October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for all of us at DERMAFLASH, this cause has a deeply personal meaning. This year, our founder Dara Levy was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Her treatment was successful (as you can see!) and she now counts herself as one of the 4 million+ breast cancer survivors in the U.S. “I can now say I’m a survivor,” Dara says. “And I want to do our part to end this disease.”
Supporting the fight against breast cancer
According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), approximately 310,720 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. We understand how overwhelming a diagnosis can be. The initial screenings, the follow-ups and call-backs, the moment when you hear the news from your doctor. And of course, the treatment protocol. “If you’re fighting breast cancer right now or you’ve battled it in the past, we want you to know that you’re not alone,” Dara says. “We’re with you in the fight.”
For the entire month of October, we’re donating 25% of net sales from all Pop Pink LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning devices sold on our website to the BCRF, in support of their mission to prevent and cure breast cancer. “We’re proud to support an organization that’s on the cutting edge of breast cancer research,” Dara says. “Our goal is to help defeat this disease through the power of science and research—and to share hope that everyone who’s being treated right now will make a full recovery.”
Prevention is key to early detection
We also want to share advice to empower women of every age in their breast cancer prevention journey. Regular mammograms are key—and so is being an advocate for yourself and your body. Especially if, like our founder, you’re one of the 40% of women with dense breast tissue. As the BCRF explains, “Dense breasts make standard mammograms more challenging for radiologists to spot potential cancer.” In many cases, women with dense breasts will require an ultrasound or MRI, which are more sensitive than a standard 2D mammogram or a 3D mammogram.
“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. Luckily, she did not require chemotherapy. After surgery and six weeks of daily radiation therapy, her uninvited guest was “successfully evicted”—and she was able to ring the bells celebrating the end of her treatment.
In addition, for the next five years, Dara will take what’s known as an “aromatase inhibitor.” This medication is routinely prescribed to breast cancer survivors, because it’s proven to significantly reduce the risk of a recurrence.
Being treated for cancer? Show yourself love and care
Throughout her treatment, Dara focused on self-care. You may have heard the expression “self-care isn’t selfish” and that’s especially true when you’re going through an experience that’s as challenging and overwhelming as breast cancer. “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,” Dara says. “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.”
For those who do require chemotherapy, 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, it may look more apparent due to the medication. LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning is a safe way to remove peach fuzz, while also gently exfoliating dead skin cells and restoring radiance.
Schedule your screening
If you notice any changes in your breasts—such as a lump or skin changes—see your doctor right away. It’s also crucial to talk to your doctor to find out at what age you should start getting regular mammograms. The U.S. Preventative Task Force recommends that “all women get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74.” However, depending on your personal medical history and family history, you may need to begin at an earlier age or have more frequent screenings. As always, talk to your doctor to find out what’s best for you. You can also click here to find a list of proven preventative measures recommended by BCRF scientists.
And we can’t stress this enough…if you’re at the age where regular mammograms are recommended, make sure you book those appointments! We understand, it’s all too easy to get caught up with work and family and busy schedules and life in general. But it’s a fact: screenings save lives by catching breast cancer in earlier stages when it’s easier to treat.
“If you’re due for a mammogram, book that appointment!” Dara says. “And thank you again for joining us in the fight against breast cancer. Together, we can help beat this disease and help support everyone whose lives it has touched.”
