Archive for July 8th, 2010

As women, we all fear breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women, and this year alone 192,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. It eventually strikes one out of every eight American women. Breast cancer also causes more deaths than any other form of cancer in women under age 55.

As women, we all fear breast cancer. It is the one disease that sends chills down our spines and puts a knot in our stomachs. I am not about to go over all the reasons why women get breast cancer or who is or isn’t a high risk factor. I will leave that subject to those who are far more qualified than I, however, there is one factor that affects your breast health and that is the fit of your bra.

Right now, as you read this, 80% of all the women in America are wearing the wrong size bra. Most of them are uncomfortable and most of them are too small. Your breast is all about circulation and the flow of lymph. If you want healthy breasts, follow a regular care program, including a monthly self exam, routine visits with your doctor, and a mammogram when recommended for your age and family history, Most importantly, wear a bra that fits you.

A tight, binding, constricting, and ill fitting bra is bad for you and can cause major discomfort as well as retarding the circulation in and around your breast. So what can you do to change that? Find a bra that fits you perfectly.

This process is very simple but requires the help of an “expert”. When I was growing up in Brooklyn, New York, my mother use to call them the “brassier ladies”. They were mostly European born and had worked in corset shops in Europe as fitters or seamstresses. This noble group of women worked in neighborhood lingerie shops. You never bought a bra without their expertise.

They had such a trained eye that the minute any woman walked in the door they knew what size she was. They would take one look and say, “34C”. It was like radar, they just knew from afar, and when they measured you, they were almost always right.

Today there is a more modern version of these women called lingerie fitters. They are in local shops (if your town is lucky to have one), or work in major department stores in the lingerie department. So your first step to finding the right bra is to go see one of these gals. They will take your measurements, first under your rib cage and all around your back and then across your breast. One tells what your bra size is (34, 36, 38 etc.) and the other tells your cup size (A, B, C, D etc.) Now that you know this they will usually recommend a style for your body type based on your needs. During your session, tell this person all about your basic wardrobe. Are you looking for a bra to wear under a tee shirt or a knit, one for sports or the gym, or a special occasion look? Or do you need to establish a basic bra wardrobe?

Believe me, one hour spent with one of these experts will not only save you money in the long run (by avoiding having a drawer full of ill-fitting bras you can no longer wear), but you will be saved the daily agonies of wearing bras that hurt, are too tight, dig into your shoulders or are just plain torture!

Once you have established your size and needs, then follow these simple suggestions for a long and comfy relationship with your bras.

HOW TO PUT ON A BRA

Bend forward, put the bra on, and fasten.

Look at the fit and make sure that the cup holds all of your breast. If you are spilling out, it is too small. If you have “overhang” it is too small.

Next, take your right hand and smooth the skin of the left breast into the cup. Do the same on the other side.

Stand up straight and see how the straps fit and feel. They should be comfortable without feeling like a vice. Adjust as needed until perfect.

Now, look straight ahead into a mirror and make certain that each nipple is in the CENTER of each cup.

Adjust the back of the bra so it lies smoothly between your shoulder blades.

Take a deep breathe, how does it feel?

A word about brand names. Not every manufacturer cuts the same way, that is true of bras as well as clothes. You might be a size 34C in one brand but a 34D in another. And there may be some brands you can’t wear at all.

BRA DO’s & DON’TS –

Do get measured again every time you lose or gain weight, after a pregnancy, or if you are on hormone replacement therapy.

Don’t ever buy a bar without trying it on and stay away from the sale rack.

Unless there is a brand and style there that you wear, pulling one off the rack because it is marked down is no bargain. Chances are it will have a long and happy life in your lingerie drawer.

Do buy an under wire style if you are full breasted and need firmer support.

Do buy a minimizer if you want to have a large breast appear smaller.

Do try one of the new soft cup bras that offer construction for a smaller breast. (Soft cup means sans under wire.)

Do throw away any and all bras that hurt you or are uncomfortable, no matter how much you paid for them.

Important points to remember

Ask a salesperson to measure you but let your eye and your body be the ultimate test. A bra shouldn’t ride up, dig into your back, or slip off your shoulders.

