Medsplaining

More than one in five Canadian adults doesn't have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. And for women going through menopause, that gap in care can feel like a black hole, where symptoms are diminished, misunderstood, or ignored entirely. With me on the Medsplaining podcast today is Nurse Practitioner and Certified Menopause Provider Jessica Bawden, who's been caring for women across the reproductive spectrum for over 13 years at Women's College Hospital in Toronto. We talk about what menopause symptoms look like in patients today, how the Canadian healthcare system is treating women in midlife, and what we're doing in our own practices to bridge the gap. It's an honest, deeply personal conversation about what happens when your body starts changing, and no one around you seems to know what to do. 01:51 Welcome, Jessie Bawden, to Medsplaining! 04:13 The top five reasons women show up at Jessie's door. 06:15 How healthcare providers are (or aren't) stepping up. 10:01 The gaslighting we're done with: "It's All in Your Head"  11:51 How we cracked the code on hot flashes. 14:40 Jessie's client story that says it all. 22:26 Weight, and diet…Welcome to the lifestyle tangle. 26:16 Breaking down the why behind the brain fog. 29:09 Jessie's treatment triage. Who gets what? 34:31 Hormone therapy's double standard. 37:06 Testosterone for women: Hype or help? 42:45 Jessie's wish list for better menopause care.   This episode was made possible thanks to an education grant from Bayer Canada. 💜 Like, share, and leave a review! 💌 Subscribe to my ⁠Substack⁠  🩺 Send me a DM on ⁠Instagram⁠ 🎥 Watch this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠    

Sign up for the Perimenopause Power Plan! With me on the Medsplaining podcast today is entrepreneur Penny Light, founder of Grit & Grace Clothing, and Grit & Grace Adventures—a boutique travel group for women over 45. Penny's story hits home for so many because it begins in a place we all recognize: that unsettling health spiral where you catch your reflection and wonder, Where did I go? In this episode, we explore that moment of feeling lost—and the powerful comeback that happens when you reclaim your health and your life. Penny embodies the strength and possibility this stage of life holds, proving it's never too late to reinvent yourself and thrive. ✨Reinvent Yourself with Penny Light of Grit & Grace Adventures 01:35 Welcome, Penny Light, to Medsplaining! 02:37 Grit & Grace Clothing: because sometimes reinvention starts with a wardrobe. 05:52 Putting into words no longer feeling like myself... 08:27 Bioidenticals 101. 13:36 The hurdle everyone knows: finding a doctor who doesn't dismiss you. 16:02 Immediate symptom relief? Yes, it's a thing. 16:46 How proper MHT helped grow the business. 18:47 Grit & Grace Adventures: a boutique travel group for all. 22:48 The grandmother hypothesis. 30:07 Lifestyle changes: the real prescription no one wants to hear. 35:16 If Penny could tell every woman one thing about perimenopause, it would be this... 37:21 Penny's grandmother lived to 103. What's her secret to longevity? Check out Penny on Instagram, and visit Grit & Grace Adventures or Grit & Grace Clothing. 💜 Like, share, and leave a review! ✨Sign up for the Perimenopause Power Plan 🙋‍♀️ Download my FREE perimenopause symptom tracker 💌 Subscribe to my Substack 🩺 Send me a DM on Instagram 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube Thanks for tuning in. See you next time! Hugs and good health, Dr. Jen

Save 50% off the  Perimenopause Power Plan with code SUMMER50 only until July 1! I recently got my cholesterol checked, and it got me thinking about how important it is to interpret them the right way—especially for women in perimenopause like myself. There's a strong misconception that high cholesterol automatically means high cardiovascular risk. Yes, estrogen offers a protective effect against heart disease. As our levels drop during perimenopause, that protection fades. But that doesn't mean every woman with high LDL is on the verge of a heart attack. So in this mini episode, I'm looking at my own numbers and explaining the difference between high cholesterol versus high cardiovascular risk. ✨High Cholesterol vs. High CVD risk 01:51 Worried about cholesterol? You're not the only one losing sleep over those lab results. 02:45 Exposing my cholesterol numbers. 03:28 Wait, what's the FRS and why does it matter so much? 04:22 Family is everything… Really, your family history can say lots about your health. 05:12 Real ways to lower your cardiovascular risk without any medical intervention. 💜 Like, share, and leave a review! ✨Sign up for the Perimenopause Power Plan 🙋‍♀️ Download my FREE perimenopause symptom tracker 💌 Subscribe to my Substack 🩺 Send me a DM on Instagram 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube Thanks for tuning in. See you next time! Hugs and good health, Dr. Jen

