Dr. Kenwal Bawa on Overcoming Cancer, Sexual Health and Biohacking

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Hello, and welcome to the “Wellness Mama Podcast.” I’m Katie, from wellnessmama.com and wellnesse.com. That’s wellness with an E on the tip. And this podcast is all about a tremendous story of overcoming most cancers and likewise about sexual well being and biohacking. I’m right here with Dr. Cabell Bawa, who’s a Board Certified doctor and founding father of Bawa Medical and Chief Medical Officer on the New Wave. She is dedicated to her philosophy of rejuvenation from the within out. And on this episode, she shares her story of overcoming breast most cancers and likewise changing into a magnificence queen. And the explanation that she truly did that and the way she used that platform to indicate her scars and to indicate her hair loss and all of the issues that got here alongside together with her most cancers analysis and to convey consciousness. She additionally talks so much about some taboo subjects. we discuss sexual well being fairly a bit and a few actually shocking statistics on well being and hormones associated to each women and men, and the way these change over time and with age, and likewise methods to assist enhance them. So, undoubtedly, a fact-packed episode, her story is basically unimaginable. And with out additional ado, let’s be a part of her.

Katie: Dr. Bawa, welcome, and thanks for being right here.

Dr. Bawa: Thank you for having me.

Katie: I’m so excited to listen to extra about your story and your experience as a result of it looks like you have got each private {and professional} expertise in a few areas which can be extraordinarily relevant to lots of people proper now. But to start out broad, I’ve learn that you’ve got a extremely, actually attention-grabbing and superb story about overcoming most cancers, which as we all know, statistically is on the rise proper now and, sadly, many individuals will obtain a analysis of in some unspecified time in the future of their lives. And then not solely overcoming that, however turning that into one thing actually stunning and empowering and superb. So can we begin by studying a bit of extra about you and your story?

Dr. Bawa: Yes. Thank you a lot for that. I used to be misdiagnosed with my breast most cancers for nearly three years. I initially found my lump once I was nonetheless in my late 30s and my gynecologist tried to blow me off and inform me that I actually didn’t meet conventional threat components, that I used to be nonetheless not 40, insurance coverage wouldn’t cowl it. And I used to be a bit of perplexed as a result of I believed it was in regards to the affected person, not the, you recognize, the numbers. So it took numerous convincing. I did get a mammogram, however then they misinterpret it. They acquired an ultrasound, however they misinterpret that too. And this occurred for a number of years in a row. So lastly, I insisted that there was one thing very improper. They thought I used to be neurotic, and it was okay. I didn’t actually care at that time. I knew one thing was improper and I needed to be an advocate for myself.

So at that time, I ended up going to a unique hospital. I ended up going to the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Institute, and I can truthfully say that the medical doctors there saved my life. So if we get nothing else from our time collectively, I would like ladies and even males to know that once they really feel that there’s one thing improper with them, that they have to insist and to not take it mendacity down, to not let anyone inform them that they’re being loopy, that they’re being hypochondriacs. When you recognize you now. And nevertheless, you recognize, this occurred to me and whereas this was not one thing that I anticipated, I had a alternative. I may let most cancers defeat me or I may make it about one thing larger than myself. So, I, of all issues, determined to hitch a magnificence pageant. Now it’s possible you’ll marvel why at age 43, I felt the necessity to be a part of a magnificence pageant. It’s as a result of I discovered as a most cancers affected person that my fellow most cancers sufferers had given up on themselves. They felt that most cancers was going to defeat them. And I truthfully imagine that should you assume it’s going to defeat you, it completely will. You are proper someway.

So for me, I used to be by no means going to undergo most cancers. It needed to be about making one thing good come out of one thing horrible. And so, I made a decision to hitch Miss Florida to encourage most cancers sufferers to stay their finest life regardless of most cancers. To present them that pleasure mustn’t finish, and that they’re no much less stunning, even when they’ve scars, even when they lose their hair. So, I went on stage 4 weeks or so after my mastectomy. I had my scar seen, I refused to cowl it with make-up. It would have been straightforward to take action, but it surely was a matter of precept. I additionally went on stage with no extensions and no wig. I purchased a wig, I simply couldn’t convey myself to put on it as a result of I needed to talk my fact. And once I gained Miss Florida, it was a giant win, not only for me, however for most cancers sufferers and people present process adversity of any form. So, in so some ways, you recognize, my story has been discovered to be inspirational for that, and I’m very blissful as a result of that’s what that is about.

Katie: That’s superb. And two issues actually stood out to me in that. The first being the significance of advocating for ourselves in the case of medical care. And I had an identical expertise in a a lot much less ominous analysis, however I, for years, knew one thing was improper and would go to medical doctors and ask for assessments. And I suspected it was my thyroid. And equally was instructed, “Well, you’re not in a high-risk group. All of these things are normal postpartum. Your levels are fine.” And they had been solely testing, in fact, sure ranges. And I needed to advocate for myself for a few years with a number of medical doctors to lastly get a analysis that then helped me get well. And you hear about this so much within the medical world. And sadly, it looks like it usually occurs extra to ladies than males actually because I believe many research are performed on males as a result of they’re simpler to check.

But I believe…I’m so glad you introduced that up as a result of I believe the very best outcomes, and also you may agree from a health care provider’s perspective, occur when you have got a affected person who’s invested and well-informed and advocating for themselves, and likewise eager to work with a practitioner as a accomplice in bettering their very own well being. And the opposite factor you mentioned that I believe is so necessary on this and in truthfully, each space of life is that mindset piece. And the concept that should you assume one thing will defeat you, it’s going to. And additionally if in case you have a constructive mindset, that goes such a great distance towards the restoration. How necessary do you assume that mindset piece was for you and for different folks in the identical scenario?

