Dr. Ashley Chauvin, ND
Episode Summary
Are mammograms safe, does hormone replacement therapy increase breast cancer risk, and what can you actually do to lower your risk of breast cancer?
In this episode of Girls Gone Wellness, naturopathic doctor and former radiation therapist Dr. Ashley Chauvin, ND joins Victoria and Jeanette for an evidence-based discussion about breast cancer screening, mammograms, breast cancer risk factors, BRCA genetic testing, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol, soy, breast density, breast implants, thermography and cancer prevention.
A major focus of the conversation is breast cancer screening and mammogram safety. Dr. Chauvin explains why breast cancer screening recommendations have shifted toward earlier access for women in their 40s and clarifies an important point: in Ontario, one of the major changes is the ability to self-refer for mammography beginning at age 40, rather than needing to wait until age 50. The goal of mammography is to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, before a lump may be felt, which can lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes.
The episode also tackles several common mammogram myths. Does radiation from mammography cause breast cancer? Can compressing the breast during a mammogram cause cancer to spread to the lymph nodes? Dr. Chauvin explains why mammograms remain the current gold-standard screening tool and why the benefits of screening substantially outweigh the risks for eligible patients.
Another major topic is thermography versus mammography. While thermography is often promoted online as a radiation-free alternative to a mammogram, Dr. Chauvin explains why current evidence does not support thermography as a replacement for standard breast cancer screening. If a thermography test shows a suspicious finding, a mammogram or other evidence-based imaging is still generally required.
The conversation also covers dense breasts, breast ultrasound and breast MRI. Dr. Chauvin explains that people with dense breast tissue may need supplemental imaging because dense tissue can make mammograms more difficult to interpret. Ultrasound and MRI can therefore be used in certain higher-risk situations, but they do not simply replace mammography for everyone.
Dr. Chauvin also discusses BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing, family history and breast cancer risk assessment. Rather than recommending BRCA testing for everyone, she explains that genetic testing is usually guided by personal history, family history and formal risk assessment. The episode discusses tools such as the Tyrer-Cuzick breast cancer risk assessment and why breast cancer risk should be reassessed over time as family history changes.
The conversation then moves into hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. Dr. Chauvin explains why older fears surrounding menopausal hormone therapy were likely overstated and why the conversation is more nuanced than “HRT causes breast cancer” or “HRT is completely risk-free.” The decision should be individualized and based on absolute risk, type of hormone therapy, duration of use and the patient's own values.
Other major topics include alcohol and breast cancer risk, smoking, physical activity, body composition, breastfeeding, breast density, age at first menstruation, age at menopause, oral contraceptives, breast implants and soy. Dr. Chauvin also explains why moderate intake of whole soy foods such as tofu, edamame and soy milk does not increase breast cancer risk and may be protective.
For anyone confused by breast cancer information on social media, this episode provides a clear overview of what is known about screening, prevention and risk — and why evidence-based breast cancer care requires nuance rather than fear.
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At what age should women start getting mammograms?
Breast cancer screening recommendations vary by jurisdiction and individual risk. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Chauvin explains that in Ontario, people can self-refer for mammography beginning at age 40, which expands access to screening compared with older recommendations that focused more heavily on age 50.
Why are mammograms starting earlier now?
One reason for earlier access is to detect breast cancer at stage 0, stage 1 or stage 2, before it becomes more advanced. Breast cancers diagnosed in younger people can also sometimes behave more aggressively, making earlier detection particularly important.
Are mammograms safe?
Yes. Dr. Chauvin emphasizes that mammograms remain the best-established screening tool currently available. Although mammography uses a small amount of radiation, the overall benefit of detecting breast cancer early significantly outweighs the radiation risk for people who meet screening criteria.
Can the radiation from a mammogram cause breast cancer?
The radiation exposure from mammography is low. In the episode, Dr. Chauvin explains that the number of lives saved through mammography is far greater than the number of cancers theoretically induced by the radiation exposure.
Can a mammogram cause cancer to spread?
There is no evidence that breast compression during a mammogram causes breast cancer to spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body. This is one of the myths Dr. Chauvin specifically challenges in the episode.
Is thermography a good alternative to a mammogram?
No. Thermography is not currently considered an evidence-based replacement for mammography. Dr. Chauvin explains that thermography can produce false-positive results and does not reliably rule out cancer. Suspicious findings generally still require standard breast imaging.
Is breast ultrasound better than a mammogram?
Not generally. Mammography is usually the first-line screening test, while ultrasound is often used as supplemental imaging, particularly when breast tissue is dense or when a specific area requires further investigation.
When is breast MRI used?
Breast MRI may be used in certain people at higher risk of breast cancer or when mammography and ultrasound do not provide enough information. It is generally not used as routine screening for everyone.
Can women with breast implants still get mammograms?
Yes. People with breast implants should still receive appropriate breast cancer screening. Mammography technicians can use specialized positioning techniques, and ultrasound may sometimes be added if breast tissue is difficult to visualize.
Do breast implants cause breast cancer?
Breast implants are not known to cause typical breast cancer. Dr. Chauvin explains that certain implants have been associated with a rare cancer called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, but this is different from breast cancer.
What is the BRCA gene?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes involved in DNA repair. Certain inherited mutations in these genes can significantly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Should everyone get BRCA testing?
No. BRCA testing is usually recommended based on personal cancer history, family history, age at diagnosis and other risk factors. Dr. Chauvin explains that universal testing is not currently recommended for everyone.
Does family history increase breast cancer risk?
Yes. Having a close relative with breast cancer can increase your risk, particularly when breast cancer occurs at a younger age or when multiple relatives are affected. Family history may also influence whether genetic testing or earlier screening is appropriate.
What is the Tyrer-Cuzick breast cancer risk calculator?
The Tyrer-Cuzick model is a breast cancer risk assessment tool that estimates an individual's risk based on factors such as family history and other personal risk factors. It can help guide decisions about whether additional screening may be appropriate.
Should I do breast self-exams?
Formal recommendations around breast self-exams have changed, but the episode strongly supports breast self-awareness. Knowing what your breasts normally look and feel like may help you notice new or unusual changes that should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Does dense breast tissue increase breast cancer risk?
Yes. Dense breasts are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and can also make mammograms more difficult to interpret. People with dense breasts may sometimes benefit from additional imaging such as ultrasound or MRI.
Does hormone replacement therapy increase breast cancer risk?