Save $20 on the Perimenopause Power Plan with the code SAVE20 at checkout until June 20. Welcome back to Medsplaining! We're back with another episode about summer skincare—and this time, we're answering your most commonly asked summer skincare questions.  Back on the pod today is double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Tran to answer the most commonly asked questions about summer skincare, like how to avoid burns, oiliness, and dehydration—AND, Dr. Jenn shares her current skincare routine for summer.  Follow Dr. Jennifer Tran on Instagram and TikTok ✨Underrated Summer Skincare Tips 01:40 Should you switch up your skincare routine in the summer? 02:20 If you thought sunburn was your biggest enemy this summer, think again. 03:30 This dermatologist's skincare routine this summer. 04:17 Which skincare products to ditch this summer. 05:30 "My makeup has SPF, I'm good... right?" 06:10 Before you stock up on sunscreen, know which ingredients to look for. 06:55 Lip SPF—do you really need it? 07:50 Skincare for kids: what's safe, what's unnecessary? 08:40 My toddler won't let me apply sunscreen to their face. What are some tips? 09:20 Thermal burns in summer? Yes, it's a thing. 10:40 If you only change one thing about your skincare this summer, make it this. 11:45 What's new in the world of dermatology? 💜 Like, share, and leave a review! 🙋‍♀️ Download my FREE perimenopause symptom tracker 💌 Subscribe to my Substack 🩺 Send me a DM on Instagram 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube Thanks for tuning in. See you next time! Hugs and good health, Dr. Jen

If you're planning your summer vacation, don't let a bug bite, stiff shoulders, or sunburns ruin the vibe.  The mom in me can't help but think about safety when travelling. Everyone's at risk of bug bites or bruises, but not everyone thinks about what they can do to prevent and remedy the situation. So I've fine-tuned my first aid kit down to the essentials—small enough to toss in any bag, smart enough to actually help when things go sideways.  So let's take a peek inside my summer bag—what I carry, what I swear by, and what's saved me more than once. Marnie will throw scenarios at me, and I have to pull three things from my bag to help remedy the situation. Sunburns and bruises have no standing chance.    ✨ What's in my bag  [03:10] — Long travel day? This is what I reach for first to soothe stiff shoulders.  [05:28] — Planning any hikes or outdoor activities? These first-aid essentials are perfect to soothe bruises. [07:53] — Bugs will crash your party. But don't let them ruin your trip! These products work wonders to get them off your back.  [09:44] — Very few things will effectively fade scars. This is the one product I found that actually does the trick.  [11:50] — I used this product when my husband burned himself in the kitchen. What's the saying? If you can't handle the heat… Get some burn cream! [14:27] — Of course I didn't forget about sunburns! And there's more to it than just SPF. [16:06] — Coolness in a can exists. Combat redness like a pro.   💜 Like, share, and leave a review! 💌 Subscribe to my Substack 🩺 Send me a DM on Instagram 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube This episode is sponsored by Zax's Original first aid skincare products—your go-to solution for soothing relief. Developed by a pharmacist and created by a mom, Zax's Original is the trusted first-aid skincare solution for families. Check out zaxsoriginal.com for more info.

Oprah launched her big menopause special, and it's all I've been hearing about lately. It's on the news, on my social media feeds, and has even made its way into conversations with peers. In case you missed it, Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Maria Shriver, and Certified Menopause Specialist Dr. Mary Claire Haver joined Oprah in a broadcasted conversation about what women experience in perimenopause. The message was clear: if you're in midlife and feeling off, it's definitely menopause.  That's where I hit pause. Have we completely missed the point? So in this episode of Medsplaining, I go through common symptoms of perimenopause that could hide as a real health condition. To those who watched or heard of Oprah's special, I want to say that although your perimenopause symptoms are valid, it should not be a reason to skip the doctor.  ✨ Is it perimenopause or something else? [00:28] — There's an exclusive Zax's Original skincare giveaway worth over $130. Want in? Here's how to enter. [01:04] — Everything you need to know about Oprah's big menopause special. [02:22] — Racing heart? It might be perimenopause. Or it might be something your cardiologist would love to discuss.  [02:55] — Heavy bleeding or irregular spotting? Before labelling it as "just menopause," there's a whole world of possibilities lurking beneath the surface. [03:20] — Migraine alert: sometimes it's just hormones. Sometimes it's your body waving a big red flag. [03:19] — Fatigue? It might not always be a lack of sleep. It could also be iron and B12 that are MIA. [03:54] — Is your sleep apnea worsening? Perimenopause might not be the culprit here. [04:0] — Don't write off mood swings as part of the transition because it's also a big part of mood disorders. [04:27] — This one sign will tell you if brain fog could be more than just forgetting your keys again… 💜 Like, share, and leave a review! 💌 Subscribe to my Substack 🩺 Send me a DM on Instagram 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube Thanks for tuning in. See you next time! Hugs and good health, Dr. Jen  

The Medsplaining podcast is back! We're kicking off this new season with a hot topic: summer skincare. I'm joined again by Dr. Jennifer Tran (@drjenntran), a double board-certified dermatologist based in Toronto, and our go-to skin expert, to talk about treating summer skin woes: from breakouts to sunburns. We're breaking down what works, what doesn't and what products to grab (or ditch) this season. So if you're not sure how to update your skincare this summer, this is the best place to start. We're giving you the real solutions to the most common (and annoying) skin issues that come with the heat. Featured in your guide: [03:16] — New pup alert! Meet the newest member of the fam. I'm head over heels about her. [05:27] — A patient walks into a derm's office… and yup, this summer skin issue is what dermatologists see every. single. day. [06:59] — Skincare mistakes you don't know you're making. Are you using the right sunscreen? [07:40] — Mystery skincare case: One of my patients got melasma, a condition causing skin darkening and discolouration. What happened? Could it have been prevented? [12:22] — YES! You still need a moisturizer in the summer. NO. Your sweat doesn't count. Here's what a derm recommends instead. [12:45] — Mineral vs. chemical sunscreen: which one is queen? Does it matter? [14:52] — You don't need a derm to treat a sunburn. Here are some at-home remedies to help. [16:32] — Summer breakouts are the worst (likely from all the sweating). This is the best way to keep your skin clear. Like, share, and leave a review! Subscribe to my Substack Send me a DM on Instagram Watch this episode on YouTube This episode is sponsored by Zax's Original first aid skincare products—your go-to solution for soothing relief. Developed by a pharmacist and created by a mom, Zax's Original is the trusted first-aid skincare solution for families. Check out zaxsoriginal.com for more info. Thanks for tuning in. See you next time!

Happy New Year! It's our last episode of Season 1, and our very first episode of 2025. I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions—because I think any time is a good time to make changes in your life to be healthier. So in this episode, I share five health habits to try in 2025, inspired by some of our season 1 guests.  My top 5 tips for better health in 2025:  1. Schedule your cancer screenings 2. Choose strength over skinny 3. Eat to fuel your body 4. Prioritize sleep 5. Let go of perfection Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨  

Hormone balancing is making its way around every social platform.  This urge to balance fluctuating hormones has its merits: It stems from wanting to minimize the most disruptive symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes, brain fog and sleep issues. Women are looking everywhere for symptom relief. But I'm here to tell you that attempting to balance your hormones won't do the trick. Instead, you want to focus on managing the symptoms that result from your naturally fluctuating hormones, not the other way around.  In this episode of Medsplaining, we look at three important hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—and learn about their vital roles in your body's functionality. Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨    

I've been amazed by the overwhelming interest in menopause and perimenopause throughout Season 1 of Medsplaining. As a result, I've received so many questions about improving your health in midlife. So, I've gathered your most frequently asked questions from this year and answered them all in this special episode of the Medsplaining podcast. Tune in to this episode to get answers to your most asked questions of this year: Does hormone therapy help with weight loss? Can someone start hormone therapy if they are over 60? How long can I stay on hormone therapy? I have a progesterone IUD—how can I tell if I'm in menopause? Should I consider hormone therapy to improve my skin? I am struggling with frequent bladder infections and vaginal irritation. What can I do? Do you have a question that we didn't answer in this episode? Email your questions at medsplaining@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram @Medsplaining.   Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨  

