The Breast Site

Mother’s Day ‘Race to Empower’ Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Support

Beverly — Fri, 11 May 2007 18:13:00 GMT

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and Y-ME is once again pleased to announce their 2007 Y-ME race season! Each year volunteers participate in the Y-ME ‘Race to Empower’ which occurs on Mother’s Day. The race was developed to raise funds and support for the Y-ME’s services and programs. Participants have the choice of completing a one or three mile walk, or a five kilometer run. The race is taking place in 12 cities across the United States and you can visit their website to find out if they...(read more)

“I Want Surgery Now!”

Beverly — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:28:00 GMT

What teens and parents need to know about breast surgery By Eric Sparling Maybe you’re a mother who’s heartbroken about your 16-year old daughter being ridiculed for her “flat” chest. Or perhaps you’re an active young woman who’s sick of her large bust interfering with her favorite sport. Well, unhappiness about breast size and appearance is common among teenagers. But when does unhappiness warrant a surgical solution , and how young is too young? TheBreastSite.com asked two surgeons to provide us...(read more)

You Tan, You Die?

Beverly — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:35:00 GMT

Dermatologist says there’s no safe way to tan topless By Eric Sparling Sun tan season is just around the corner. With a pool in the backyard and a nice tall, wooden fence for privacy, it’s time to free the sisters and bask topless as nature intended. But to avoid a sunburn on your palest parts, how short should your first sun tanning session be? For an answer to this and other questions about topless sun tanning, we contacted Gene Rubinstein, MD , a California-based dermatologist. So doc, to start...(read more)

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising Ideas - from the Pros!

Beverly — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Last week I spoke with a very inspiring group of women – The Crazie Daizies . The Daizies first came together in 2004. It was during this time that work colleagues and running partners - Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan and Heather MacDonald - decided that they wanted to participate in their first Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Toronto. Today the Daizies are made up of team members Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan, Heather MacDonald, Sally MacDonald, Heather Seabrooke, Margaret Reiss, Joyce Lin and Karen Frybort....(read more)

Hope or Hype: Is DCA a cancer cure?

Beverly — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:20:00 GMT

Experts reserve judgment Have you heard the latest news from the frontiers of experimental cancer drugs? The media have been buzzing about dichloroacetate, or DCA, a drug that has the potential to be a cheap and effective treatment – even cure? – for some cancers. According to NewScientist.com, “Evangelos Michelakis of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and his colleagues tested DCA on human cells cultured outside the body and found that it killed lung, breast and brain cancer cells,...(read more)

Inspiring memories from The Crazie Daizies

Beverly — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Last week I spoke with a very inspiring group of women – The Crazie Daizies . The Daizies first came together in 2004. It was during this time that work colleagues and running partners - Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan and Heather MacDonald - decided that they wanted to participate in their first Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Toronto. The 3 friends had already completed several 5km and10km runs and 3 half marathons together. Now it was time for a new challenge! They wanted to give something back to...(read more)

The Crazie Daizies: Running, walking and raising funds for breast cancer

Beverly — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:28:00 GMT

The Crazie Daizies are a team of inspiring women, from all walks of life and who range in ages, from the Kitchener, Ontario region. They were officially established in 2004, when Pauline Tam, Kathleen Kwan and Heather MacDonald decided that they would participate in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Toronto. In 2002, they took up running together and successfully completed several 5km and 10km runs and eventually 3 half marathons. Running together for long distances is a real bonding experience....(read more)

Got Bounce!

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:54:00 GMT

Did you know that a set of unsupported breasts can bounce up and down at a distance of 14-centemeters during strenuous exercise? Well it’s definitely something to ponder during your next jog - especially if you’re strapping your sisters into an ordinary bar (which only reduces bounce by about 35%).

Severe bounce can cause permanent damage to your breasts and your surrounding breast tissues. And we all know how an uncomfortable bra can dig into your breasts and back when you exercise. Well a company in the UK has invented a new sports bra dubbed the “Shock Absorber”. The bra, now being sold at Victoria Secrets in the UK, claims to reduce bounce by up to 74% because it’s not only fitted to a woman’s breast cup size, it’s also fitted to her back for added support.