Dr. Bawa: I really like what you mentioned as a result of so many medical doctors aren’t testing you totally, even when they do take a look at you. And I’m so blissful that you simply had been an advocate for your self and also you discovered what was improper. And so far as mindset is worried, mindset in my case was every little thing. And this will appear dramatic, however it is a true incident. I had some problems throughout my most cancers therapy and I used to be in my chemotherapy suite. My blood ranges had been tanking for lack of a greater phrase to say it. And one in every of my nurses began to cry. She simply felt horrible for me that I used to be taking two steps ahead and 5 steps again it appeared each time we circled. And once I noticed tears in her eyes, I consoled her and I mentioned to her, “It’s okay. It truly is. I will be fine. And not only am I going to be fine, in just a few months, I’m going to be Miss Florida.” And she laughed as she cried. And that is an honest-to-goodness story. This actually occurred.

And I needed to clarify to her that I used to be not going there for a participation medal, I used to be in it to win it as a result of it was not price doing if it was not price doing totally and nicely. So, I hope that my story has despatched a bigger message to folks normally about mindset, about perseverance. And I believe that if I didn’t have that mindset, if I didn’t have that perseverance, I don’t know that I’d have made it so far as I did and had the end result I did as a result of a lot of most cancers is miserable. I’m not saying that there wasn’t any despair on my finish, there was. I selected to not dwell on it. So I believe that’s the principle factor.

Katie: And I additionally love that you simply reframed that and didn’t cover from the struggles or attempt to cowl the scars of that and let that really be an outward, like, witness to your struggles in order that it may open a dialog about that. I believe usually in society, there are such…very outlined requirements of what female magnificence seems to be like and that strain to really feel good and to not have scars and to not have something that’s not thought-about, you recognize, bodily good. And most likely by doing that, you gave ladies freedom to be who they really are in so some ways, and to not have to take care of this phantasm of perfection. And from what I’ve learn, additionally that was a big a part of your purpose for competing as nicely is that you simply had been capable of shine a highlight on different most cancers sufferers and on that as nicely, proper? You used your platform to convey numerous consciousness there as nicely.

Dr. Bawa: Absolutely. I spoke on stage about how I used to be misdiagnosed. I needed to boost consciousness for most cancers misdiagnosis, in addition to inform most cancers sufferers that life doesn’t finish with a most cancers analysis, that there’s a lot stuff to look ahead to. Now, occurring stage and the gown I selected and with the hair and make-up I selected was an announcement. I didn’t select a gown that lined my chest. I may have. There are many robes I may have worn which can be completely stunning that didn’t present my scars, that didn’t present my uneven breast dimension. But I went on stage as is. I used to be utterly uneven. Things had not been finalized but with my second surgical procedure. I nonetheless haven’t had it, however I didn’t let that govern my alternative of gown. This was about, once more, one thing larger than myself. So, I went there with my uneven cleavage, my scar seen, and brief hair with some areas that had been extra thinning than others. And this was necessary to me as a result of I don’t need folks to assume that most cancers shouldn’t be stunning. Cancer is simply as stunning as the rest. And I believe that that was a vital message to ship to the world. And I believe it’s a message that resonated. My win redefined magnificence after most cancers.

Katie: And I can solely think about how at first overwhelming a most cancers analysis should really feel. And I hear from folks, sadly, like I mentioned, most cancers appears to be on the rise throughout the board, who obtain a analysis and, you recognize, overwhelmed and marvel the place to even begin searching for assets. So I’m curious if there have been issues that had been useful to you in establishing that mindset piece once you had been going via that and/or that helped you recognize issues to do to bodily help your self via that course of and to verify your physique was nourished and capable of get well?

Dr. Bawa: You know, it’s attention-grabbing how life labored out for me. I used to be probably not…as a part of my medical observe, I based and owned Bawa Medical in Boca Raton. It is a wellness and rejuvenation-based observe. When I began this, once I conceived this observe, I used to be not pondering of most cancers. I used to be not pondering of what a most cancers affected person wants for help but satirically, my life took that path. So, in my case, I used to be very fortunate. I didn’t need to go exterior to look for lots of the issues I wanted. I may do IV remedy in my very own workplace as a result of I discovered it useful. Also, chemotherapy is so nauseating, you may’t eat nicely, your dietary stage goes down at a degree once you want a better dietary stage to battle that illness, to battle that chemo as a result of chemo is doing fairly a quantity on you, it’s a poison, basically. You want it. I extremely advocate it. It saved my life, but it surely’s a poison. Let’s not overlook that. So, how do you counteract that? I had IV remedy.

The different factor that occurs with most cancers is hair loss. I’m a hair restoration specialist. So I used to be very fortunate in that sense that I used to be capable of do hair restoration inside my observe as a result of I really feel that most cancers hair loss is misunderstood. So a lot of it’s about hair restoration the place in so many instances, it must be about hair loss prevention. Nobody thinks of it that means, even my very own buddies mentioned I used to be being ridiculous that I ought to settle for it gracefully. They instructed me I used to be being, you recognize, very superficial. And I mentioned, “It’s not about being superficial. It’s about fighting it when you can fight it.” When I’ve instruments, why not use them? So I did a bunch of various issues in my observe and I by no means went bald regardless of very robust chemotherapy. The chemotherapy I underwent was a mix of Taxol and Adriamycin and Cytoxan. To anyone who does most cancers remedies or has gone via most cancers remedies, they know the way robust that chemotherapy routine is but I by no means got here near being bald. I misplaced the size, by no means the precise hair, you recognize, on my head. So did that.

