BCNE Quarterly News

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR TEAM AT BCNE

Welcome back to our quarterly newsletter! Our goal with the newsletter is to keep you up to date on advancements in the fields of breast and bone health; highlight other local business professionals that may be helpful to you; share news from us, your team at Breast Center of New England; post healthy recipes; tell powerful stories about women in our community; and put our amazing staff members in the spotlight. We hope you find this to be another valuable resource from BCNE.

These are the dark days of winter. Have you stopped shivering? We haven’t. But….good news: With each passing day in February, we will gain two minutes of sunlight. See our write-up on Seasonal Affective Disorder in this issue of the newsletter to learn why we need that light - and how to stay healthy until it gets here.

Do you want to learn more about how dense breast tissue affects cancer rates? Read on. Are you interested in a recipe for chicken crust pizza? (Yes, you read that correctly.) We have that here, too, courtesy of local food delivery company, Thrive Meals.

In this issue, we are also highlighting a local physical therapist who works with patients on breast cancer recovery. You’re going to want to get to know Natalie Tilton. And have you met our sonographer, Amy? You probably have. But do you know she volunteers with her therapy dog on Fridays? All of this and more can be found in this newsletter.

Stay warm out there and please let us know if you need anything. We’ll be here, shivering and, yes, waiting for the light.

Sincerely,

Dr. Eva Lizer and your team at Breast Center of New England — Cheri, Michelle, Tracy, Amy, Meghan, Katie, Robin and Aggie

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Are You Dense?
Professional Spotlight: Dr. Natalie Tilton, Ability Allies
Chicken Crust Pizza: Naomi Andrick, Owner Thrive Meals
Battling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Meet Our Staff: Amy Perron

Are You Dense?

According to the American Cancer Society, about 40% of women in the US have dense breast tissue. Women with dense breast tissue have 15%-20% higher rates of breast cancer. Visit our blog link below to learn more.

LEARN MORE HERE

PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Natalie Tilton Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Owner, Ability Allies

Natalie Tilton has carved out a niche focused on an underserved - and often unrecognized - group of patients: women recovering from breast cancer surgery.

“Too many women are told that losing most of their strength, mobility, or confidence after breast cancer is normal,“ she says. “At Ability Allies, we’ve helped countless survivors restore movement, rebuild trust in their bodies, and reclaim their lives. We understand that healing doesn’t end beyond treatment.” Dr. Natalie and her staff are spreading the word that physical therapy isn’t just for your back or your knees. PT can be useful for loosening scars and gaining strength. Physical therapy can also address pelvic floor issues that happen when a women undergoing breast cancer treatment is thrown into menopause by medications or surgery. PT can also be used to reduce or eliminate lymphedema, a condition where fluid builds up due to damaged lymphatic channels because of surgery or radiation. “You are not a diagnosis. You are a person rebuilding, and your whole recovery requires expert, compassionate care,” she explains.

Dr Natalie knew she wanted to be a Physical Therapist at a young age. She was fascinated with the practice of medicine and was also a competitive athlete. She played varsity field hockey while attending Northeastern University. Her undergraduate degree is in rehabilitation science, and she went through further training to obtain her doctorate in physical therapy. Owning Ability Allies was a dream for her, and she’s been able to bring her vision to patients throughout the Seacoast, with four locations now open in Epping, Dover, Portsmouth, and Greenland.

While Breast Center of New England’s main connection to Dr. Natalie and Ability Allies is through their help with patients in breast cancer recovery, Dr. Lizer appreciates the accessibility and affordability of the care they provide. “I hear rave reviews from our patients. It’s hard to beat a local practice that focuses so much on the patient experience.”

VISIT ABILITY ALLIES HERE TO LEARN MORE

CHICKEN CRUST PIZZA

Ingredients:

• 1 pound cooked lean ground or shredded chicken

• 1 cup 1% cottage cheese.

• 1 cup tomato sauce (low sodium/no added sugars)

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.

• 2 cups lite Cabot Mozzarella (divided, one for chicken crust and one for pizza topping)

• Your favorite toppings (vegetables, meat, etcetera - - Naomi likes arugula, goat cheese and sausage).

Directions:

Add chicken, 1 cup of lite mozzarella cheese, lite cottage cheese, and Italian seasoning to a mixing bowl. Mix well.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare a baking sheet by first spraying with oil and then placing a sheet of cut parchment paper on the oil.

Make your “dough” by thoroughly mixing together chicken, 1 cup of lite mozzarella and lite cottage cheese and italian seasoning.

Form a crust by pressing the dough ball down into a flat pizza shape on the prepared pan.

Cook the crust for 10-12 minutes.

Remove crust from the oven and spread with tomato sauce. Top with the remaining cup of mozzarella and any other desired toppings.

Return to oven for approx 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cool, slice, and serve! Makes 4 servings

Nutrition: Per serving

Calories: 225 Protein: 44g Carbohydrates: 6g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 6g Fat: 6g

THRIVEBALANCELIFE.COM

Thrive Meals – Food To Fuel Your Life

Health. Balance. Vitality. Freedom.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THRIVE

Battling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Winter SAD: What is it?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is common.

Symptoms specific to SAD may include:

Oversleeping
Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
Weight gain
Tiredness or low energy

Ways to minimize SAD’s impact:

Be physically active.
Exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety. It's essential to stay active during winter, even if you are tempted to become less active during colder months.

Get outside.
Spend 15 to 20 minutes outside when the sun is out. If the weather allows, take a walk outside during the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak. Sunlight helps adjust your body's internal clock.
Make your environment bright.
Open the window blinds and allow sunlight into your home. Sit near a window while at home or work.

Prioritize sleep. Go to bed and wake at the same time every day, with the goal of getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep. Excessive napping and oversleeping beyond your typical schedule can disrupt your circadian rhythm.
Stay connected to friends and family.
Decreased mood can cause one to stay home and self-isolate. Resist this temptation by engaging with friends and staying active-both inside and outside the home.
Take care of your body and mind.
Eat regular, healthy meals. Avoid drugs and alcohol, which can make depression worse. Manage stress with practices like deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Additional Source:
John Hopkins Medicine

MEET OUR STAFF

Amy Perron

ULTRASONOGRAPHER

Amy has been a sonographer for over 20 years. She is registered in breast ultrasound, abdominal and high-risk obstetrical ultrasound. She and Dr. Lizer have worked together in breast imaging for over a decade. “Amy has such a sharp eye when scanning,” says Dr. Lizer. “In breast imaging, a sonographer is an extension of the doctor, and I trust Amy and her work so much.”

Amy loves animals, and several years ago she and her daughter completed Alliance of Therapy Dogs training to certify their dog Koda as a therapy dog. She and Koda volunteer in nursing homes and the library on Amy’s day off. Amy loves running with Koda because “she’s little and I’m slow, so it works out well.” Koda’s favorite food is jerky, while Amy’s favorite meal would be Mexican, which makes sense - Amy is a Texas native. She counts her cowgirl boots as her favorite fashion accessory. Maybe one day we can get her to wear those boots with her scrubs? Until then, you’ll just have to imagine it. If her boots were made for walking, Amy knows where she’d want to go. Her dream trip is to shoulder a backpack and disappear into the wilds of New Zealand.

MEET THE WHOLE TEAM

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS!

Thank you all for the kind reviews! Your words help others find BCNE and allow us to spread the news about our practice. If you haven’t left us a review or told a friend about us, we hope you will consider doing so.

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE US A GOOGLE REVIEW

Do you follow us on social media? Stay informed. It’s easy: Click our social media links at the bottom of this newsletter and select “follow” or “like” our pages! We appreciate your support.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE