#SupportYourTatas - Early Detection Can Save Your Life! - Created by Ansley on Oct 01, 2012: EdenFantasys Forum

#SupportYourTatas - Early Detection Can Save Your Life!

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Ansley

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and women across the United States and the world are encouraged to do monthly self-exams and/or go for a yearly mammogram depending on your age. Breast cancer is the leading diagnosis in women and is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, aside from lung cancer.¹

Did you know that about 85% of breast cancer diagnosis occur in women with no family history?² It's all very scary information to digest but there is hope! With the help of foundations like the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation there have been many advancements in early-detection and treatment options available.

Monthly self-exams are really simple and take no time at all. Some women prefer to perform the exam in the privacy of her shower once a month or while lying in bed on a lazy Saturday afternoon. The choice is yours! There are even apps to remind you!

The key steps to a successful exam are touch and sight. You want to check the breast tissue for any lumps and examine the flesh and note any changes like an inverted nipple, or fluid leaking, and also note the general shape of your breasts. The slightest change could indicate a potential issue and you should refer to your physician as soon as possible.

For more information on how to perform a monthly exam, you can read the step by step instructions here. For examples of changes of the physical appearance of breasts, you may want to watch this NSFW video on Youtube. (You must prove you are 18 in order to view it, but it's extremely helpful.) For additional information on the symptoms of breast cancer you can find some really helpful insights here. And last but not least, this is a list of organizations which support finding a cure and can offer coping methods for new diagnosed women and their families.

Edenfantasys cares about this important research and to show our support, we're giving 5% of the sale proceeds for sponsored toys and giving away up to $1,000 in toys and gift certificates for three lucky winners. Click the link to find out how to enter!

The staffers here at EF have updated their icons to show their support and we encourage you to do the same. You can choose from one of the images below or make one of your own!

This is where you change your avatar and banners. Just right click and save the image you wish to use or copy the image link and paste it into the appropriate field!

Have any of you thought about the course of action you would take if you were to be diagnosed with breast cancer? For instance, some women with a known-family history would opt for a double-mastectomy instead of chancing it later in life - if you were in her shoes, do you think you could make the same decisions?

Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):

Do you support a breast cancer charity or foundation?

SiNn , llellsee , SubmissiveFeminist , TheSinDoll , mchalupa , SumFun75 , geliebt , Deanna Bull , Wehaf , DirtyAngel7

Yes, I try to stay as involved as I can with fundraisers, donations, and events.

Lady Neshamah , MzGreenEyedLady , mjtheprincess , SiNn , ghent529 , meitman , UnchartedTerritory92 , courtneylynne09 , cagypsy , uclangel422 , sexytileena / absolutely love sex , SubmissiveFeminist , fallwillow , Mizery Moon , Ajemm , MissAnna , mchalupa , SumFun75 , Deanna Bull , Sbmsvschoolgirl , Nightstone , DirtyAngel7

Yes, I make yearly or quarterly donations but do not participate in events.

PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Ansley , Gunsmoke , brevado , SiNn , llellsee , markj0917 , Tania B , malantha , jaybaybay79 , Nancy J Montgomery , mchalupa , FallFire , Rin Rin , Wehaf , FHeemz , hem , ginainohio78 , ReadmyLips

Other...

P'Gell , Kitka , unfulfilled , travelnurse , Badass , Mamastoys , kitty1949 , wetone123 , AlianneCimorene , Melan!e , Lynx , Jay Baby , Adriana Ravenlust , SelectZen , pix , midsummeradieu , RandiLynn , limecoconut , UnchartedTerritory92 , ravenbara , Martiniman , Missmarc , LoveYouLikeThat , Beautiful-Disaster , Silverdrop , newfiechic , MomsToyBoxxx , dv8 , Hardware , xoheartsyou , Beck , engineeredgoddess , Ningyo , 0990 , edeneve , Airen Wolf , surfer , gsfanatic , Omegaice , SubReiSkyeM , Karakaten , GONE! , mchalupa , SumFun75 , geliebt , Deanna Bull , amplified to rock , bluekaren , molly , goodeatz , panthercat23 , secdoover , Chelle Love , skeeterlynn , Mikemanz , NativeHalo , Nightstone , Stinkytofu10 , DirtyAngel7

Subska , Leather & Lace , joolie , LoooveMonkey , AwesomeAmanda , tigertiger , jonathans287 , jennifur77 , Kathie , mchalupa , Deanna Bull , Smooth

Do you have a family history of breast cancer?

BrokenChell , SiNn , Mistress Dragon , llellsee , LoveYouLikeThat , SubmissiveFeminist , TheSinDoll , mchalupa , Deanna Bull , Wehaf

Yes, on both sides of the family

Subska , AwesomeAmanda , SiNn , pix , LoveYouLikeThat , Beck , Omegaice , SumFun75 , Sbmsvschoolgirl

Yes, on my mother's side of the family.

