Talkin' Tatas Tuesdays: Seven degrees of separation, or less

When you look at the statistics, one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer (American Cancer Society).   Unfortunately, that means I could bet that out of you and your 7 closest friends and colleagues, you can probably identify at least one woman who has survived breast cancer.  Amongst family members, I can identify at least one.  At work, at least one.  And among my friends, at least one.  And that is just me and my circle.  


What the hell? Those numbers are ridiculous.  Breast cancer is the second, only to lung cancer, leading cancer killer of women, according to ACS.  So what do we do?


I'm in my early 30s.  I have yet to have the mammogram.  For the most part, breast cancer is not common in my immediate family.  So I follow the general recommendations: SBE (self breast exams), clinical breast exams by the physician, and try to keep in general good health.   But many are not as lucky, and maybe the prevalence of breast cancer is higher.  

Women at high risk include those who:

• Have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• Have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, or child) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, but have not had genetic testing themselves
• Have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20% to 25% or greater, according to risk assessment tools that are based mainly on family history (such as the Claus model - see below)
• Had radiation therapy to the chest when they were between the ages of 10 and 30 years
• Have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or have first-degree relatives with one of these syndromes

Women at moderately increased risk include those who:

• Have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 15% to 20%, according to risk assessment tools that are based mainly on family history (see below)
• Have a personal history of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)
• Have extremely dense breasts or unevenly dense breasts when viewed by mammograms

The theory of early detection is the key, and we know our bodies best.  But sometimes we need the electronic age help.  So if you think you may be considered at high or moderate risk with factors like those above, then consider talking to your doctor about yearly MRI and mammograms.


Go to the American Cancer Society for more information and talk to your physician!
Let's save the tatas!

Talkin' Tatas Tuesdays: Moobs

According to the American Cancer Society: A breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer occurs mainly in women, but men can get it, too. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer.


So whether you call them moobs or 'man'ary glands, the man boobs are also susceptible to breast cancer development.  Though there is no for sure cause for men developing breast cancer, there are risk factors described by the ACS which include the following:


Age: Men with breast cancer are on average about 68 years old when they are diagnosed.
Family history: About 1 out of 5 men with breast cancer have close male or female relatives with the disease.
Genetics: The BRCA2 mutations may account for 1 in 10 men.
Radiation exposure
Alcohol/Liver disease:  excessive alcohol abuse may cause liver disease which may in turn mess with the  hormone balance
Estrogen treatment:  Estrogen based treatments are sometimes used in prostate cancers, as well as those who may have had a sex change.
Obesity:  fat cells can change male hormones into female hormones
Testicular Conditions: more research is needed
Klinefelter's Syndrome : though more research is needed, the extra X chromosomes related with the genetic disorder may account for some cases.
Certain Occupations : more research is needed but prolonged exposure to heat and fumes may have an affect on cancer development  


All information found on American Cancer Society website.  As with anything: I am not a doctor. I don't pretend to be.  I just found it share worthy.  Talk with the moob owner in your life, and get him checked too, especially if it runs in the family.

Talkin' Tatas Tuesdays, or Rather How to Support Them

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I figured it would be a good forum to discuss the girls.  


So besides talking about the importance of a good self breast exam, I defer to the Susan G. Komen Organization and its wealth of information on early detection and screening, I am choosing to rather talk about the need to support them in the right way- a good, No, an excellent fitting bra.  Do any of you remember Beaches and Bette Midler's character CeCe singing about whether or not "Do you buys a titsling, or do you buy a brazierre?"  

If you are like me, the girls are nowhere near where they were in high school, let alone, before I had children.  So whether you refer to them as tatas, pancakes, jugs, boobs, or breasts, they are a big part of your life.  And you should take care of them.

I will have you know, this card was from my best friend of 20 some odd years. Feel the love?

So I went on my own Boobtastic Adventure and I finally had my very own bra fitting at Victoria's Secret, in Garden City, Cranston.  My free fitting was done by Mary, a wonderfully helpful woman.  And it was not intimidating at all.  She first measure me chest diameter to get an idea of my girth, with my clothes on.  Then she brought it a bunch of different styles to try.  Each time, I was given privacy to try them on, then she asked if I would like her to adjust the straps and see if it were a good fit.  She also shared some great pointers like:

• Make sure you secure your bra with the middle hooks.  If you have back cleavage (like below) then you don't have the right fit.  If you have to do either the first or last hook, you may want to look into a different size (ie 32 or 36 if you thought you were a 34)
• Make sure your back strap sits in the middle of your back.  If it is riding up towards your shoulders, your boobs will look low and droopy and you will probably be slouching (she didn't say that. She said it wouldn't support them properly.)
• If you have the four(or six)-boob-effect, you should make sure you have the correct cup size.  They should be well contained within the cup.

So next time you aren't liking the way you feel or look, remember what Stacey and Clinton say from What Not To Wear, Your Bra Is Your BFF. When your girls are lifted and separated, you look thinner, period. You appear taller. Your waist appears narrower. Ladies with a larger bust will especially need to 

invest in a really, really great brassiere.

If you have never had a fitting, I would highly recommend it.  There are few things I truly invest in besides a car, a house, and a family.  Those would be shoes and a well fitted over the shoulder boulder holder.

And if you or anyone you know has been touched by Breast Cancer, consider donating to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.