As the founder and CEO of The Livy Method, Gina Livy has spent over 30 years helping people achieve lasting weight loss through healthy, accessible, and sustainable methods that actually work.  Gina has helped well over 100,000 people lose and keep off weight. I have had so many of my own patients tell me about Gina's supportive approach, and how proud they are of their achievements—to the point that even when they hit a plateau or take a while to reach their goal, they continue to stay positive through it all. This and so much more is what distinguishes Gina's approach to weight loss from so many of the fad diets that come and go. In this episode, we uncover the secret to losing weight in midlife.  Recognized as one of WXN's Canada's Most Powerful Women in 2023, Gina's impact includes 5.5 million podcast downloads, 10 best-selling books and a successful weight loss program companion app. When she's not busy being a total BOSS, Gina is a wife, a mom, and an amazing and supportive person.   Follow Gina on IG @ginalivy Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ http://esteelauder.ca Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder, so of course we were thrilled to offer you this exclusive episode all about skincare with Estée Lauder's field executive training manager Janice James.  Our skin changes during perimenopause and menopause. That's often because as estrogen levels decline, collagen production is altered, leading to dryness, thinning and irritation of the skin, whether that presents as itchiness, burning, allergic reactions or easy cuts and bruises. Luckily, Janice is here to share with us the best ways to take care of our skin, no matter our age. Janice has been training with Estée Lauder for 20 years. She's travelled the country educating beauty advisors on the latest Estée Lauder products. Working closely with customers helps her understand what people's skincare wishes really are and how to best address them.      Janice's holiday gift guide: For teens: ⁠Nutritious Collection⁠: ⁠2-in-1 Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask⁠, ⁠Radiant Essence Treatment Lotion⁠, ⁠Airy Lotion Moisturizer⁠ For adults: ⁠Advanced Night Repair Collection:⁠ ⁠Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix⁠,⁠ Revitalizing Supreme+ Moisturizer⁠ Older adults: ⁠Perfectionist Pro Rapid Brightening Treatment Serum⁠, ⁠Resilience Multi-Effect Tri-Peptide Eye Creme⁠   Follow Janice on IG @ ⁠janicebeautybytes⁠    Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by ⁠Estée Lauder⁠ Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ ⁠http://esteelauder.ca⁠   Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Youtube⁠ ⁠Newsletter⁠   Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

If you've been following the podcast for a while, you'll know that I don't cook very often. But I'm trying to change that. So here I am,  standing in Laura Keogh's kitchen (as seen by many viewers of The Morning Show on Global TV, where Laura appears regularly). Like me, Laura pivoted careers in midlife. After working in the beauty and fashion worlds (she was Beauty Director of FASHION), Laura fed her passion for food and nutrition and co-founded Sweet Potato Chronicles, a website dedicated to all things family food. Laura is also the co-author of the best-selling cookbooks The School Year Survival Cookbook and How to Feed a Family.  Today, Laura's sharing a simple recipe filled with essential nutrients for managing menopause symptoms: Kale salad with pine nuts and currants topped with chicken and a zesty pesto dressing.  Get the full recipe for free with step-by-step instructions: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/ghostbureau.com/tuhyakfpsd⁠   Follow Laura on IG @sweetpotatochronicless For more amazing recipes, visit https://sweetpotatochronicles.com/   Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder  Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ http://esteelauder.ca   Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter   Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

What can Taylor Swift teach us about women's health? I recently spoke at the National Women's Show in Toronto about the different eras of women's health—all with the help of some Taylor Swift songs.    Our setlist: "Bad Blood": Menstruation, heavy periods, irregular periods, the pill, etc. "Red": Blood Health, Anemia, Iron Deficiency "Shake It Off": Stress Management, Mental Health, Anxiety "You Need to Calm Down": Managing hormonal imbalances, perimenopause and menopause symptoms "End Game": Long-term health goals, preventive care, longevity strategies So, put on your sparkliest outfit and let's learn about women's health, Medsplaining's version.   Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ esteelauder.ca   Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter   Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

Does worrying about whether you're getting enough sleep keep you up at night? From new moms to perimenopausal women, many of us are obsessed with quality of sleep—and rightfully so!  Sleep forms and maintains the pathways in our brain that let us learn and create new memories, concentrate, and respond quickly, but a chronic lack of sleep increases the risk of disorders, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity. And with busy schedules, hormonal changes, and nighttime anxiety, sometimes proper sleep hygiene seems almost impossible to get. So how can we actually get good sleep? I'm so glad to have sleep expert Alanna McGinn on this episode of the Medsplaining podcast. Alanna is a Certified Sleep Consultant. She's the founder of Good Night Sleep Site, which helps people of all ages improve their quality of sleep.  She is an author, a podcast host, a media expert and a mom of three kids, and she's here to tell us exactly how we can improve our quality of sleep.  Find Alanna McGinn on IG @gnsleepsite Learn more about Good Night Sleep Site Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ esteelauder.ca Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨  

Kyla Fox is a superstar in the world of eating disorder recovery. Like many women, Kyla developed an unhealthy relationship with food in her late teens and soon found herself in the throes of anorexia and over-exercise disorder. Eating disorders, although they may affect the whole body, actually originate in the brain and are classified as mental health disorders—often hidden as issues of control, self-worth, depression and/or anxiety.  After recovering on her own, Kyla decided to dedicate her life to helping others. She became a Master's Level clinical social worker specializing in eating disorders and founded the Kyla Fox Centre. Find Kyla Fox on IG @kylafoxrecovery Learn more about the Kyla Fox Centre  Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder. Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ esteeauder.ca Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