I additionally did pores and skin remedies at my very own observe as a result of chemotherapy causes numerous pores and skin injury and hyperpigmentation. So regardless of how a lot sunscreen I used, I nonetheless had numerous pores and skin injury. So, numerous that I discovered I used to be uniquely positioned to assist myself. So this isn’t a plug for my observe in any means. You requested how I acquired via it, a lot of it’s due to what I do for a dwelling anyway. Now, how different folks would get via it, I extremely advocate that they attain out to their oncologist, ask for the assets close to them. Maybe there’s a observe like me close to them. Maybe there’s anyone who might help them save their hair. Maybe there’s somebody who might help them with wellness and IVs and, you recognize, serving to them with chemo-related pores and skin modifications and issues like that. Because, you recognize, it’s very miserable once you look within the mirror and also you don’t seem like your self anymore. It’s not about being superficial, you virtually don’t acknowledge who you’re. And there’s one thing to be mentioned for attempting to take care of what you may of your self via all of it.

I imply, there was a degree I had no eyebrows and no eyelashes. So I made a decision it was about mindset. I didn’t wish to settle for that. So, I truly went out and developed a product to develop lashes and brows that’s wholesome, that doesn’t change your eye shade and do injury to the pores and skin round your eyes. Because a lot of what’s on the market can even do injury. People don’t discuss it. Like Latisse, does it work? Absolutely. But it might probably trigger some modifications within the shade of your eye, as an example. Nobody talks about that a part of it. So I made a decision that most cancers was going to be one thing that simply was constructive in each means for me. So I even went and developed a pure product that I now have in my observe for that. So, a lot of that, you recognize, I used to be so fortunate, however I do advocate that they attain out to social staff, they attain out to help teams, and in my case, to buddies. My household doesn’t stay right here. My household’s abroad. So my buddies had been my tribe. They had been those who helped me via all of it. My buddy, Carmen, picked me up from chemo each single time. She simply took it upon herself. You know, it takes a village. I used to be very fortunate to have a really supportive village.

Katie: That’s stunning. And I believe that additionally illustrates what appears to be a false dichotomy that typically occurs in the case of most cancers therapy or any type of medical therapy. It looks like usually there’s a pressure between the traditional mannequin and the issues you must do medically and the wellness aspect. And it looks like the very best outcomes truly occur when somebody is ready to entry all of these issues, that it isn’t an both/or, however very a lot a each/and. And that you are able to do issues which can be supportive of your physique and likewise supportive of hopefully, the method of therapy and serving to your physique get well extra shortly. But that’s a extremely unimaginable story that hopefully offers hope to anybody else who may, sadly, be in the identical scenario. And you talked about your observe, I’d like to delve into a few completely different areas right here as a result of I do know you’re employed with folks in a wide range of alternative ways.

But one other space I hear so much from ladies about proper now and I ponder if COVID may be a contributing issue right here, however is sexual wellness. And it looks like there is a rise in sexual-related issues or simply libido and sexual satisfaction, particularly in ladies. I don’t know if that is present or should you’ve perhaps seen this for a very long time. So I’m curious should you’re comfy sharing, should you had any of these struggles once you went via your chemo journey, but in addition the ways in which you assist handle that in your sufferers.

Dr. Bawa: Yes. Now, vaginal well being is one thing I’m very captivated with. I do numerous intimate wellness for each women and men at my observe, and chemo and most cancers remedies, most cancers medicines, even after chemo may cause numerous modifications in a girl’s hormonal steadiness. It threw me into menopause. So, you recognize, there’s so much that goes improper with most cancers and with ageing, normally. In my case, it was simply amplified due to the most cancers. But vaginal well being is one thing that could be very ignored. Women take higher care of their automobiles than they do their vaginas, sadly. And I’m right here once more as an advocate for good vaginal well being. And like I mentioned about hair loss in the case of most cancers, why are we reacting? Why are we not stopping? I’m all about prevention as an alternative of therapy. So, I encourage ladies to return get vaginal rejuvenation at a youthful age. So a lot of my sufferers say, “Well, I’m not that bad yet.” And I’m telling you, it makes my head spin as a result of I wish to clarify to ladies around the globe that they should handle themselves sooner.

If you handle the issue earlier, youthful, you have got higher outcomes long-term. Your vagina will age otherwise. It’s not simply your face that’s ageing, it’s your vagina as nicely. So I’m very huge in my observe on FemiWave. It is acoustic wave remedy, actually utilizing sound waves to convey higher blood movement into your vaginal space, normally, not simply your clitoris, your labia, your pelvic flooring, all of it wants good blood movement. So this breaks down blockages and blood vessels like plaques. You know, it’s not simply your coronary heart and the arteries in your coronary heart which have blockages as you become older, blood vessels in every single place develop blockages. So that is to advertise good, wholesome blood movement. And that makes your pelvic flooring stronger, which is one other factor that goes with age and childbirth and every little thing else. I’m not saying that we’re curing incontinence, we’re definitely making a giant stride in the direction of minimizing it with this.