You can see the Shock Absorber bra in action via a fun tool called the Bounce-ometer. This virtual chart let’s the user choose they’re cup size and activity level. It then displays the 3 levels of bounce she experiences – when wearing no bra, when wearing an ordinary bra and if she wore a Shock Absorber bra. Hopefully the Shock Absorber will be available to support North American breasts soon!

To read the full article click here- http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html.

Breastfeeding Linked to Respiratory Health

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:51:00 GMT

A recent study has linked breastfeeding to children’s respiratory health. The study, conducted by the University of California’s pediatric department, showed that 2 additional months of breast-feeding may in fact be related to the number of respiratory ailments a child will suffer in infancy, right up until the age of 2-years-old.

The study examined the respiratory health of a group of children – from birth up until the age of 2-years-old. It concluded that babies whose mothers ceased breast-feeding before they were 6-months-old suffered more instances of re-occurring ear infections and pneumonia; compared to those who were breast-fed right up until 6-months or older.

Dr. Caroline J. Chantry, leader of the study and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, claims simply that the longer a mother breastfeeds; the greater her child’s respiratory health will be in the future. "If you can breast-feed for 6-months,” says Chantry, “you're doing your baby a favor."

Read the full article here - http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/health/21prev.html.

Breastfeeding Breaks

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 16:48:00 GMT

Breastfeeding advocate group, the La Leche League, plans to go to bat for working mothers with Senate Bill 167. The bill will be presented at the Capital, and would require businesses to give breastfeeding employees a sufficient amount of time and a private place to either breastfeed their babies or to pump their breast milk.

Mary Ann Kerwin, a member of the Colorado Breastfeeding Task Force, feels that Bill 167 would benefit both working mothers and businesses if mothers could continue to breastfeed after returning to work. Kerwin points out that working mothers tend to breastfeed less often and for shorter periods of time compared to stay-at-home mothers. Senate Bill 167 would require businesses to allot 2 additional unpaid, 20-minute breaks to working mothers to either breastfeed or pump. Overall, Kerwin says that the breaks would find new mothers missing less scheduled work time to breastfeed, and less time off work because they're babies would be breastfed longer and therefore remain healthier.

"We're just trying to get an accommodation just like they've made for smokers," says Mary Ann Kerwin, a member of the Colorado Breastfeeding Task Force.

Read the full story here - http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_043112959.html.

Tattoo for the Cure - Now Curing

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 14:40:00 GMT

If you recall, back on January 18^th I dedicated The Breast Blog topic to a co-worker of mine, named Tamara, who courageously dedicated her time – and skin – to the Pink Ribbon campaign. This rather unique breast cancer fundraiser was hosted by a local Cambridge, Ontario radio station - DAVE FM - who was willing to pay for Tammy to get a pink ribbon tattoo if she raised the $500 (minimum) worth of sponsor donations.

Well on Friday, February 3 the monies were in, and Tammy raised a whopping $1,480 thanks to the support of her friends and co-workers. She is now the proud owner of a pink ribbon tattoo for breast cancer on her hip. In the words of Tammy, “The campaign itself raised over $20,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation! The tattoo is done and yes, it hurt like hell, but what kept me going through it was the great cause and fantastic support from everyone!”

For more information on Tattoo for the Cure...with 107.5 DAVE FM click here - http://www.davefm.com/station/contests_details.cfm?ev=2320

Support is Key to Returning to Work

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:52:00 GMT

Research indicates that over 80-percent of employed women with breast cancer go back to work after treatment. These findings were based on a study of 416 working women who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After diagnoniss the women were followed up after 12-months and again after 18-months.