The relationship is more nuanced than commonly portrayed. Dr. Chauvin explains that menopausal hormone therapy may slightly increase breast cancer risk depending on the type and duration of treatment, but the absolute increase may be small for many patients. The decision should be individualized through informed consent.
Is hormone replacement therapy unsafe if breast cancer runs in my family?
Not automatically. Family history is one of many factors used to assess risk. Dr. Chauvin emphasizes that hormone therapy decisions should be made individually based on personal risk, family history, symptoms, treatment goals and the type of hormone therapy being considered.
Does birth control increase breast cancer risk?
Hormonal contraceptives may be associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk, but Dr. Chauvin emphasizes that the absolute risk increase is relatively small. Risk should be considered alongside the benefits and the individual's overall health profile.
Does alcohol increase breast cancer risk?
Yes. Alcohol is a known carcinogen and is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Dr. Chauvin discusses alcohol as one of the most important modifiable breast cancer risk factors.
How much alcohol increases breast cancer risk?
Risk tends to increase as alcohol intake increases. In the episode, Dr. Chauvin discusses approximately three drinks per week as an important point to consider, while emphasizing that serving size and total intake matter.
Does exercise reduce breast cancer risk?
Regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer and improved health after a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Chauvin discusses a general goal of approximately 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week plus strength training at least twice weekly.
Does muscle mass matter for breast cancer prevention?
Yes. Dr. Chauvin highlights muscle mass as an important marker of overall metabolic health and discusses resistance training as part of a breast cancer prevention strategy.
What type of diet may help reduce breast cancer risk?
The episode discusses a Mediterranean-style eating pattern as one of the dietary approaches with the strongest evidence for overall cancer prevention. This includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, while minimizing alcohol.
Does soy increase breast cancer risk?
No. Dr. Chauvin explains that whole soy foods do not increase breast cancer risk and may actually be protective. Human studies support moderate intake of foods such as tofu, edamame and soy milk.
Is soy safe after breast cancer?
The episode discusses research across multiple types of breast cancer, including estrogen receptor-positive disease, and explains that moderate amounts of whole soy foods have generally been associated with neutral or beneficial outcomes.
Does aluminum deodorant cause breast cancer?
There is currently no scientific evidence that aluminum-containing deodorant causes breast cancer. Dr. Chauvin identifies this as a common breast cancer myth.
Can men get breast cancer?
Yes. Breast cancer can occur in men, although it is much less common than in women. Because routine screening is not typically performed in men, breast cancer may sometimes be diagnosed at a later stage.
Does family history of breast cancer matter for men?
Yes. A strong family history or a known BRCA mutation can increase breast cancer risk in men as well. Genetic counseling may be appropriate in higher-risk families.
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Girls Gone Wellness & Dr. Ashley Chauvin, ND
This transcript has been edited for clarity and readability while preserving the substance of the conversation.
Victoria Gasparini
Welcome Dr. Ashley we're so excited to chat with you today.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for asking me to join you.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, of course Jeanette and I have been talking about this episode since before we even had an actual legitimate podcast that has been aired. we were taught we literally made our Instagram account and like immediately I mean our goal was to reach out to. That we know are evidence based so as soon as we saw you we were like okay we got to get Dr Ashley on the show. and I think with breast cancer. So many people either have breast cancer themselves or have had or they know someone with breast cancer I think all of us know somebody with breast cancer. And so that's why I think this topic is so incredibly important. There's also so many myths I am just amazed when I'm on Instagram at how many things I see that are just completely wrong and I think when it comes to myths in the wellness space.
Sometimes they're just silly or dumb. But when it comes to something like breast cancer. They can be flat out dangerous and so yeah and so I'm really excited to have you on so that we can kind of go through and debunk those and hopefully make people feel a little bit more empowered. and a little bit better about such a scary topic.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Yeah I love that you say empowered too because my goal with speaking about this is not to scare people. Breast cancer is a scary topic. We hear it we're like I don't want to deal with that if I don't have it or it's triggering to people so I do want to acknowledge that it can be a heavy topic. But I also want to acknowledge There are things that we can do and information The correct information is so important to have.
Jeanette
I'm so excited to get into all of that in the episode but before we get into that can you tell us a little bit about how you got into naturopathic medicine and how your passion for working with patients with breast cancer came from.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Absolutely So when I went to the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine I knew that I wanted to work with patients with cancer and that's because my previous career or life. Was actually radiation Therapy. So the treatment of the treatment of cancer I saw all different kinds of cancer. I think from a young age is based on family history and like. People that I knew that had cancer I've always you know, volunteered in that space. So It wasn't a surprise that I decided to become a radiation therapist and while I was there a lot of patients had questions about like diet nutrition. Myths on the internet. So I was always looking stuff up and the oncologist was like you know you're good at this. But I think there's another job that you might be interested in so it led me to CCNM and then from there I went to a residency.
That focused on patients who had cancer and naturopathic medicine and.
Jeanette
Wow, That's such an interesting story. How did you get into radiation therapy like did you did you always know you wanted to be in that career specifically or did it just come up I'm curious.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
That's a really good question and I don't think I've ever shared this before but we used to have like a take your kid to work day and my dad worked at a school. so it was kind of no point of me going there. And my mom worked very part time but my aunt who didn't have children at the time worked at our local cancer center and I went to work with her and she took me around to all the places and the radiation department was in my opinion. So Fun. We were like making like. Molds of hands. everybody in the department was really happy. It. It was just I really enjoyed it and that always stuck with me So when I decided to work with patients with Cancer. It was just like natural that I was like the radiation therapy department is where I want to be.
Victoria Gasparini
Wow I Love that and I think that it takes a really special person to work in cancer care. Not all of us are equipped for that I know that I'm not and so it's It's always good to know that we have colleagues out there who are passionate about it because obviously patients want to go to people like you.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Well thank you, Thank you.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, of course so I wanted to jump right in. and start with some things that have recently changed I would say recently? so in I believe Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong. But I think it's in Canada the breast cancer screening guidelines have recently changed to I think now the recommendation is forty year olds are getting screened getting mammograms for breast cancer and this has brought up a lot of assumptions and opinions online as to why. That's the case and I'm wondering if you could get into that a little bit.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Absolutely so the first thing that I want to say about like these screening guidelines is that they have changed but maybe not as drastically as we think they have so. When we look at the Canadian guidelines. We also have to think that there's a lot of other organizations that have guidelines including the us including Europe the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has guidelines the obstetricians and gynecologists all have guidelines and no one is really on the same page. Guidelines are actually super tricky. So really the evidence for why we were suggesting screening in Canada starting at the age of 50 was based on recommendations or like studies in 1983 whereas there was plenty of other places around the world that started screening when people were 40 so.
