For everyone at DERMAFLASH, breast cancer is a deeply personal topic. In 2024, our founder Dara Levy was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, or as she called it, her unexpected guest. “Last year, I had an unexpected and unwanted visitor... stage one breast cancer,” says Dara. “It was no fun, but I dealt with it head on. I had surgery and a month of radiation, and then I was good to glow again.”
Dara now counts herself as one of the 4 million+ breast cancer survivors in the U.S. and she’s committed to sharing her story and helping other women fight this disease. “I can now say I’m a survivor,” Dara says. “And I want to do our part to end this disease.” For Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, DERMAFLASH will donate 25% of net sales from all Pop Pink LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning devices sold on our website to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
In addition to donating funds, we wanted to share some of Dara’s personal tips that helped her throughout her breast cancer treatment:
Be an advocate for yourself
Regular mammograms are key to early detection of breast cancer—and so is being an advocate for yourself and your body. This is especially important if you’re one of the 40% of women with dense breast tissue. As the Breast Cancer Research Foundation explains, “Dense breasts make standard mammograms more challenging for radiologists to spot potential cancer.” If you have dense breasts, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound in addition to your annual mammogram. And if they don’t, advocate for yourself and ask for one.
“If you have dense breasts, you must insist on an ultrasound,” Dara says. “I went for a mammogram, and nothing showed up, but when I had an ultrasound, they found something. I came back and they did a biopsy, and it was cancer.” Because of the preventative measures Dara and her doctors took, her breast cancer was caught at an early stage, and she did not require chemotherapy. After surgery and six weeks of daily radiation therapy, she sent her uninvited guest packing and rang the bells to celebrate the end of her treatment.
Make space for self-care
“Self-care is a pillar of my life and of DERMAFLASH,” Dara says. “I think as women we are all so conditioned to think of ourselves last, but we need to make time and space for ourselves.” When you’re going through something as challenging and overwhelming as breast cancer, practicing self-care is even more important. “Every day, for six weeks, I had to walk into the cancer center for my treatments. Self-care empowered me to feel in control of an uncontrollable situation. I Flashed every week and it truly helped me. Taking time for self-care allowed me to feel like myself again and get my glow back—inside and outside.
Nurture your body
If you’re undergoing breast cancer treatments, your body is working hard to fight off the unwelcome guest. Nourish yourself with healthy, whole foods. The BCRF recommends eating a diet with balanced mix of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and reducing your consumption of red meat, animal fats and processed meats—which are correlated with a higher risk of not just breast cancer but also stomach and colorectal cancer. “I’m pescatarian and I try to eat as healthfully as possible. I just built an organic garden at home which is giving me more joy than I ever expected. I’m fully obsessed,” Dara says.
Prioritize your well-being
Focus on activities and rituals that help reduce your stress levels and bring you feelings of hope and joy. Mindfulness techniques such as journaling or meditation can be powerful tools for stress reduction. Spending time in nature, if you’re able to, is another way to stay grounded. “Put your feet in the grass or sand, whatever connects you to the natural world,” says Dara. And if your body tells you that it’s time to rest, listen! Support groups and therapists can also be valuable resources during your treatment.
Practice positivity
“What you put out into the universe really impacts what you get back,” Dara says. “Our brains believe what we tell them. I make a conscious effort to put positivity into the universe, and that brings positivity back into my life. I believe positivity is the only answer to keep you moving forward in the best way.” Dara leaned on her family and friends for support and practiced positive thinking throughout her breast cancer treatment. “That chapter just made me feel more grateful for my life than I already was.”
Visit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for more resources and information. “And thank you again for joining us in the fight against breast cancer,” Dara says. “Together, we can help beat this disease and help support everyone whose lives it has touched.”
A note about peach fuzz and chemotherapy: Dara did not require chemotherapy, but for those who do, more noticeable peach fuzz may be a side effect of chemo treatments. According to Northwestern University, “Chemotherapy medications attack fast-growing cells, which include both cancer cells and your hair follicle cells.” Under normal circumstances, peach fuzz will not grow back any differently—but when you’ve undergone chemo, your peach fuzz may look more apparent due to the medication. If you’d like to remove peach fuzz, LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning is a safe and easy way to do so, and it gives you the added benefits of exfoliating dead skin cells and restoring radiance.