Dr. Reynard R. Bouknight, the chief researcher from Michigan State University in East Lansing, points to the fact that 87-pecent of employers had support systems in place to accommodate the treatment needs of ill employees. Bouknight says this proves that "working breast cancer survivors can be helped immensely by employers who are sensitive to their health care needs."

Read the full article here - http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-01-31T162757Z_01_COL159316_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-BREAST-CANCER-DC.XML&archived=False

PS - In next week's blog I'll be updating you on the results of my co-worker Tammy's Tattoo for the Cure Campaign. See the blog from Wednesday, January 18, 2006.

One Tree Hill Educates Fans with Music

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:36:00 GMT

Fans of the TV show One Tree Hill will be anticipating the upcoming release of a soundtrack of favorite songs featured on the series. The Friends with Benefit soundtrack is set to hit store shelves on February 7, 2006, featuring tunes from popular bands such as Audioslave, Tyler Hilton, Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy, Hot Hot Heat and more.

However, the disc will do more than simply promote the WB Network series, according to One Tree Hill creator and executive producer Mark Schwahn who says, "We have an audience of young girls and women and selfishly, we'd like to keep them alive and healthy for years to come." Therefore, a portion of the proceeds from the Friends with Benefit CD will go to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Currently One Tree Hill is featuring a storyline that has a popular character’s mother battling breast cancer. The storyline and the soundtrack recognize that the vast majority of One Tree Hill fans are undoubtedly young women that may one day be touched by breast cancer. Who says educational programming can’t be fun?

Read the full article here - http://www.groovevolt.com/Newswires/newswire.asp?ID=1803.

Tattoo for the Cure

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 14:23:00 GMT

The topic of this week's Breast Blog was inspired by a woman I work with. You see Tammy has always wanted a tattoo, but has never really come across a design that's meant enough to her to have it inked permanently onto her body till the end of time. That was until Tammy heard about the Pink Ribbon campaign, being hosted by a local Cambridge, Ontario radio station - DAVE FM. You see the radio station was willing to pay for any listener to get a pink ribbon tattoo if they are able to raise the minimum $500 worth of donations.

In the words of my friend Tammy “As soon as I heard the idea I knew this was the tattoo I wanted because it's not "just for me" anymore. It's a much more important cause. I don't know too many people that haven't been affected by it [breast cancer] in some way or another.”

This Breast Blog is dedicated to the individuals like Tammy who make a big difference in the fight against breast cancer with small steps. It can be simply by hosting a car wash, a bake sale or even by getting a pink ribbon tattoo for the cause. Every little bit helps.

Thank you,

From The Breast Site

Commit to Breast Health in 2006!

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:05:00 GMT

Ringing in the New Year means champagne toasts, spontaneous kisses at midnight and frivolous dinning for most of us. However, January 1^st is the extreme opposite, when we awake and face honoring those dreaded New Years resolutions.

The most typical resolutions for the New Year consist of our commitment to eat healthier, lose weight and quit smoking, but for woman all of these resolutions have one vital thing in common – they’re all key ways to reduce the chances of breast cancer and other forms of cancer.

In celebration of the New Year, the American Cancer Society has released their annual list of resolutions ‘Tips on how to be Healthier in 2006!’

And what do you imagine tops their list:

1) Quitting smoking

2) Committing to a more active lifestyle

3) Maintaining a health weight

4) Limiting alcoholic consumption

5) Eating a healthy diet

6) Scheduling regular cancer screenings

Read the full article here - http://westchester.com/Westchester_News/Westchester_Health_News/American_Cancer_Society_Tips_On_How_To_Be_Healthier_In_2006_200512316079.html.

Realistic Heartache Cracks The Family Stone

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 20:10:00 GMT

Just in time for the holidays, sophomore director Thomas Bezucha, gives theater audiences The Family Stone, a heart-wrenching realistic take on spending Christmas amidst family dysfunction and the tragedy that can bind those relationships tighter.