It's kind of the first part it wasn't like Canada just recently like changed I would say we kind of got with the times to be honest with you the second piece of that is it's not like there was a rule that. Oh if you don't get a mammogram until you're 50 It's that you can self-refer when you become 50 so you don't need to go to your family doctor. You can just call like actually Google the basically like local. Place that does mammograms or screenings and go what has changed with the guidelines is now like if you're 40 you can still go to your doctor you always could and say hey I want to start getting screened but now when you're 40 actually starting in October you can self-refer. So it's a self it.
Ah I think the big thing about this is the self-referral piece versus the you can't get it done so that's maybe something that a lot of people don't know and then and then part of the reason why we're doing that is that.
Victoria Gasparini
Okay I had no idea. Yeah.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Because when we're looking at the data of why we're doing mammograms. The goal is that we know that people who get breast cancer at a younger age. It tends to be more aggressive. So We do want to catch people that are younger. We Also see that the reason why survival rates are increasing in breast Cancer. So It's a good thing is that we're catching people at stage one and stage 2 and that's what mammograms do they catch you before you feel the Lump. So. Therefore people need less intervention like potentially less chemotherapy which I also think is a very good thing So That's part of why we're moving the guidelines. So Hopefully you know Overall we're going to even have more survival with breast cancer.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, absolutely I think a lot of people assume and maybe this is correct. that there's actually an increase in breast cancer people are saying is oh is that why we're testing earlier. We're noticing more younger people are being diagnosed. is it that there's an increase or is it that we are catching these cases. Ok right.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
It's a little bit of both so the population is also growing and whenever we're looking at incidents. We say like a number right? Whether that's like 2000000 but now there's more people. So if we're looking at like rates. You know I'm not going to deny that I think we do hear of a lot more younger individuals having cancer now. but it still remains the survival is way up and when we were looking at the people that may have been dismissed who are between like 40 to 50. We weren't too happy about that and again we don't want to be catching people when they're stage 3 and stage 4 We want to be getting stage one and stage 2 or stage 0
Victoria Gasparini
Right? Yeah, absolutely you did mention that it tends to be more aggressive at a younger age. Can you talk a little bit more about that.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Yeah, so you know there's also when it comes to screening like racial disparities too. I want to acknowledge like I'm I'm privileged I live in a place where I literally can walk to where I'd be getting a mammogram. Not everybody's like that. and we do see that certain populations when they do get cancer like for example, triple-negative breast cancer does tend to happen in certain populations under the age of 50 It does tend to be more aggressive when we're looking at people who are very young so I would say like under. 40 that breast cancer can be more advanced or a little more or more aggressive. But we're also not finding it right? So yeah.
Jeanette
Yeah,, that's definitely a conundrum for sure that we have I just want to touch on mammograms quickly. So There's some talk about mammograms being risky to our health. Firstly is that true and then if there's any truth to that. Do you think that the benefits of screening outweigh this.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So mammograms aren't perfect I want to say that right out of the gates they are however the best screening tool that we have right now when a lot of people think about the risk they'll talk about like the actual risk I would say. The biggest thing is if you haven't got one. They don't feel nice like they're pain but we need to really do better with like just screaming in general for people assigned female at Birth like we don't have a good time with any of our screening. Ah so there's that piece of the puzzle too.
Victoria Gasparini
And hang on.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
But in terms of like the risk I Think the big thing that people talk about is the radiation and I really love this topic because it came up so much in my radiation therapy times. also I mentioned my mom worked part time at a dental office people don't want to get dental X-rays.
Victoria Gasparini
Right.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
But when we actually look at the amount of radiation received in one of these procedures versus you know the limit I was supposed to say legal limit but that's not what I mean the limit the acceptable limit that we get it's It's very I think it's. Felt like 7 times less of like the limit that we that we get and then the second piece of the puzzle too is that we get radiation from doing tons of things I don't think we're using photocopiers as much anymore now that a lot of things are paperless but flying gives you radiation right? So if we're like I'm not going to get.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah. If not.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Ah, mammogram but I'm gonna travel 4 times a year we have to think that maybe there's some cognitive dissonance to that. but when it comes to when it comes to doing a mammogram and you're probably talking about like yeah, do the risks outweigh the benefits. Absolutely it does. In fact, you know what we're seeing is about ah 62 to 1 like lives saved versus like cancers induced from the radiation and that's a number that I think is really important.
Jeanette
Hundred percent
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So and.
Victoria Gasparini
Absolutely I love that you had that stat ready to go but that is incredible. What a way to debunk that it's funny because Jeanette I Instagram page for the podcast is. Because of the Instagram algorithm and because we're looking up myths and misconceptions are explore pages like the wild west of misinformation and we have seen some posts recently because we've been looking up stuff on mammograms and breast cancer. and one of them I just have to mention it because. It's absolutely insane, but it makes me wonder if people who are listening maybe have thought this and I just want to put it out there right now. there was a post about how when a mammogram actually presses down on the breast. It spreads the cancer that is potentially in the breast.
Towards the lymph nodes and there was so many comments on this post saying this is why I avoid mammograms and this is why I you know see my holistic doctor and I was like oh my gosh like this is not ok.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
It's not. It's not okay and you know it's very and you and I have different explore pages and sometimes for me that's actually unfortunate because it's important for me to know sometimes I get in my like evidence-based bubble will call it and then someone will say something like that and I. Probably look shocked because I am but I have to acknowledge somebody said it somebody believed it and like any rumor you know it's easy to put out but not as easy to reel in. It's also really hard because in.
Victoria Gasparini
I'm not. Yes, yes.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
In practice and you guys will see this too. The Burden actually falls on you to debunk something and you're like it's really hard to debunk something that there's no evidence to support that it does that. So yeah I think. Theory and this is something with cancer and with everything theory doesn't always translate to real life. So I can see in my mind. Maybe where that person is going But. No, there's no known evidence to support that this the fact remains you know mammograms are very helpful in detecting cancer.
Victoria Gasparini
Great. Okay I'm glad we cleared that up.