Welcome to Medsplaining! I'm your host, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky. Today I'm joined by a very special guest, Lauren McPhillips.  She's here to tell us about how a check-up at the dermatologist for psoriasis led to the discovery of basal cell carcinoma—a type of non-melanoma skin cancer. Non-melanoma skin cancer is actually one of the most common cancers affecting women in Canada. Today, she's here to tell us about her experience with skin cancer, and how preventative treatment saved her life.  Find Lauren McPhillips on IG @thisrenegadelove Watch Lauren's TEDx Talk: The Power of Personal Storytelling Do you have an interesting medical story you want to share with the Medsplaining movement? Send us your story at medsplaining@gmail.com or reach out to us on Instagram  Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder. Use code DRZ15 for 15% OFF all Estée Lauder products at⁠ esteelauder.ca   Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter   Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨  

I'm Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky. Welcome to Medsplaining!  Did you know that untreated painful periods cost the economy $2 billion every year? To make matters worse, women's health remains one of the most under-researched and overlooked areas in healthcare today — often brushed aside as simply "stress" or "mood swings." Why is it so difficult to have open conversations about menstruation? I'm so thrilled to have Dr. Jen Gunter as this week's podcast guest. She's a board-certified OB-GYN, pain medicine specialist, and a New York Times bestselling author. Her latest book, ⁠Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation⁠, reveals some fascinating details about women's health that I'm excited to share with you on this episode of the Medsplaining podcast.  Let's start the conversation about women's health, now!   Find Dr. Jen Gunter on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠   Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by ⁠Estée Lauder.⁠ Use code DRZ15 for 15% off ALL Estée Lauder products at⁠ esteelauder.ca⁠   Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Newsletter⁠   Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder. Use code DRZ15 for 15% off ALL Estée Lauder products at esteelauder.ca I'm Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, welcome to Medsplaining. Introducing our new segment, "Let Me Medsplain," where I break down common medical questions in a way that makes sense. Today, I'll be Medsplaining why Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is one of the most effective treatments for menopause symptoms, yet it still carries a stigma—both within the medical community and among those experiencing menopause. This is a mini-episode, so let's dive right into today's topic: treating menopause symptoms with HRT. It's time we set the record straight.   In other news... We're GIVING AWAY a $450 Estée Lauder skincare set! What have you done BECAUSE of your age? Share your story for a chance to be featured on a special "Because of my Age" episode of Medsplaining—and entered to win an Estée Lauder skincare set valued at $450 courtesy of Estée Lauder. Email medsplaining@gmail.com with your story. Good luck!   Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨

Season 1 of Medsplaining is brought to you by Estée Lauder. Use promo code DRZ15 for 15% off all Estée Lauder products at esteelauder.ca I'm Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky. Welcome to Medsplaining. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! This important month is dedicated to raising awareness, promoting early detection, and supporting those impacted by breast cancer.  I am deeply humbled by today's guest: Dr. Toni Zhong. She is a true rockstar in the world of women's health. She is the Clinical and Research Director of the University Health Network Breast Reconstruction Program here in Toronto, an Associate Professor in UofT's Department of Surgery and Surgical Oncology, and a passionate advocate for breast health. Today, we will take a deep dive into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer, including the brand-new Ontario breast screening guidelines. Find Dr. Toni Zhong on Instagram @drtonizhong Quick 6: What: Breast health and breast cancer. Who: Breast cancer can affect anyone with breast tissue, including about 300 biological males in 2024, but it overwhelmingly affects women, with 84 women diagnosed every day in Canada. Where: Breast cancer most often develops in the milk ducts or milk-producing glands of the breasts, and 50% of breast cancers are discovered in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, where the tissues are denser. When: Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed when a woman is in her 60s, followed by her 70s and then her 50s. Although still relatively rare, women are being diagnosed increasingly in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Why: Apart from age, the major risk factors for the development of breast cancer are: - Genetic mutations - Having fewer children - Having dense breasts - Family history of breast or ovarian cancer - Previous radiation therapy to the chest - Obesity - High-risk alcohol intake  -Smoking or vaping How: How to get screened for breast cancer in Ontario: As of October 2024, women, including non-binary, trans and two-spirit people between the ages of 40 and 74 can self-refer for a mammogram every 2 years. No doctor's referral is required. Follow Medsplaining on all your favourite platforms! Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram TikTok Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Newsletter Medsplaining is for educational purposes, not medical advice! ✨