Niki Mastros Breitigan-Lannigan has seen cancer from both sides - as a patient and as a caretaker - and she wants to help. "I'm cancer-free now from Stage III breast cancer, but I'm still going through treatments," said the owner of Genesis Aesthetics in Manheim. "I also know what it's like to be a caretaker, because my mom was just diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer."

Niki opened her medical aesthetics office to help people look and feel their best, both inside and out. Originally located in East Petersburg, the business soon outgrew that space and moved to 15 Market St. in Manheim earlier this year. While she offers a full line of services, Niki focuses on treatments given to cancer patients and their caregivers, free of charge.

"I want to help people who are hurting," Niki said. "They are going through the physical hurt of cancer treatments and the emotional hurt of the diagnosis. They need self-care."

Niki offers complimentary facials to oncology patients, provides cosmetic tattoos for breast-cancer survivors and soon plans to provide hand massages to people undergoing treatment at local infusion centers once she's been cleared by her oncologist.

At her business, she recently installed an infrared pink Himalayan salt sauna for cancer and COVID survivors to use for free. "It helps with their breathing, as the salt goes into their lungs and dries up any secretions they are unable to get out of their lungs," she stated, noting that her mother's diagnosis prompted her to look into purchasing the sauna. "The sauna is good for asthmatics, people with COPD and emphysema."

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, Niki took the opportunity to expand her knowledge of self-care treatments. As an aesthetician, she had already been giving free oncology facials as well removing branding tattoos for victims of sex trafficking. "While I was going through treatment, I worked on getting more certifications," she said, explaining that these included learning how to do 3D tattoos and becoming a certified oncology skin therapist. "I believe it's important to always keep learning."

She emphasizes that while she offers free services to cancer patients, she also provides complimentary treatment for caregivers. "That's for both men and women who are caregivers," she said. "People often forget about the caregivers and everything they go through."

Niki joked that giving away services might not be the best business model, but she's confident it's the right decision. "I invited my oncologist, who is now a friend, to one of my events and he said 'Niki, how are you going to make money? You're giving everything away for free.' I said, 'The money will come because I have faith,'" she recalled, adding that she and her mother have also relied on a large support system of family and friends. "I am all about giving back and helping others. I believe that's why I'm still alive."

For more information, search for "Genesis Aesthetics LLC" on Facebook or call 717-390-5553.