Jeanette
I'm glad you clarified that I know Vic and I will talk about this all the time and we actually talked about this with Dr Vanyer about the whole myth that low stomach acid is what's causing GERD and all these issues and people will take that it almost becomes like. Common knowledge I would say but there's no evidence to support that she mentioned there was not 1 single paper that says that low stomach acid causes GERD. But for some reason it just becomes something that people just take and run with it especially in our profession I find so it's just it's so interesting. How things like that can just become. So pervasive I find.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
What and I'll even say that happens with wellness practitioners themselves like the person who might have been saying that on your explore page. Could you know be dressed in a lab coat or I seem like they have some kind of knowledge. To say that and there're you know unfortunately are yeah I would even say some doctors I don't know what they're doctors of but we'll say the same thing does it make it true. Unfortunately.
Victoria Gasparini
Right.
Jeanette
Yeah, it can get very scary on Instagram and our explore page is getting pretty scary. We have to get on the other side of the algorithm somehow. okay so next question we have and this is a really good question I think for you to clarify. So.
Victoria Gasparini
So terrifying.
Jeanette
Again, We've seen some things online about alternatives to mammograms such as thermography. So is this an alternative and is there really alternatives to mammograms.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
His move is. This is a very good question so depending on your listeners if they don't know a mammogram is like an x-ray picture of each breast at a couple of different angles and the. The idea is that you're it's supposed to detect abnormal changes when they may be too small for the patient to feel them. whereas and then there's other when you're saying it's funny because when you mention alternatives thermography my alternative went to. Things like ultrasounds like and MRI like the evidence based things right? But if we're talking about thermography and one of the benefits that I think comes up with thermography is that it doesn't essentially like squish the breast. So from a pain perspective. It's you know that doesn't happen.
and then there's no radiation exposure the thing about thermography is that because it detects like the hot and cold. There is a lot of. False positives. It also does not rule out cancer the other piece to thermography is it doesn't make a difference if you know something I guess you could say Abnormal is found if something abnormal is found the thermographer. I'm not eat or tech or the person who's reading it will say go get a mammogram so you just paid $300 to be told to get a mammogram when we're looking at when we're looking At. Do we introduce a new test like is this test. Good enough to replace the current gold standard. We have to ask ourselves is it more accurate is it more accessible does it make a difference in prognosis if it's flagged and unfortunately it doesn't and it's actually not very accessible, especially because it's not covered in.
Where I live in Ontario so there's a ton of people who can't do it. It. It is more expensive that way. but bar the cost of the whole thing. It just It's not going to make that difference and we do want and I will say that the medical profession. The medical profession has actually looked at thermography quite a bit There's quite a bit of papers trying to be like how can we make this work part of the trouble is the people reading it right? like that's not perfect either. so right now we don't have sufficient evidence. Either to support it a screening to support as an adjunctive tool. we don't have the same evidence for suspicious findings. Although if we do this podcast in maybe a few years they are looking at AI using AI to read the thermography to hopefully get better.
But.
Victoria Gasparini
Wow And okay.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
And our moment in time in May Twenty four no I cannot say that it's an alternative but ah the thing about cancer medicine and I think all medicine in general is that like I'm hoping we have better answers for the public in the future. Yeah.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, of course of course and that would be amazing if thermography one day was accurate and we didn't have to do these mammograms because I'm sure on some level people avoid getting their mammograms done just because of the fear of it. and the pain right.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Moon We actually see so I know in studies a lot of times when we talk about people not going for mammograms We think like accessibility they can't take time off work. They're not close to a mammogram site. But as someone who works in a location where. Mammograms are available. accessibility is not the issue I'm still having a lot of conversations and sometimes even gracefully begging people to get their screening mammograms and they'll be like I'm not quite 50 or can I do it every other year or I haven't got the letter in the mail. So yeah, it's it's not. 1 of those pleasant things and I'm sure even with people who may not be 40 yet or aren't thinking about mammograms I also ask about like pas and in cervical cancer screening and that's not pleasant either and I think a lot of people probably aren't going as often as.
Victoria Gasparini
Yes.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Maybe the guidelines recommend. Definitely.
Victoria Gasparini
Totally You also mentioned briefly ultrasound and MRI So now I'm curious are those considered alternatives like where do when do we get an ultrasound versus a mammogram. Okay.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So generally, we're doing a mammogram first and then depending on what we see or what we don't see we would offer an ultrasound so one of the there. There are limitations to mammograms again. It's not perfect. and one of. Limitations is that if people have dense breasts and we might talk about later about like risk factors modifiable and things you can't things you can control things. You can't control. But when we're looking at people who have very dense breasts sometimes a mammogram is not good enough. So we need to employ other things and ultrasound can be 1 of them. Those can be used supplemental three d mammograms so you know more pictures essentially MRI but we do the mammogram first. And then depending on what we see on the mammogram and someone's family history.
We would decide to do more. Okay.
Victoria Gasparini
Ok, ok, that makes sense I did not know the answer to that. So that's that's helpful for both of us I'm sure I am curious as you're you're talking about mammograms for somebody who has breast implants is there any concern with a mammogram and like.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
<unk> pronoun So something support implants is that be concerned with the Miracle communication lead you to impair cancer and screening I Love this question. This is a question I actually get quite often. So and this has been studied.
Victoria Gasparini
The ability to detect cancer on screening.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
We can still do mammograms on someone with breast implants. the best thing to do is to tell your tech that you have an implant although I think they'd figure it out pretty quickly. So the person who's doing the mammogram can you know do some different techniques. Sometimes people who do have breast implants will also be offered an ultrasound. In addition, if they feel like they can't see all of the tissue because breast implants depending on the size depending on the type can also be different but people with breast implants should still definitely go get mammograms. There are special things that we can do but yeah, that's a very good question. They're still definitely eligible for mammograms. Okay.
Jeanette
That's good to clear up because I'm sure a lot of people have been thinking about that as Well. so I know there's a lot of talk about the BRCA I don't know if I'm saying it correctly B R C a gene and breast Cancer. So. For you Personally do you think testing for this gene is beneficial if you have that family history.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
This is a good question I think you're saying it perfectly I say Raca as well. Ah BRCA the popular one. But as time goes on and we learn more. There's actually other genes that we're also looking for. Which is which is very interesting right? and the presence or absence of these genes like some of these genes are helpful. Some of the genes are not so helpful. they can also tell us about our risk should everybody get tested for BRCA. No there. That's We're not. We don't have evidence to support that it's saving more lives that it's catching more people when it comes to family history though. Depending on you know what? your family history shows then it would be a good idea I would have. Said before that generally if somebody is diagnosed with a breast cancer or an ovarian cancer at a younger age than expected the patient is tested so generally how a lot of people are getting tested for BRCA is that they already have cancer.