When trying on a bra in a store, take several, in various sizes, into the fitting room. The difference between a 34 and 36 might be one hook.

For the best fit, your bra should be fastened with the middle hook.

Reevaluate your bra wardrobe at the beginning of every season.

If you find a bra that you love, by all means buy more than one.

Never put a bra in the dryer.

Divigel(R) (Estradiol Gel) 0.1% is One of a Newer Generation of Bioidentical Estrogens That is FDA-Approved for Relief …

Divigel(R) (Estradiol Gel) 0.1% is One of a Newer Generation of Bioidentical Estrogens That is FDA-Approved for Relief …
Women looking for the best method to manage common symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and night sweats, may not have access to credible information, especially when it comes to understanding their estrogen therapy options. Â In fact, there are an array of celebrities and authors who are simply not qualified to give medical advice about managing menopause, yet they dominate the internet and …

Read more on PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance

Women, Teens On The Pill Risk Breast Cancer, Major Study Says

Oral contraception has been closely linked to a certain deadly type of breast cancer, a leading cancer journal stated recently, and the results may prove to challenge the breast cancer research community.

A study concerning the deadly “triple negative” breast cancer, involving  more than 1500 women aged 20 – 45, found a “distinct etiology,” or cause and effect, for women who used oral contraception for longer than a year, and an even stronger correlation for women who began using it before the age of 18.

The study was published in the April 2009 Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention over a five-year period. The study’s main author, Jessica Dolle, and other researchers at the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, found that oral contraceptive use for a year or more “was associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk for triple-negative breast cancer.” Triple negative breast cancer is a subtype of cancer associated with a high mortality rate.

Various Causes

“Specifically,” the study said, “older age, family history of breast cancer, earlier menarche age [beginning of menstruation], induced abortion, and oral contraceptive use were associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.”

“Our study has the strength of being population based and is the largest of its kind to evaluate breast cancer subtypes and etiologic [causation] differences in young women,” the study said.

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States, according to the NCI. Nearly 200,000 women were diagnosed in the U.S. last year with breast cancer.

In the light of recent studies such as the Dolle report, many experts believe women should be educated about the dangers of oral contraceptives and breast cancer.

Women in Phoenix, AZ, as well as Peoria, Glendale, Tempe, Mesa, Avondale and other cities can learn more about the dangers of oral contraceptives by contacting Life Choices Women’s Clinics.

Hyperthermia Breast Cancer Treatment

Southern Maryland community calendar, July 8-15, 2010

Southern Maryland community calendar, July 8-15, 2010
“THE ATMOSPHERE EXPOSED: PHOTOGRAPHS OF IRIDESCENT CLOUDS AND MORE,” images taken by scientists and meteorologists. St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Montgomery Hall, 18952 E. Fisher Rd., St. Mary’s City. Free. 240-895-2000 or http://www.smcm.edu/boydengallery . Maryland – United States – Southern Maryland – Metro Areas and Regions – Republican Party

Read more on Washington Post

Claire’s Angels raising funds at barbecue, bake sale

Claire’s Angels raising funds at barbecue, bake sale
Claire’s Angels are holding a garage and bake sale at 766 McIntyre St. East, which runs to 4 p.m. Claire, the late wife of Tony Saini, died 23 years ago after battling breast cancer. A team of Saini’s honour her life by taking part in the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers in Toronto Sept.[...]

Read more on The North Bay Nugget

Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer

Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer
A recent report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease.

Read more on PhysOrg

Saunders wins breast cancer battle

Saunders wins breast cancer battle
Jennifer Saunders has fought a successful battle with breast cancer. The Absolutely Fabulous star is understood to have found a breast lump around nine months ago and was given the all-clear last month.

Read more on Pendle Today

Fundraising tournament keeps organizers busy

Fundraising tournament keeps organizers busy
Lisa Curtis is looking forward to a busy weekend.

Read more on The Oshkosh Northwestern

Information about your health

Information about your health
‘Cancer affects us all. All of us have a story of someone we love battling the disease. Our aim is quite simple — we want to achieve cancer survival rates among the best in the world.

Read more on Department of Health