Save the Ta-Ta’s

Photo: www.todaybeam.com
Photo: www.todaybeam.com

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, you know, turning 40, I had my first mammogram today.  It was quick, relatively painless and quite peculiar.  For those of you who have never had one, basically you put one breast on a slab, another slab presses down on it lightly and a picture is taken from two angles; then you repeat on the other side.

Many women “accidentally” forget to schedule their mammograms but if you’re 40 or older and/or have a history of breast cancer in your family, you should really schedule one.  The Affordable Care Act changed the law so that insurance companies now have to pay for this preventative screening every year or two, so out-of-pocket expense should no longer be a worry.  (Check with your insurance carrier for details about your specific plan.)

Sometimes we, myself included, delay these preventative tests because we are terrified that the results will come back saying that we have cancer.  But ignorance in this case is not bliss; it is life threatening.  It’s better to get the test.

According to the American Cancer Society, if breast cancer is found and treated at Stage 1 the survival rate of 5 years or longer is 100%!  If it’s found at Stage II the survival rate is 93%!  Those are really great odds.  The survival rate goes down the later it is discovered.

Be your own advocate.  You can do periodic self exams in addition to mammograms.  Here is how you do a self exam:  The 5 Steps of a Breast Self Exam.

You can also be proactive by eating a healthy diet.  Looking for a book that offers anti-cancer foods plus a recipe for clean chocolate raspberry mousse?  (I can vouch for the chocolate recipe.  It’s DELICIOUS.)  Check out this one:  Eating the Alkaline Way + Raw Chocolate Mousse

Raw Chocolate Mousse
Raw Chocolate Mousse

If you do get breast cancer you are not alone.  The American Cancer Society helps people with all types of cancer.  They have been a wonderful resource for my mother (she has lung cancer).  They offer a free wig and head wrap to any patient undergoing chemo, have support groups for both patients and caregivers and help with clinical trial matches.  They and even do outreach programs where cosmetologists teach patients how to handle side effects of chemo and apply make-up after skin changes.  (For example, some patients lose their eyebrow hair during chemo, so cosmetologists teach them how to draw them back on.  Others just don’t feel pretty anymore so this mini makeover boosts their self esteem.)

Here is the story of one breast cancer survivor who refused to let her diagnosis define her.

Diana Hurley – Strength in Vulnerability

Stay healthy!  And if you have a female friend who needs a little reminder to take care of ta-ta business, feel free to share this article with her.

Lisa ;)

ShesLosingIt.com (c) 2014 Lisa Traugott. All rights reserved. No portion of this blog, including any text, photographs, and artwork, may be reproduced or copied without written permission

 

 

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