They get a positive test. And then they're telling family members hey I have this gene those family members go to the family doctor we're looking more for. But if for example, you, you know it was just a parent that had breast cancer and you're like I'm not sure. You would have a conversation with your doctor and you maybe you may be eligible were're looking more at first degree relatives than oh I had an ant like if you said oh I had an ant that had breast cancer. They probably wouldn't test you. But with testing for with genetic testing I Always say this is ongoing right because at the at our the time that we're at right now. Maybe we don't have any relatives but maybe in the next couple years we have a cousin We have an Aunt.
We have other people so always having that conversation with your doctor is important. And then although we're not necessarily Giving. We're recommending people to have mammograms sooner than forty who aren't at high risk by the time you're 25 or 30 you can sit down with your family doctor and actually do a breast cancer risk assessment and this is just talking. These tools are available on the internet. ah one I always say IBIS but I think the actual terminology is the Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment tool and you go through it. It's detailed and it's looking at your risk. Compared to the general population and if you have a higher risk then your doctor might choose to do other testing. Maybe the best way your audience can know this is Olivia Munn who was diagnosed with breast cancer recently and her doctor went through.
To my knowledge I'm not an expert on celebrities. But from what I've heard kind of went through this breast cancer risk assessment and said you're at a higher risk. Maybe we need to do this further testing and that's how her cancer was detected so that's something to consider as well. Don't just like jump into the BRCA testing.
Victoria Gasparini
So yeah.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
This tool may help you.
Jeanette
That's a great tool and we'll definitely link it in the show notes. So Everyone can have access to that. I just wanted to ask just curiously. So you mentioned if someone is BRCA positive that possibly more testing and screening would be recommended for them. But if they are positive for this gene like further treatments if they do become positive for breast cancer would that would they need more like aggressive treatments or does that change treatment at all.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
That's a really great question. So if someone if someone with breast cancer. Even ovarian cancer is noted to have the BRCA gene there are certain medications that we do recommend in addition. For that if someone does have the BRCA gene and they don't have a breast or ovarian cancer and more than likely they will be counseled to consider you know other interventions such as surgeries or things like that. However, if someone is found to have the BRCA gene and they haven't had they haven't been a birthing person yet so they haven't had a child and they want to start a family the evidence shows that you absolutely have a family do your thing. And then you can consider doing that so it's not like if you found out today that you were BRCA positive.
We'd be like oh shutter down right? So you can still go on to do all of those things and then make those decisions. But yes, if you are BRCA positive. And have a known cancer. There's other medications that we can give as well.
Victoria Gasparini
Okay, that's good to know what about self screening we touched on this just very briefly at school and I think what their conclusion was that sometimes self Screening. It leads to fear when a woman is feeling their breast tissue and they feel something but maybe it's just muscle or it's I don't know C assist or whatever and they have this big fear of course. but then it left me Wondering. So Do we tell woman to not do self-screening So I'm wondering what you're.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
This is gone back and forth I was going to CCNM at the time that there were like no more clinical breast exams and then even my doctor who knew I went to naturopathic schools like are you guys doing them like what's going on here. So this isn't.
Victoria Gasparini
Ah, perspective is on that.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
This is another place where the guidelines don't match up. So again, we have our Canadian guidelines our U.S. guidelines our European guidelines and then we have like the cancer Network guidelines and the Obstetrician and kind of colleges guidelines and I would say they're more like myself. Maybe just because of what we're seeing. We're like a take conservative approach So the Canadian guidelines suggest not doing the clinical breast exams because they have no impact on survival. So no impact on mortality. However, this is where the waters get murky. Is that we also promote breast self-awareness so we don't use the term breast self exam. We'll say get to know your breasts get to know changes look in the mirror palpate which is essentially a breast exam.
So I guess we use the word breast awareness instead of breast self exam.
Victoria Gasparini
Things.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
And I would say too that this is where I would push back against the guidelines and I do encourage patients to have breast Self-awareness I think you won't find anybody who works in the cancer space or I would even say women's health space to say like no, don't. Don't get to know your body. Don't get to know changes because people can still get diagnosed with breast cancer. between mammograms so people should still know what's going on and if you if you feel something say something. Yes, it may be nothing but it's better. It's better to know.
Victoria Gasparini
Absolutely I think that's a great point that it's so good to be aware of our own bodies and when we do you know semiconsistent but selfret exams then we might be able to detect like Hm This feels very different from something that I've felt before. and I can see how maybe that causes more panic and people like I do understand that. But it's weird to me to tell people like no don't get to know your own body.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Right? and I can understand not wanting people to panic. But also as a provider I would never want to miss somebody I would never want to dismiss somebody. So. I Think that's where we I think they did a little Pr move with like okay ah yes, okay, we'll say breast self-awareness That's now because we don't totally want to put our put our statement in reverse. But it's essentially thing. Yeah.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the same thing. Ok Good to know? so I want to shift the conversation a little bit to a topic that is. Very popular right Now. especially because there was a new I'm going to use the word groundbreaking because that's the word they used in the headline of the paper that I'm referring to a new ground but breaking research. so I don't know if it was a study or follow if it was a follow up From. Ah, study that was done a long time Ago. Basically concluding that maybe our fears of hormone replacement therapy and its impact on breast cancer were overblown and so I wanted to cover that because.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Is not.
Victoria Gasparini
I Still hear it all the time where people say oh like I can't take hormone replacement therapy because I have family history of breast cancer or whatever it might be and I want to know how you approach that conversation with patients.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So First of all I want to say that I am a Menopause Society certified Practitioner I'm also a prescriber. There's people in my office. that do get systemic hormone therapy or vaginal hormone therapy. so. Putting that out there as ah as a conflict of interest or as a disclosure. It's always ah, an individual evidence-based informed consent discussion and I think what's tricky about the media or even social media. Journalism It doesn't allow for nuances. Right? We have these like big fun headlines or like thirty second reels I don't know how long reels are I don't make them but like these it doesn't allow us actually get into the nitty-gritty and what's tricky about the hormone therapy conversation is you have like.
Always think of it as like two fighters and you have one who's like absolutely like heck yes, everybody should have hormones and if you're not having hormones you're missing out on life and then you have the other side that's like heck never don't do that. You're gonna die and both are kind of wrong. Right? Like there's no gray area and in medicine that's where we have to live we have to live in the gray area. What we do see what we've noticed about that study is that it's not as in terms of the risk of. Breast cancer with hormone therapy. It was. You're right? It was overblown so we are seeing that yes does it increase the risk it does but marginally if we're using a non-synthetic form of progesterone.