So I like to recommend it to ladies of all ages. It additionally makes ladies extraordinarily orgasmic, which is only a great plus level with it. So, we do O-Shots at our observe, however we additionally do FemiWave due to the great, great results we’ve with it. And there’s little doubt, and that’s the great thing about it. We do vaginal laser rejuvenation as nicely at my observe with CO2. Now I’m not by any means saying something unfavourable about CO2, there’s a time and place for it. But I discover that FemiWave is one thing that helps ladies throughout the board. I truthfully have an issue attempting to even let you know as a girl it won’t work. And you recognize what? Often the query is, “Who will it help?” I believe the query with FemiWave is completely different, “Who will it not help?” And I truthfully can’t consider anybody it wouldn’t assist in some form or kind. So that’s one thing that I’m very blissful to be doing. And we at the moment are a middle of excellence with each FemiWave for ladies and GAINSWave for males. And I really feel that we’re doing a lot good to society, normally, by serving to folks this manner.

Katie: So you talked about that like that ageing course of occurs there as nicely, particularly simply as part of regular ageing. And I do know ladies report extra pelvic flooring points, particularly after childbirth, which makes full sense as a result of there’s some intense trauma that may occur throughout childbirth for lots of ladies. And I assume that this additionally impacts the sexual expertise fairly a bit and sexual well being that means. Are there different components, like as an example, you talked about that that type of pulled you into menopause? I do know menopause usually impacts sexual well being for ladies. Are these items that you simply do in your workplace capable of assist type of handle the, like, sexual satisfaction aspect of that even after menopause for ladies?

Dr. Bawa: Yes. What I do could be very complete. I really feel the completely different components of what I do are very synergistic with one another. For occasion, I don’t simply do hormone alternative, I wish to name it hormone balancing as a result of there’s an imbalance in lots of features of our life as we age, as we battle completely different ailments. In my case, it was most cancers, however in your case it’s thyroid illness. It’s no much less traumatic to your system. So I attempt to optimize well being. I attempt to optimize wellness, normally. So I wish to take my sufferers and see them as the larger image, not only one a part of what I’m doing. So I’d optimize your hormones. I’d optimize your diet and your metabolic scenario with IV remedy. I’d do, you recognize, GAINSWave should you’re a person, I do FemiWave should you’re a girl. These are issues that assist everybody. I can not think about supplying you with a subset that it might not assist. In some form or kind, it’s going to assist everybody. And then I fine-tune it additional. Does anyone want, you recognize, as an example, a vaginal laser? We can all the time do this. Do the lads want some type of medicine? We can do this. So I believe that this needs to be seen as an even bigger image and never bits and items.

Katie: I agree. It looks like the very best outcomes in any realm occur once you handle the physique as an entire and work and help its pure processes versus countering them. In that realm, are there issues that you simply discovered useful personally or that you simply advocate to your sufferers that they will do at house which can be supportive, whether or not or not it’s sure dietary practices? I do know prefer it looks like sleep and hydration are throughout the board all the time good suggestions. I’m but to have anybody in 500 friends on this podcast say sleep shouldn’t be necessary and hydration doesn’t matter, however are there belongings you encourage your sufferers to do to assist enhance the consequences of those remedies and likewise that had been useful to you once you had been going via your journey?

Dr. Bawa: Of course, mindset was the primary factor for me. I felt that something I may do to calm my thoughts was useful. I believe meditation is underrated. I don’t assume that it’s important to sit for an hour and, you recognize, stare on the house to meditate. I believe meditation may be various things to completely different folks. The thought is to calm your thoughts. If that’s by taking a stroll, if that’s by listening to a bit of music you discover soothing. No matter what it’s, I believe you must calm your thoughts and discover steadiness inside your self above all. And then I believe that hydration is a superb factor. As you talked about, hydration is a primary factor. If you aren’t hydrated, then nothing works nicely. Your pores and skin, your well being, normally, nothing works nicely with out hydration. Nutritionally, I’m not telling you it’s important to eat natural, it’s not all the time possible, however no matter you’re consuming, I do advocate attempting your finest to have a extra inclusive weight-reduction plan, extra fruit and veggies, not taking any group out of your weight-reduction plan.

For occasion, chemo can result in numerous weight acquire. It’s a fallacy when folks assume that each one most cancers sufferers drop some weight. Some acquire. I did. So I believe the concept is to not say that, “Oh, let me do keto. I’ll lose weight,” or let me do that or that, I’ll drop some weight. I believe a balanced, nutritious diet with wise parts is necessary. It’s a boring factor to say, I do know. There’s nothing dramatic about what I’m saying, however that’s necessary. Balance is necessary in each facet. And then, in fact, I believe when yow will discover a health care provider close to you who might help you with the issues that helped me. I used to be fortunate, I occurred to be doing this anyway. All I needed to do was come to work and, you recognize, all of this was out there to me, however search out practitioners who imagine in a holistic lifestyle, who’ve of their observe one thing that may show you how to. Now, sexually, as an example, we’ve talked about FemiWave. If you’re someplace the place you don’t have a FemiWave supplier, we also have a machine. If they contact us, we are able to all the time ship it to them. It’s an at-home intimate wellness machine that makes use of the identical idea of sound wave know-how and makes use of sound waves to interrupt up blockages and produce good blood movement into the vaginal space. It’s not as robust as what we do within the workplace, but it surely’s a beautiful adjunct for every other therapy or the rest you’re doing in your life. If you may’t get to us personally, at the least use this at house. It could be very useful.

