roadmap, the author of A Balanced Approach to PCOS, and host of the podcast Hormonally Yours with The Hormone Dietitian.

On this episode of The Breast of Everything, Melissa joins hosts Kim Schott and Dr. Linsey Gold to explain how traditional medicine fails women by prescribing the Pill as a cure-all for our hormone imbalances.

Melissa walks us through her multifaceted approach to identifying the root cause of a hormone imbalance and shares the story of a client she helped avoid ovarian wedge resection surgery and get pregnant naturally.

Listen in for Melissa’s insight on using nutrition to adjust your estrogen level and learn how to minimize the hormone disrupters in your environment that contribute to hormone imbalance and fertility issues.

Key Takeaways  

How Melissa’s own health issues inspired her to become a dietitian 

Why Melissa’s focuses on polycystic ovary syndrome and other hormone imbalances

How traditional medicine fails women by prescribing the Pill as a cure-all

Melissa’s insight on the foods that support estrogen metabolism

Melissa’s comprehensive approach to identifying the root cause of a hormone imbalance

How to offset the side effects of meds that reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence

How to lower your estrogen levels with a plant-forward diet

The hormone disruptors in our environment that contribute to fertility issues

The client Melissa helped avoid ovarian wedge resection surgery and get pregnant naturally

How conventional doctors would benefit from training on nutrition

Connect with Melissa

The Hormone Dietitian

Hormonally Yours Podcast

Melissa on Instagram

Connect with Dr. Gold

The Breast of Everything

The Breast of Everything on Instagram

The Breast of Everything on Facebook

Subscribe to The Breast of Everything

Email [email protected] 

Resources

A Balanced Approach to PCOS: 16 Weeks of Meal Prep and Recipes for Women Managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LD

Melissa’s PCOS Root Cause Quiz

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 they can make that happen. Women go through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, but when they start losing their hair, they are telling the world they have cancer; they can’t hide it anymore. “This is such a struggle for women because they want to keep looking good and feeling good,” Maggie says. In this podcast, she provides tips on headwear, wigs, makeup and skin care – including manicure and pedicures.  

Celebrate your life … every day, Maggie tells cancer patients, and she can help them celebrate by looking good and feeling good. 

“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 signs and changes in your body, and “divine intervention,” as they call it.

At the age of 36, Darren was diagnosed with brain cancer and several years later, Jen learned she had breast cancer.

This young couple in their early 40s, describe the changes in their relationship – from husband and wife, to caregiver and patient, and parent and child – and how their marriage is stronger than it ever has been, thanks to open and honest conversations that brought lots of tears, laughter and defining moments. 

Jen learned that she couldn’t do it all and needed to ask for help, something nearly impossible for her, and Darren learned how to step up as a caregiver.

“Slow down, and give yourself grace to not do it all,” the couple advises. 

Don’t let the disease define you!