Not even estrogen the type of estrogen doesn't actually matter for the first five years your risk and the person who's just like you and never took hormone therapy appears to be the same after 5 years The risk of the person taking hormone therapy. Goes up slightly and we're looking at 1 in one thousand over five years now to me that doesn't seem like a big number. However, the person who's sitting across from me who's making the decision about hormone therapy. It's up to them to decide if that's a big number if it's not a big number. And I would say sitting on the opposite side where people come to me and maybe have been diagnosed with a previous cancer. Everybody's looking for the root cause like why did this happen.
How can it not happen Again. So I think that discussion about like. Yes, or no is not really fair to those people because someone who sees someone can look at those numbers I think people are very smart. They can make that informed decision. But if we're saying like just yes or no, we're We're really not playing to people's Intelligence. So.
Victoria Gasparini
Absolutely I love that you said that there's a gray area of medicine because Jeanette and I have been trying to highlight that through this podcast that there's no such thing as black and white when it comes to this stuff and it's just important that people realize that so it sounds like the conversation around hormone replacement therapy is. About informed consent really about telling your patient. This is the risk and even though it might seem low to one person. It might seem too high for another and that's okay, too.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Absolutely and we also have to put it in context. So that's what I like to do I think that's part of my job or your practitioner's job because sometimes 1 in 1000 actually means nothing to people but I would say compared to drinking alcohol never working out. You know a higher BMI taking birth control. These are this is kind of how we can compare it and we look at all of those things that most of us might do or not do on a daily basis and don't think anything of it but say oh my God Hormone therapy like. Gonna kill me when really that's not exactly the case but you know to that person who might be 1 in 1000 or the person who's listening to the podcast that may feel like hormone therapy or birth control has contributed to their cancer I also want to be.
non-dismissive and conscientious of that as well.
Jeanette
Absolutely, those are all amazing. Points. So we know that breast cancer is far more common in women, but still a small percentage of men do receive a diagnosis of breast cancer. So Vic and I were actually talking about this a little bit before because we don't know. So are men able to request a mammogram or how do men receive screening. Do they receive screening at all. and then a second question after does family history of breast cancer affect males.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
These are all great questions. I already like I forgot 2 of them but we'll just go through and you can tell you've can ask me again. So this is when breast cancer has been studied so much. There's still we don't know there's so a lot we don't know but a lot we do. However. When it comes to breast cancer in individuals assigned male at birth. We really don't know as much as I wish we did because it accounts for about 1 So at that point it's rare. It's not being. It's not being studied as much. We do unfortunately know that because people aren't being screened that when they are diagnosed. It does tend to be more aggressive. It does tend to be found at a later stage I wouldn't necessarily suggest the average male.
Go out and get screening. We. We don't really see males getting mammograms. However, this would be 1 of the cases that if a relative was found to have a BRCA gene that or if someone was diagnosed with. Breast cancer and they were assigned male at birth they would most likely be genetically tested for this. So yeah, it's not something that we often talk about I haven't seen any men with breast cancer or my naturopathic practice as a. During radiation therapy school. There were 2 and I remember the tech that I was learning from was like oh this is I've been here for 15 years and you just happen to see the same 2 as me so it is very rare clinically.
Victoria Gasparini
Okay, okay I was wondering how I knew it was rare but I didn't know it was that rare I do still feel bad for that 1% because it's like where do you get your information as that male like everything if you search breast Cancer. You're pretty much only going to see. Things about people who are assigned to female at birth.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
And the one the one man that I'm thinking of in particular I was talking to him and he said 1 of the hardest things was that you know in terms of support and it was he said I feel really awkward because I. Feel like when I go to like a breast cancer support group. it's it's not really like my peers you know, even though we're going through a lot of the same things. and yeah I do really I do really feel bad for that particular. For that particular population because I would consider. It's not a rare cancer but I would still consider a rare in the sense that there's not a lot of research. There's not the same amount of support. So yeah.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, I'm glad we talked about it a little bit. We might be the only people talking about it. So that's good start the conversation. you did mention some things like alcohol. For example, you brought up birth control I would love to know? what are some things that we.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Yes, absolutely you.
Victoria Gasparini
No increase your risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So I always think of like the things that we can't control and then the things that we can control so in terms of the things that we can't control the biggest one is if we're assigned female at birth as we just mentioned we know that individuals assigned female at Birth have higher. Risk of breast cancer. We also see age. Although we've talked about you know we really want to catch cancer in younger individuals. The fact still remains that the bulk of breast cancer is diagnosed in older individuals. a personal. History of another cancer where you received radiation to the chest. So the main ones like Hodgkin lymphoma as a younger person they would be at an increased risk of breast cancer if you have a family history of breast cancer.
So your genetics. If you got your period early if you had late menopause depending on the age of your first pregnancy. and if you breastfed or not those are all I would say like things that you can't control ah and then. And the other thing is breast density and I don't think we talk about breast density as much lately. This is my algorithm There's been a lot more advocacy groups and I think they're also responsible for shifting the age at which Mammograms you can self-refer I really believe that it's like patient groups and lobby groups that are really shifting the conversation but Dense Breasts Canada is an association organization and they do a lot of education on breast density and the impact that it's a.
It's a risk factor that you can't you can't change. You. You didn't start and its impact on breast cancer.
Victoria Gasparini
Wow. Okay, okay, that's good to know so these are all things that are non-modifiable things that we don't have a say in.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Absolutely and speak to the breast density just for one second. The reason why it changes our risk is because mammogram what I think I might have mentioned earlier that if you have dense breast tissue mammograms don't always pick it. Pick it up so that is why these groups have lobbied and said Okay, if people have dense breasts they need to be notified. let's lobby for ultrasounds and things like that. So that's how it's how it that's how it affects breast cancer risk.
Victoria Gasparini
Interesting. No, no go ahead. Please.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Now the thing we can do oh sorry I cut you off now the things that we can. I would say control would be. You know our alcohol intake smoking. our physical activity not doing enough of it is Is a modifiable risk factor and then our body composition. body composition is a tricky one because we do see that individuals who have a higher BMI post menopause do have a higher risk of breast cancer. But I like to use the word body composition because we know that individuals despite what size body they live in muscle mass is just very protective in general. So even if you have I don't like to use BMI because people with you know, an elevated BMI might have you know fantastic muscle mass. Ah, but we do know that is a that's a contributing factor as well.
Victoria Gasparini
Right? What about? So okay, we touched a little bit on ethnicity. earlier you mentioned breastfeeding and now I'm like wait does breastfeeding itself decrease or increase your risk.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So I am not an expert in the field of perinatal. Although I can give you some names of some great people to have on the podcast but from a perspective Yes, breastfeeding is protective for breast.
Victoria Gasparini
Are. Okay, oh okay.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
But I put it in nonmodifiable. I haven't had any children and I know that not everybody can breast feed. So I don't consider that a modifiable risk factor. The internet might feel differently. But yes, breastfeeding can be protective I'm.
Victoria Gasparini
Okay, good to know.
Jeanette
So I'm curious with your patients that are looking to reduce the risk of breast cancer I Know there's no black and white recommendations of course but is there like an overall specific diet that you're recommending like Lifestyle practices. Specific types of exercise I would love for you to touch on that.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Does so prevention. Prevention medicine can be tricky because when we're looking at what the evidence says it's a lot of observational studies which essentially means we take a bunch of people. We survey them? I believe they tell the truth as much as they can remember and then we put that in a paper right? So there are some limit There are some limitations because we just can't give like 50% of people exercise and then 50% of people Netflix and then look at them in 50 years and decide who gets cancer. That's not ethical. So. Ah, we kind of have to go back in time for that the what? What we do know that the research says I go by when it looks at prevention is for people who have already had cancer and I just you know take that evidence for prevention in general.
So when it comes to exercise. We're looking at 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise. This is not just walking. It's a little bit more than that 2 times a week of strength training. So. Major muscle groups. So that's what we're looking at for exercise muscle mass is very important I can't stress that enough when we're looking at Nutrition. So these anti-cancer. The anti-cancer diets that are out there. Ah, don't have as much evidence as we would like again, they're survey based so we have to take them with some with some evidence but also a grain of salt. It seems like the mediterranean style diet minus the alcohol. Has the most amount of evidence because it includes a lot of fruits and vegetables.
You know, lean proteins legumes. It's very balanced and it seems to be it seems to be the best From an evidence perspective for like an anti-cancer diet all around I think that makes something amendment.
Victoria Gasparini
Hm okay, that makes sense and I like the Mediterranean diet because it's not restrictive. So especially when it comes to prevention of something if you tell a patient who is not currently sick in this moment to follow some crazy diet to help prevent cancer. They're never going to do it. Where if you tell them to eat a Mediterranean diet which is delicious and honestly arguably the best way to eat just from a taste perspective in my opinion. I think that's much more attainable for people. So I love that.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
I Think that kind much moreable to people. So yeah and although I use the word Mediterranean Diet It can be applied to other cultures right? because it is more about balance and what we are having we are emphasizing fruits vegetables lean meat. Even though I do love Mediterranean food you can apply those principles to other ethnicities so it can be very inclusive as well work with have the risk and might people but to talk about but family up it.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah I love that 1 more nutrition question that I absolutely have to ask and it is my favorite topic to talk about I'm in the thyroid space and so this one comes up a lot but it comes up in breast cancer too. So I need to know about soy and its connection with breast cancer. Is it. Increasing your risk of breast cancer is it helping or is it just neutral.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Increasing cancer and let's dive into soy so from a thyroid perspective you take over on that. But I'll just say what I know about soy I feel so bad for soy so I has had like a rough ago. When I when I graduated from radiation therapy school I will be the first to admit, we were telling people like oh stay away from soy. We don't know about this and how it came about because I think one of the best ways we can dispel myths is maybe trying to figure out. Where they came from is that soy was found in Petri dishes and rats way back in the before 2000 to possibly like enhance the breast cancer cells in vitro we say. However, we're going to tell you something about in vitro for everybody listening you can pretty much make anything occur in a test tube because there's not a lot of complexity going on so we followed people who it consumed soy.
and we actually found from. Human studies that soy was protective and we were so nervous that we decided to study soy in people who had cancer people who didn't have cancer people who were pre-menopausal people who were post-menopausal people who were estrogen had estrogen positive cancer. People who had estrogen negative cancer pretty much every permutation of breast cancer that we could find we're like let's look at who's having soy and what's happening and in human trials soy was only found to be positive a couple caveats about that. The soy that they were looking at was a moderate amount so they said 1 to 2 servings a day and they said whole food soy which in the studies meant soy milk at edamame and tofu.
So not like vegan hot dogs or those kinds of soy. But. What we found is that soy is great. Soy is protective soy is great for fiber if you're having edamame. It's a vegetable.. It's high protein. It's helpful for your bones. just we love soy I Feel bad for I'm a millennial so I'll say this I feel like. The millennials have had to like redo so much First. It was like no more skinny jeans like you now we can't wear those like locks anymore. It's like soy was bad now we have to have soy hormone therapy. What do we do? So. Yeah, if you're a millennial you've. It's just another thing you know you need to change your mind about essentially soy is great. Let's all have soy.
Victoria Gasparini
I love it I feel so bad for soy I'm glad you cleared that up I Love soy and I used to be in the camp of I used to not eat soy myself because I thought it was like single handedly destroying my Thyroid health.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
And then I realize realized that was very untrue and then got get back in my diet like incredible changes to my eyes just to turns of my like here we get I money many my protein intake.
Victoria Gasparini
And then I realized that was very untrue. and since adding it back in my diet like incredible changes to my health just in terms of my like my period health my getting my protein intake and eating more so it's It's not such a disordered eating pattern that I was.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Like that's like such a disordered eating kind that I was having before that right? and so Im very pro was so now. Yeah I always tell people that if you're nervous about soy like the gateway is edamame because you know it's I guess the most whole foods that you can possibly.
Victoria Gasparini
Having before that right? and so I'm very pro. So I know.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Like have when it comes to soy. It tastes really good. It's cheap. but yeah, it's There's so much protein so much fiber if it's and yeah I love so I can't say enough good things like.
Jeanette
Nothing beats some edamame with like sea salt from soy sauce on top. It's so good. Perfect so a hundred percent now I'm craving sushi. So at girls gone wellness. Our whole show is about wellness myth debunking so we would love to do a round of rapid fire myth debunking with you today so you can either say. Okay so you can either say truth. Myth or it depends and we've had some trouble in the past with most of them being it depends but we get it. It's not black and white. So we'll still we'll still try. some of these we touched on some of these we touched on today but we really want to drive some of these points home. So.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Okay, so.