Katie: And I’m curious should you can communicate to perhaps in simply generalities or perhaps particular instances with out utilizing figuring out particulars, however what sort of causes folks usually want these sorts of remedies? Like, I believe most individuals perhaps don’t notice that you simply see these type of blockages in all tissue, not simply in your coronary heart, like folks perceive in that stage. But it might look like rising blood movement could be a reasonably dramatic shift. What type of outcomes do folks usually see?

Dr. Bawa: Oh my goodness, I’ve a YouTube channel, Bawa Medical, and one of many movies I posted nearly every week in the past is a couple of gentleman who is nearly 69. His girlfriend is 4 months older than him they usually’re having the very best intercourse of their lives. They have each had remedies from us. The gents had GAINSWave and he says that, you recognize, they’re having intercourse at the least as soon as a day, if not twice a day. And typically they’ve nooners. That to me is inspirational for anyone half his age, not to mention anyone who’s virtually 70 years previous. So are we seeing outcomes? We’re completely seeing outcomes. We are altering lives. What we do is transformational. At my observe, I’m giving them a brand new lease on life. It doesn’t matter what age you’re. If you have got an issue, there’s no level in denying it, settle for it, discover assist, and stay your finest life. Do you recognize that 20% of males of their 20s undergo from erectile dysfunction? Nobody thinks that the 20s may convey dysfunction, but it surely’s completely true. It’s a identified reality inside the scientific neighborhood that 20% of males of their 20s have it, 30% of their 30s, 40% of their 40s. It simply goes up about 10% per decade of life.

Now, such as you mentioned, we don’t all the time have these research in ladies. There is a glass ceiling for ladies and never simply within the workforce, sadly. We are sometimes blown off, we’re known as histrionic, hysterical, you recognize, hysteria, the idea of hysteria, you recognize, once you look again at how the time period started, it’s very denigrating to ladies. So I’m not right here to say that…you recognize, I’m not right here for a ladies’s lib dialogue, I’m simply right here to say that girls, we don’t all the time have the research for us, we don’t all the time have the statistics for us, however now we’ve choices and we must always go make the most of them. Do this for yourselves. Get some assist. There’s assist on the market.

Katie: And I do know that it’s been a comparatively dramatic shift, these decline in hormone ranges and the rise in ED, even in younger males. And I do know we see low testosterone, even in younger males. I’ve even seen some statistics that males usually could have a 3rd of the testosterone their grandfathers did on the similar age. And to me, that speaks to the truth that we all know that we’ve had huge environmental modifications which can be resulting in a few of these issues. Our meals provide has modified. So now it turns into necessary to be extra proactive. When we’ve extra unfavourable inputs that we’ve to cope with, we’ve to turn into extra proactive in counteracting these issues. And to circle again to what you mentioned too about weight-reduction plan as nicely, and consuming a balanced, nutritious diet and never coming from a spot of deprivation, I believe that’s one thing that uniquely impacts ladies extra as nicely due to weight-reduction plan tradition and due to a few of these issues we talked about early on.

And it looks like many ladies wrestle with the mindset of having the ability to nourish their our bodies sufficient and having the ability to eat sufficient various meals to essentially truly help our physique. So I really like that you simply introduced that up as a result of that’s one thing I’ve mentioned on right here earlier than is we’ve to shift that mindset once more, with mindset being so necessary away from like meals is dangerous. There’s guilt connected to meals. I must weight-reduction plan and be thinner, to I really like and settle for my physique, how can I nourish it to the easiest way attainable? How do I help it? How do I help its pure processes of cleansing, of anti-aging? Our our bodies are so unimaginable in what they will do, they simply want a bit of bit extra help in in the present day’s world as a result of they’re going through greater than they’ve up to now.

Dr. Bawa: Absolutely. Now, I hope I can contact on…you mentioned so many great issues. I want I used to be writing as a result of… And I’m going to return as soon as we document this and truly discuss this by myself social media platforms as a result of what you mentioned is profound. Now you introduced up dropping testosterone ranges. Do you recognize that sleep deprivation in males is inflicting decrease fertility, decrease testosterone ranges? Again, that’s one thing folks don’t discuss. It’s not an attractive matter, but it surely’s true. Sleep deprivation is inflicting that. Now you mentioned earlier about…you mentioned one thing easy, you mentioned, I do know that sleep and hydration are quite simple. Yes, they’re easy, however they’re so profound. If you don’t get sufficient sleep, you have got decrease fertility. So when you have got decrease fertility, that impacts so many various features of your life, and that’s only one instance of what sleep deprivation does.

So you then talked about, you recognize, different modifications which can be taking place, different issues which can be taking place with tradition, the place we’re made to really feel lower than. Now, I used to be a dimension 0-2 once I was recognized with most cancers, I’m most likely a dimension 6 proper now. And I’m not being exhausting on myself. I’m not depriving myself. Don’t get me improper, I’m not consuming your entire bread basket. But if I desire a slice of bread, I’m consuming it. I’m not consuming a ton of alcohol, but when I’d like a glass of wine, I’m permitting myself a glass of wine often. I believe we must be kinder to ourselves as ladies and as males. I believe society could be very robust on us. I believe there’s this entire idea of superficial magnificence. And that’s why I went to Miss Florida as a result of I used to be preventing that idea of conventional magnificence. I went at my heaviest. I went once I was nonetheless swollen from my mastectomy. I used to be nonetheless, you recognize, coping with fluid retention. I believe the idea of magnificence must be modified. Beauty must be present in no matter stage you’re in. And it’s not about others making you’re feeling stunning, that feeling wants to return from inside.

