💕 Taking Charge of Your Breast Health: What Every Woman Should Know
Whether you’re 20 or 70, understanding your breast health is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. Early detection saves lives! But prevention and awareness can give you confidence and peace of mind.
1️⃣ Know Your Risk
Every woman’s breast cancer risk is different. Factors like age, family history, lifestyle, and breast density all matter.
👉 Take the Tyrer–Cuzick Risk Assessment — a tool that estimates your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Discuss the results with your provider to plan when to start mammograms or whether you need additional screening.
📱 Download the Know Your Lemons App to track self-exams, learn about the 12 signs of breast cancer, and receive reminders based on your cycle or age.
2️⃣ Practice Regular Self-Checks
Only about 9% of women perform monthly breast self-exams with confidence. You can change that.
Get to know your normal: texture, size, and shape.
Include your entire breast area, collarbone to underarm, rib cage.
Report any new dimpling, lumps, or changes to your provider.
Remember: Most changes are not cancer, but all are worth checking.
3️⃣ Stay Consistent with Screening
Early detection through imaging saves lives.
Ages 40+: Talk with your doctor about annual or biennial mammograms.
Higher-risk women: May need earlier or additional MRI screening.
99% of breast cancers found early are treatable — don’t delay.
4️⃣ Common Questions and Misconceptions
Q: Do mammograms cause breast cancer?
No. The radiation exposure from a mammogram is very low — about the same as flying cross-country. The benefits of early detection far outweigh any risk.
Q: If I don’t have a family history, am I less at risk?
Most breast cancers occur in women without a family history. In fact, about 85% of women diagnosed have no known genetic link. Screening and lifestyle habits still matter greatly.
Q: What can I do today to lower my risk?
Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise regularly
Limit alcohol
Eat more plant-based foods
Avoid smoking
Get enough sleep and manage stress
These steps improve hormonal balance, immune function, and inflammation — all factors linked to breast cancer prevention.
5️⃣ Nutrition and Lifestyle Tips
Small daily choices make a big difference:
🥦 Eat the rainbow: load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
🍇 Antioxidant-rich foods like berries, leafy greens, and cruciferous veggies support cellular repair.
🍷 Limit alcohol: even one drink per day increases risk.
🏃♀️ Move regularly: aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
🥑 Choose healthy fats: olive oil, avocados, nuts, and omega-3s are protective.
(Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, NY Presbyterian, MD Anderson)
6️⃣ Build Your Support System
Knowledge is power, but connection sustains it. Share what you learn with your friends and family. Every conversation helps another woman take control of her health.
Together, we can replace fear with empowerment: one woman, one conversation, one lemon at a time. 🍋
Welcome to CB Physical Therapy: Why I Started This Journey
It all begins with an idea.
A personal journey to empowering women to take control of their health.
Hi everyone, and welcome to the very first blog post here at CB Physical Therapy. I thought I’d start by sharing a little about myself, my story, and what inspired me to create this practice.
I’m Carolyn Baek, a physical therapist and certified lymphedema therapist with over ten years of experience. Over the years, I’ve worked with women facing some of life’s hardest challenges: cancer treatment, lymphedema and lipedema diagnoses, post-surgical recovery, and the uncertainty of survivorship. The courage and resilience of women have left a lasting mark on me. Watching women fight for their health with such determination made me realize they deserve more: more information, more expert care, less shame, and more compassion.
That’s why I started CB Physical Therapy. My mission is to empower women in Westchester to take charge of their health, their bodies, and their decisions. Whether it’s lymphatic support, oncology rehab, or lipedema management, I want every woman to feel supported with evidence-based treatment, empathy, and a true sense of community.
Becoming a mother has changed me in ways I didn’t expect. It has made me bolder, more creative, and more determined to advocate fiercely for other women and mothers in our community. I would not be here without the support and sacrifice of so many women who came before me. The soil I stand on today has been fortified by their wisdom, their experience, and their strength. Motherhood opened my eyes to something I hadn’t fully understood before. When you are a busy woman juggling work, home, and life, you often have very little time to care for your own body. When you finally do reach out for help, you need expert care quickly and from someone who truly understands what you are going through.
That realization led me to create a service for breastfeeding mothers dealing with painful clogged ducts, mastitis, and breast inflammation. After struggling with this myself and finding little specialized support, I used my training to treat my own pain with lymphatic massage and therapeutic ultrasound, and it worked. Now, I meet mothers where they are, providing fast, effective care so they can get back to caring for themselves and their families with less pain and stress.
When I’m not with my patients or chasing after my little one, you can usually find me on the tennis court. I’ve been playing since childhood, and it is the sport that brought my husband and me together. While I still love the game, what excites me most these days is helping women feel strong, confident, and empowered in their own bodies.
This practice is my way of honoring the women I’ve worked with and creating a space where others can feel truly seen and supported as they navigate their health. I can’t wait to share more here: practical tips, helpful information, and encouragement for anyone walking through these journeys.
Thank you for being here at the start of this new chapter. I’m so excited to keep learning, growing, and serving this community.
With warmth and gratitude,
Carolyn