The film revolves around Manhattan executive, Everett Stone (played by Dermot Mulroney) who brings his prudish girlfriend Meredith (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) home for the holidays. Even though many of us have suffered through a tense family gathering, the real tragedy is discovered in Everett’s “tough-as-nails” mother, Sybil (played by Diane Keaton), who we soon find is secretly suffering with terminal breast cancer. Although he admits the film isn’t autobiographical, Bezucha admits, “it could not be more personal to me…There are many women in my life who have had breast cancer, some who survived and flourished and others who’ve died.”

Read the full film review here: http://www.afterelton.com/people/2005/12/bezucha.html.

Click here for the film’s official website: http://www.thefamilystonemovie.com/.

The Breast Site wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's a Holiday Celebration of Anatomy!

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:43:00 GMT

Nice Tits, a recent addition to the playbill at Alliance Repertory Company in Burbank, California features a cast of 16 actors who come together to explore “titillating” topics such as the superficiality of breasts, how we're judged for having breasts, as well as the various (and sometimes humorous) ways in which having a set can get us in trouble.

The ensemble cast puts on featurettes with titles like “Sagging Boobs”, “Chi Chis” and “Groovy Ody“. You can catch Nice Tits until December 17, 2005 at Alliance Repertory Company, located at 3204 West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank, California. Ticket prices are $15. For ticket availability and more information call 800-595-4849.

Read the full article here - http://www.martinirepublic.com/item/nice-tits-at-alliance-repertory-company/

Want Healthy Breasts? Move to the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Region

Wed, 07 Dec 2005 15:30:00 GMT

Self magazine has unveiled its 6th Annual America’s Healthiest Places for women to live, in the December issue. This is the 6^th time that Self magazine has compiled its controversy list - which explores the gamut of women’s health issues from best clinical breast exams (cheers for Albany-Schenectady-Troy) to highest cigarette smoking (boos for Las Vegas, Nevada). Self’s news director and author of the story, Sara Austin, examined data collected from nation’s leading environmental and health groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate 100 metro areas across the U.S.

"This is the first year we've looked at clinical breast exams," said Austin of the “best breasts” ranking; which was based on the total number of mammograms and breast exams performed in a region per capita. Albany also nabbed first place for the highest percentage of women who undergo regular Pap smears.

"We sometimes make people mad [but] we don't mind it gets them motivated," Austin says, pointing to Memphis, Tennessee’s, 2002 “Unhealthiest City” ranking; which led to the implementation of "Memphis on the Move", a program that spearheaded the construction of new bike and running paths throughout the city.

Read the full article here: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1205best-breasts05-ON.html

See the top 5 Healthiest and Unhealthiest here:

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/health/health.php?story=dispatch/2005/12/01/20051201-B1-04.html

New Digital Technology Provides 3-D Breast Exams

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:27:00 GMT

A new 3-demensional breast exam technology, called tomosynthesis, has been introduced as an alternative to traditional mammograms for detecting breast cancer. In the past, conventional mammograms have commonly tested with inaccuracy, and patients have often been called back for a second, follow-up exam. Tomosynthesis takes a 3-dimensional image of the breast; which is thought to increase the accuracy of the exam and decrease many of the false alarms raised by traditional mammograms by as high as 40-percent. However, tomosynthesis is more expensive than conventional mammograms (that use film) due to the digital technology used to perform it. Whether or not tomosynthesis can replace the mammograms in the future is still uncertain.

Read the full article here:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-breast29.html

Breastfeeding Mom's Reducing Their Risk of Diabetes

Thu, 24 Nov 2005 15:43:00 GMT

Findings from a new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that new mothers who breastfeed for a full year, or longer, can dramatically reduce their risk of diabetes. The study conducted by Dr. Alison Stuebe, and her team of researchers from the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston, studied 150,000 breastfeeding women for 15-years prior to their last birth. They found that nursing a baby reduces a woman's risk of diabetes by 15-percent. Stuebe says that, "Each year a woman breastfed, her risk of diabetes was reduced by 15 percent. [If] a woman had 2 children [and] breastfed for 2 years, our data suggests that she may reduce her risk of diabetes by nearly a third."

Read full story here: http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-11-22-voa57.cfm

New Breast Pap Test Detects Cancer Earlier

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 14:14:00 GMT

If you're a woman then you probably feel a familiar sense of dread creeping up on you when you book a pap test with your doctor every other year. However you’re well aware of its importance to your health.

Pap tests have helped to detect cases of cervical abnormalities in many women and have helped to reduce the overall death associated with cervical cancer by over 70 percent since being introduced in the 1950s. A new pap test for breasts is now available for detecting breast cancer. The Halo Pap Test can help doctors detect breast cancer up to 8 years earlier than a mammogram. The breast pap works similarly to the cervical pap with a doctor taking a fluid sample from the breast duct and testing it for any abnormal cells. The Halo Pap Test is currently available in the U.S. Patients who have undergone testing claim that the test is painless and non-intrusive - compared to a mammogram.

Read the full story here: http://cbs4boston.com/local/local_story_319153420.html.

Breastfeeding Aid Offers New Moms a Lift

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:24:00 GMT

iParenting Media has dubbed the Udderly Yours Breast Pillow one of the most ingenius products for families in 2005. The pillow is designed to give mom-to-be a hands-free solution to nursing her baby. The crescent-shaped foam pillow supports mom's breast comfortably in an upright position so that she'll no longer have to hold her breast and her baby up during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is an ideal way for mom and baby to bond, but new mom's often find that constantly having to adjust while feeding takes away from this bonding experience. The Udderly Yours Breast Pillow takes the frustrating and often painful aspects out of breastfeeding, so that you and baby can be totally immersed in each other's company.

For the full story click here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb307197.htm.

Garlic – Causes More Than Bad Breath!

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 14:42:00 GMT

Keeping with Halloween superstitions, many of us might have hung a few bulbs of garlic near our thresholds last night to ward off blood-thirsty vampires and other evil spirits. However, scientists now believe that garlic may be beneficial in warding off evil carcinogens in our foods.

Recent findings by the American Association for Cancer Research show that while this most offensive herb may damage our luck with the opposite sex; it may actually stop the production of PhIP, a suspected carcinogen produced by protein-rich foods – such as meat and eggs – when cooked at high temperatures. In the past, evidence has shown that breast cancer occurrence is higher among women who consume high quantities of meat in their diets. Although, diets high in bad fats and empty calories have also been blamed for increasing a woman's risk of breast cancer.

Read the full article here - http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/Garlic_Inhibits_DNA_damaging_chemical_in_breast_cancer.shtml

Splitting Hairs Over the Importance of Breast Screenings

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 13:24:00 GMT

In Lexington, North Carolina, talk about breast cancer awareness has been going on in the place that’s known to get the word around – the beauty salon!

Doctors say that a woman’s chances of survival are 90-percent if her breast cancer is detected early on. However, the major problem is in getting women to commit to annual breast screenings. Recognizing the bonds that hair stylists form with their clients, more than 30 salon owners in Davidson County have been asked to use their gift of gab to educate their clients on the importance of breast cancer screening.

Click here to read the full article: http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=50336

U.S. Olympian Toasts Breast Cancer Research

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 13:29:00 GMT

1968 U.S. Olympic figure skater, Peggy Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer on the 30^th anniversary of her gold medal win. Faced with what she called "another Olympics, a life Olympics". Peggy says that early detection “saved my life. I believe that my lifelong dedication to health, fitness and personal accomplishment also played an important role in my victory. I was one of the lucky ones.”

This year, Peggy and her husband Greg Jenkins have created Fleming Jenkins Victories Rosé, a special vintage from their Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery. One hundred percent of the net sales will be donated to non-profit breast cancer organizations such as The V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University.

To learn more about Peggy Fleming’s fight against breast cancer or to purchase an autographed Victories Rosé magnum (1.5 liter) click here - http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_ID=FJVVICROSE_2004&Nu=p_family_name.