I perceive that society must be kinder to folks going via struggles. I get that. And that’s a given. But that energy wants to return from inside us. When you look in that mirror, you must see somebody stunning, somebody robust, somebody who has persevered. We have all gone via struggles in life. We are all winners in our personal means. I’ll have gone to medical faculty. I’ll put on a protracted white coat. My successes are completely different than your successes. We are the one ones who know what a hero we’re and we have to really feel that. That’s what I wish to do, encourage folks to feeling and being their finest. It wants to return from inside really.

Katie: Yeah, I agree. That was an necessary mindset shift for me as a result of such as you, I struggled with the bodily modifications of thyroid illness and simply of getting six infants in 9 years. It was so much for my physique to course of. And the mindset piece, I’ve talked about this a bit of bit earlier than on this podcast, however issues didn’t actually begin shifting bodily till I addressed that mindset piece. And once I may take a look at the mirror and discover love and acceptance for myself, it turned a lot simpler to function from a spot of nourishing my physique as an alternative of preventing it and loving it as an alternative of depriving it. And that made all the distinction. I believe you’re proper, that like that magnificence has to return and that appreciation and that love and acceptance and pleasure has to return from inside. And as ladies, that additionally offers us the power to be that for different folks as nicely. But it might probably’t come from a spot of not having it for us to start with. And a few extra notes I had on my present notes I wanna be sure that we contact on, I’ve learn and heard about ladies affected by one thing known as anorgasmia, which appears to be on the rise as nicely. Can you clarify why that’s taking place? And whether it is on the rise, why you assume it may be on the rise proper now, after which how ladies can handle that?

Dr. Bawa: There are many the reason why ladies are having issues orgasming. For one, I don’t know that many people notice that solely 18% of ladies can orgasm from vaginal intercourse, from the penetration itself. So there are various things at play right here. One, we have to make our companions conscious that oral stimulation or exterior stimulation is extra necessary. We must have higher vaginal well being, normally. Like I mentioned, we have to convey higher blood movement into the realm to get up our nerves, to get up our blood vessels. I believe individuals who have anorgasmia or who’ve painful intercourse…these are two completely different points. Some individuals are having painful intercourse. Some individuals are not having painful intercourse, however they’re getting nowhere when they’re having intercourse. There are many parts to this. So I believe wellness as an entire is gonna contribute to it after which training that there’s a drawback. It’s okay to have that drawback. And it’s okay to discuss that drawback. When you handle it together with your physician and also you inform your physician, “Listen, I have no sensation. I’m not getting there,” then I believe there are just a few necessary parts to this.

You want to talk to a therapist. There are therapists who specialise in sexual remedy and sexual wellness, they usually might help you with this. When it involves the physique itself, there are medical doctors like me who do FemiWave, who do hormone balancing, who will show you how to with the O-Shot and make you extra orgasmic. So there are completely different instruments that you must assist your self with. Again, it’s not only one factor, I want there was only one factor, however there are a bunch of issues you are able to do to assist your self. And all of them contribute. I believe all of them work collectively higher synergistically and any one in every of them by themselves. So I believe there’s so much on the market. We simply must get that assist.

Katie: And I believe having the dialog, I do know like all sexual well being matter is a bit of bit taboo and, like, I believe it raises eyebrows each time I discuss it on right here, however I believe the dialog can also be crucial as a result of we all know that that’s tied into general well being. And to your level, I believe it is a matter that isn’t talked about sufficient, particularly for ladies. We definitely see all of the commercials for all of these points for males. And it looks like when males have a wrestle with that, it turns into a vital, imminent factor to repair. But ladies, I really feel like usually are extra hesitant to speak about it or really feel like one thing’s improper with them and really feel disgrace round it. And to your level, I didn’t notice it was that drastic of a statistic, however for a lot of ladies, simply penetrative intercourse usually isn’t sufficient, however that’s one thing that they really feel dangerous speaking about or they really feel like they’re not regular due to that. And so I believe opening the dialog and letting them notice that there are alternatives and issues that may assist a lot, however even simply beginning that dialog and taking that disgrace and that societal notion away from it’s such an necessary first step for ladies. And I’m so glad we’re in a time when there are issues like this out there and we’re beginning to lastly have this dialog.

Dr. Bawa: Absolutely. Now I get in bother typically on my social media although. I’ve very dignified posts. I’m not exhibiting something that’s express. I imply, my posts aren’t pornographic, however even Instagram and Facebook will typically take my posts off as a result of I discussed intercourse or one thing sexual. Now, I’m a medical physician, I’m not doing something inappropriate, however there’s disgrace even to that extent. Now let me let you know one thing completely unbelievable. I made a decision to take my kids on a trip and shut the workplace for every week and my assistant went on a trip together with her household. We imagine in having a life at Bawa Medical, we’re allowed to go on trip. We closed down our workplace and we acquired an answering service to reply our calls in order that sufferers may at the least make and alter appointments whereas we had been gone for simply 5 enterprise days.