Jeanette
We'll get right into it the first one and I actually was having a conversation with one of my family members and they thought this was a thing so I wanted to bring this up. aluminum deodorants increase risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
False wait Actually I'm supposed to say myth Sorry myth and I've I've looked into this I've looked into this quite a bit. yet, No, no scientific evidence.
Jeanette
That works too. Okay, that's great. Okay, alcohol increases risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
True. Yes.
Jeanette
I'm just curious and the research there is there like a certain amount that like a certain amount of drinks per week that increases the risk or is it any intake I'm just curious there.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Yeah, it's it's the summer so we might as well. All be honest and have a conversation of this. So yeah, it's unfortunate that alcohol is a carcinogen because you know it. It involves like a lot of the social things that we do. We see that like alcohol can be responsible for like 4 to like 16 % like when we're talking about that so it is kind of it is quite serious. I believe where we're we see that when it comes to alcohol. We're looking at about. 3 drinks a week seems to be the tipping point like everything the dose makes the poison. So the more drinks like if you're having a drink a day that's definitely you know, worse in terms of like the modifiable risk factor scale. Ah, so I'm saying about 3 drinks or less a week.
but something about drinks I always joke around like who's pouring the drink. So if my grandfather is pouring you a glass of wine that's like 3 servings right there but.
Victoria Gasparini
This is.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
If you're grabbing like a high noon vodka cooler. You know like that's 1 serving. So that's something to note about your serving so of alcohol as well. It's like the measured serving will say not the serving your social circle might. Might choose.
Jeanette
Great points. Okay, next one here mammograms can cause cancer to spread Great birth control pills can increase risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
False. No. I would say it depends very marginally. when we're looking at like complete like responsible including hormone therapy like less than 3% of breast cancers. So.
Jeanette
Okay, that's good to know and then lastly here breast implants cause breast cancer.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
False breast implants have been linked to another type of very rare cancer. anaplastic large cell lymphoma I believe it's called. It's very uncommon and again a very uncommon thing that happens. but breast cancer. Absolutely not or so I should say absolutely not but to our knowledge at this time. No.
Victoria Gasparini
Ok, ok, that's good to clear up. These are all things that we've heard on social media. So I'm glad that we got to do that. We're usually pretty bad at rapid fire but that wasn't so bad I'm proud of us today.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Ah I hard for me to do anything rapid fire.
Victoria Gasparini
I Love it I did want to mention that I have noticed as someone who I've stopped drinking recently and I've noticed that when you go out especially downtown. They will have entire sections on their menus from mocktail. Which is super exciting and I think it's a great idea for restaurants because now they can charge more money as opposed to just charging you for a lemonade but I think it's great for people who want to try going. You know like sober curious for a little bit. but they don't want to feel left out right? They still want to go to a patio and have fun with friends and so I think. For me that's been a game changer and honestly it tastes the exact same. So. It's kind of cool I thought I would mention that just in case, anybody's interested.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Yeah, there's a lot of great mocktails and even if you're out with your friends like in just in your backyard. there are really some great like that come in cans like the same as the cooler like mocktail drinks as well that they do. Really well I'll be honest I haven't really found like a wine like a non-alcoholic wine that I like that to me I haven't found that tastes the same I'm a kombucha girl. So I really like Kombucha I really like matcha there's tons of just like other canned like fizzy drinks that. Are pretty great for when you're at home. But yeah I do love the I do love exploring like the mocktail menu is as well at.
Victoria Gasparini
Yeah, it's fun I'm going to send you after this a link to a wine that I just want you to try. It's an non-alcoholic wine If you're like a wine person though like I don't know because I'm not that great with wines. But I think it tastes pretty similar.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Okay I am I'm open to trying it and if I don't like it now I'm concerned I'm after all of this conversation and I like am I A why? not? no, why am I haven't I've also like since I've been you know in this space and like. Going over the research more especially after the study came out last year really looking at alcohol consumption. It was like time to take a look at what I was doing so I was you know practicing. Also what I was suggesting to patients. So yes, there hasn't been. I would say like really any wine in my life in the last little bit but lots of mocktails.
Victoria Gasparini
Wow Yes I Love it. Okay so at the end of every episode we like to ask our guests I know we've been mythbusting this entire episode. But if you could pick one myth within your health space within your practice that you want to debunk once and for All. What would it be.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
It would be the mammogram myth I will like die on the Hill of mammograms are safe. Please get your mammograms. They are absolutely worth it and I would also extend that to all of the screening. Please do not miss your screening. Yeah.
Jeanette
Hundred percent so thank you? So much for coming on the podcast today. Dr Ashley we learned so much from you today and we are so grateful to spend some time with you. where can our listeners learn more about you where can they find you all of that information.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
So I practice in Burlington, Ontario both virtually and in person. the clinic that I'm at is called Clarity Health so you can we're we're easily. We're easily Google you can link it. And you can find me on Instagram I hang out quite a bit on Instagram as you 2 know, and my handle is Ashley Shovan underscore and d so find me there.
Victoria Gasparini
Great. We'll put all of that in the show notes too. So that people can find that very easily and yeah, this was amazing. Thank you so much.
Dr. Ashley Chauvin
Thank you for having me This was so fun I look forward to going out for some sushi and mocktails with the both of you.
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Dr. Ashley Chauvin is a naturopathic doctor with a mission to support patients to feel more like themselves while experiencing hormone changes such as menopause. She found her calling in Naturopathic Medicine while working with cancer survivors as a Radiation Therapy intern.
Patients who have experienced cancer often struggle with hormonal concerns. Dr. Chauvin’s work with breast cancer survivors lead her to pursue training in women’s health and hormonal support. As a menopause society certified practitioner (MSCP), she is thrilled to be able to support patients on their journey to menopause with prevention strategies and a focus on overall wellness. Ashley supports patients experiencing natural and medically-induced menopause by addressing symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, sleep, brain fog and hot flashes.She supports patients during cancer diagnosis and survivorship by reducing side effects from cancer therapy and helping patients embrace a vibrant life post cancer treatment. She has well over a decade of experience working with this patient population.
She has been a speaker discussing menopause, breast cancer survivorship, and hormone therapy. She has given lectures at Mcmaster University about nutrition and cancer and has been a teaching assistant at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine for the integrative oncology course.
Dr. Chauvin’s works at Clarity Health in Oakville, Ontario. She is accepting new patients for both in person and virtual consultations. When she is not in the office, she is spending time outdoors with her dogs, Faye and Henry.