Do you recognize that I acquired a name as soon as I used to be already in one other city from my answering service they usually mentioned to me, “Sorry, Dr. Bawa, we know we talked to you and we set this whole account up, but we cannot answer your calls because some people call for vaginal rejuvenation, and that’s an inappropriate topic.” I mentioned, “Are you serious? Vaginal rejuvenation is inappropriate?” We’re not calling a porn channel, we’re not calling, you recognize, “Hustler” or “Playboy.” These are, you recognize, folks calling the physician’s workplace. Why is that this taboo? And they mentioned, “Well, it’s embarrassing and it’s inappropriate.” I mentioned, “What about vaginal health is inappropriate to you?” And these had been ladies telling me this. So, I used to be horrified, horrified that in in the present day’s day and age, within the yr 2021, my answering service decides to not take my calls as a result of I provide vaginal rejuvenation and that’s offensive to them. So there must be a mindset shift right here.

Katie: I agree. That’s type of astounding that sufferers contact their precise physician a couple of medical drawback…like, to me that will be the identical as like much like a pregnant girl attempting to name her OB and being instructed, “Oh, I’m sorry, we can’t talk about that because your vagina is involved.” Like, that’s astounding to me.

Dr. Bawa: I simply…you recognize, my head was spinning. I nonetheless bear in mind I used to be getting out of a cab in Philadelphia and I mentioned, “What part of this is inappropriate? What part of this is bad? Please explain to me.” I actually requested the girl, I mentioned, “Ma’am with all due respect, do you have a vagina? Do you ever find that you need help from a doctor for your vagina? I don’t expect you to answer that question,” I mentioned to her, “but how can you deny women the opportunity to make appointments for their vaginal health?” So, I’ll offer you a small instance of the answering service, but it surely signifies an even bigger challenge. It’s not okay to speak about it usually. Why? We are all ladies and men, I imply, sexual well being is necessary. We are all in a scenario the place we’ve the proper to have good, intimate wellness and to not be instructed that it’s dangerous or soiled or upsetting to the common one who’s listening to us. Why is it upsetting to folks? What are we speaking about that’s inappropriate?

If it’s okay to speak about cardiac well being, why is it inappropriate to speak about sexual well being? Why is intercourse a unclean phrase? If it wasn’t for intercourse, you and I’d not be alive in the present day. It’s not essentially a foul factor. And why ought to we be denied high quality of life? An excellent intercourse life results in a greater relationship, results in a greater high quality of life. If you don’t dribble urine once you train, you aren’t gonna have higher cardiac well being. I imply, it’s an even bigger challenge than simply about your vagina and your bladder.

That’s why I say that what we do at Bawa Medical is so transformational as a result of we remodel lives. And that’s why I believe that this must cease being such a taboo matter, that Instagram must cease deleting my posts once I discuss it, that YouTube must cease sending me, you recognize, little emails warning me in regards to the content material I’m placing out. Why am I being known as an issue youngster as a result of I’m specializing in an issue that we’re all going through? So, a lot of this, there must be a shift in how we take into consideration this. It must be okay to speak. And that’s why I’m so blissful you’re speaking about it.

Katie: Well, and also you’re so proper. I believe that the dialog is so necessary. And for ladies simply to listen to that simply because these issues are widespread, it doesn’t imply they need to be regular, or definitely that they need to expertise them. I’ve had six infants, 5 of them got here out vaginally and I don’t dribble urine once I train or soar on a trampoline or sneeze. That doesn’t need to be a factor. I believe many ladies assume that’s only a factor that occurs when you have got youngsters, but it surely doesn’t need to be. I believe beginning the dialog is step one towards it.

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And additionally a theme from this entire interview has been the mindset piece. And I believe that’s additionally an space the place there’s a lot alternative for all of us, however particularly ladies in the case of these subjects actually to have the ability to develop and enhance as a result of there’s a lot tied up in that.

And I’ve a word in my present notes that should you had been going to present a TED Talk, it might be on why you shouldn’t let adversity beat you down and that mindset piece. And I really like that regardless of all of your experience within the medical world, that that’s the factor that brings…is a very powerful to you. So I’d love to listen to a bit of bit extra about that as a result of I believe you’re proper, mindset permeates via every little thing and is so, so necessary. So, I’d simply love to listen to a bit of little bit of your perspective on that, having been via adversity and never letting it beat you down.

Dr. Bawa: You know, every little thing about who I’m in the present day has been as a result of I made a decision to beat adversity. I used to be a sufferer of…and I don’t discuss this normally, and I’m going to strive to not choke up about it as I discuss it, however abuse, abuses and…and right here I am going once more. Abuse is one thing that’s a giant deal. Abuse is one thing that goes throughout all instructional, monetary limitations. I used to be a sufferer of numerous emotional, home abuse and ultimately bodily abuse as nicely. And you wouldn’t assume that a health care provider in my scenario would cope with that, however I did. I overcame that. I’m no longer in that scenario anymore, it lasted a few years. I gained’t go into a lot element about it, however the level is it was a couple of mindset. Something needed to change and I made a change. Cancer, one thing needed to change, it couldn’t simply be about illness. It couldn’t simply be about vomiting. It couldn’t simply be about shedding hair. I needed to make it one thing that helped me turn into an even bigger individual, a greater individual. And I had to make use of my most cancers and my adversity to be a greater physician.

So, I’ve determined that it doesn’t matter what occurs to me in life, I’m going to make use of something unfavourable that occurs to me to assist me develop in no matter form or kind that may be, to indicate my sons, who’re my world, that life shouldn’t be in regards to the negativity that occurs to us, it’s about what we select to do to remodel it. And that’s why I believe that if I used to be to ever give a TED Talk, I hope to sometime, you by no means know, it might be about beating adversity. Like, I discussed about Miss Florida, it was by no means a couple of pageant. It was a a lot larger factor than only a pageant. It was about redefining mindset of a most cancers affected person. It was about redefining the concept of magnificence in most cancers as a result of most cancers shouldn’t be imagined to be stunning, proper? That’s not how we’re raised to consider it. Cancer is one thing that makes you lower than your self. You lose your hair, you lose your pores and skin, you acquire weight, you drop some weight, however both means, you’re not at your finest. So we assume that meaning we’re not stunning. No, you’re simply as stunning if no more so as a result of now you have got overcome yet another factor. So, adversity is one thing that helps me stay a greater life. It doesn’t make sense, it’s virtually oxymoronic when you concentrate on adversity and higher life, however that’s how I select to see it. Adversity for me is a chance for additional progress.

Katie: I totally agree having been via trauma in my previous as nicely, I can now…I believe it takes some work and emotional shifts to get there, however I can now look again and have gratitude for all the teachings that got here from that and the issues that it allowed me to do and such as you, to assist different folks via that have and thru that story. Same factor with my thyroid. I by no means would have cared a lot for well being had I not been given a purpose. And I’m so grateful that that shift occurred. I believe you’re completely proper that that mindset piece is so necessary and that it isn’t what occurs to us, it’s how we select to interpret that, reply to that, and develop from that or not as a result of we definitely all the time have that alternative as nicely. For me personally, one of many books that was useful in that was known as “The Untethered Soul,” and it helped me to course of a few of these feelings. And that’s one other query I like to ask at this level in interviews is that if there’s a e book or numerous books which have had a profound affect in your life or your journey, and in that case, what they’re and why?

Dr. Bawa: I believe a e book that all the time comes up in my thoughts once I’m requested a query about books or a e book that has modified me is a e book known as “Outliers.” Outlier is a e book written by Malcolm Gladwell about achievement and failure and what defines a winner, how the winners are normally outliers on the tip of that spectrum a method or one other, and what number of instances it’s important to do one thing to succeed, to turn into good at it. And I believe that it’s a lot about perseverance and about rising above the common, above the norm that I believe is a e book that basically helps me proceed my journey in the direction of self-improvement, in the direction of reaching excessive requirements. I’m a excessive achiever. No matter what I do in life, I don’t settle for mediocrity. Mediocrity to me is a four-letter phrase. “It doesn’t matter what you do,” my father as soon as mentioned to me, once I was about 5 years previous, “if you want to be a chef, have Michelin stars after your name. If you want to be a doctor, be the very best you can be.” So it’s not about what you do, it’s about excelling at it. You know, if you wish to be anyone who does muffins for a dwelling, be Sylvia Weinstock. There’s greatness to be achieved in every little thing. So that’s, you recognize, one thing that I believe “Outliers” helped me define in my very own life.

Katie: That’s stunning. I really like that. And I’ll, in fact, put hyperlinks to your observe and to some publish referring to a few of the subjects we’ve talked about in the present day for any of you guys listening, particularly if you’re within the Florida space and wish to discover Dr. Bawa and study. Those hyperlinks can be there. But any parting recommendation for our listeners in the present day, whether or not or not it’s on mindset or well being or any of the subjects we’ve mentioned?

Dr. Bawa: I believe if I may truly give two items of recommendation should you’ll let me, I believe I’d wish to say two issues. Firstly, ladies, please go get examined, do month-to-month exams. They’re not simply one thing in a textbook, they save lives. They saved mine. So be higher advocates for yourselves, that is necessary. If there’s one thing improper, go discover assist. And in case your physician blows you off, blow the physician off, discover one other physician who will take heed to you. Secondly, I’d say, I imagine in high quality of life, be it in your sexual well being, be it in what you see once you look within the mirror. If you’re not blissful together with your hair, do one thing to make your hair higher. There is assist on the market. If you’re not having the very best intercourse of your life, do one thing to make your self have the very best intercourse of your life. Whether it’s balancing your hormones, whether or not it’s doing one thing like FemiWave, whether or not it’s, you recognize, doing one thing nutritionally. Whatever it’s that you simply’re not pleased with, don’t be complacent. So a lot of my sufferers say, “Well, I’m not that bad yet.” That idea is not sensible to me. Why would you wait until that time? Why would you wait until your life within the bed room is an entire catastrophe earlier than you make it higher?

Why not go do one thing like FemiWave, as an example, the place it’s acquired no downtime, it’s not painful? Do one thing for your self. If you’re having points together with your hormones and also you’re having scorching flashes, communicate to your physician about optimizing your hormones. Do that. So, I believe, stay your finest life, no matter meaning to you. In no matter form or kind you may elevate your existence, do it.

Katie: I really like that. And I believe that sums up numerous what we talked about in the present day and is an ideal place to wrap up. But I’m very grateful on your time in the present day. I’m very grateful that you’ve got recovered, and also you’re thriving, and that you simply’re serving to many different folks do the identical. Thank you for being right here.

Dr. Bawa: Thank you a lot for having me. This was great.

Katie: And thanks as all the time to you, guys, for listening, for sharing your Most worthy property, your time and vitality, and a focus with us in the present day. We’re each so grateful that you simply did, and I hope that you’ll be a part of me once more on the following episode of “The Wellness Mama Podcast.”

If you’re having fun with these interviews, would you please take two minutes to depart a ranking or evaluation on iTunes for me? Doing this helps extra folks to search out the podcast, which suggests much more mothers and households may benefit from the knowledge. I actually recognize your time, and thanks as all the time for listening.