Leather & Lace , glasskitten , MzGreenEyedLady , Mamastoys , Mistress Dragon , caseyb , AlianneCimorene , ghent529 , Melan!e , llellsee , Jay Baby , Adriana Ravenlust , SelectZen , RandiLynn , meitman , Martiniman , jennifur77 , courtneylynne09 , cagypsy , Abombadong , newfiechic , markj0917 , 0990 , Airen Wolf , Nancy J Montgomery , TheSinDoll , mchalupa , FallFire , Rin Rin , Wehaf , panthercat23 , Smooth , secdoover , NativeHalo , Nightstone

Yes, on my father's side of the family.

midsummeradieu , UnchartedTerritory92 , Augustxsins , ravenbara , Silverdrop , malantha , jaybaybay79 , Ningyo , Mizery Moon

No, there is no known history in either side of my family.

PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Ansley , *Camoprincess* , Kindred , BrokenChell , joolie , LoooveMonkey , ksparkles16 , P'Gell , Gunsmoke , unfulfilled , Badass , Sammi , brevado , mjtheprincess , kitty1949 , wetone123 , Andrey2052 , Lynx , Virgingasms , FlaBeachLover , JennSenn , tigertiger , limecoconut , jonathans287 , Nacht Stern , Beautiful-Disaster , Kathie , uclangel422 , MomsToyBoxxx , dv8 , Hardware , Tania B , xoheartsyou , engineeredgoddess , SubmissiveFeminist , fallwillow , edeneve , surfer , gsfanatic , ss143 , Ajemm , Karakaten , GONE! , geliebt , Deanna Bull , amplified to rock , bluekaren , molly , goodeatz , Serafina Longarina , FHeemz , skeeterlynn , Mikemanz , thornrose , DirtyAngel7

Lady Neshamah , Kitka , SubReiSkyeM , mchalupa , hem

Do you do monthly self exams?

BrokenChell , travelnurse , Mistress Dragon , llellsee , LoveYouLikeThat , SubmissiveFeminist , TheSinDoll , mchalupa , Deanna Bull , thornrose , DirtyAngel7

Yes, I do them every month.

Lady Neshamah , P'Gell , Gunsmoke , Kitka , travelnurse , Sammi , mjtheprincess , Mamastoys , SiNn , Mistress Dragon , AlianneCimorene , llellsee , Jay Baby , Virgingasms , LoveYouLikeThat , MomsToyBoxxx , jaybaybay79 , Beck , 0990 , edeneve , Airen Wolf , gsfanatic , Ajemm , TheSinDoll , Karakaten , SumFun75 , Deanna Bull , bluekaren , thornrose

Yes, but mostly when I remember.

PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Ansley , Subska , Leather & Lace , *Camoprincess* , joolie , LoooveMonkey , glasskitten , brevado , kitty1949 , wetone123 , Lynx , tigertiger , pix , Nacht Stern , Augustxsins , Martiniman , jennifur77 , courtneylynne09 , Silverdrop , newfiechic , uclangel422 , Tania B , xoheartsyou , malantha , Ningyo , SubmissiveFeminist , fallwillow , SubReiSkyeM , FallFire , amplified to rock , Rin Rin , Wehaf , goodeatz , FHeemz , hem , secdoover , skeeterlynn , ReadmyLips , DirtyAngel7

No, but I will start!

BrokenChell , unfulfilled , Badass , MzGreenEyedLady , AwesomeAmanda , ghent529 , Melan!e , volpe bianca , Adriana Ravenlust , JennSenn , midsummeradieu , RandiLynn , limecoconut , jonathans287 , meitman , UnchartedTerritory92 , ravenbara , cagypsy , Beautiful-Disaster , Kathie , Hardware , surfer , Mizery Moon , Omegaice , Nancy J Montgomery , GONE! , mchalupa , molly , Sbmsvschoolgirl , Smooth , Chelle Love , NativeHalo

...

engineeredgoddess , ss143 , mchalupa , panthercat23

Have you ever had a mammogram?

BrokenChell , Mistress Dragon , wetone123 , llellsee , VanillaFreeSex , SubmissiveFeminist , mchalupa , Deanna Bull

Yes, yearly mammograms are part of my routine.

Lady Neshamah , Leather & Lace , joolie , Gunsmoke , Sammi , brevado , Mamastoys , Mistress Dragon , Martiniman , xoheartsyou , edeneve , Nancy J Montgomery , goodeatz , NativeHalo

No, I am not part of the recommended age group for screening.

PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Ansley , Subska , *Camoprincess* , BrokenChell , LoooveMonkey , glasskitten , P'Gell , Kitka , unfulfilled , travelnurse , Badass , MzGreenEyedLady , mjtheprincess , AwesomeAmanda , SiNn , kitty1949 , AlianneCimorene , ghent529 , Melan!e , Lynx , llellsee , Jay Baby , Virgingasms , Adriana Ravenlust , JennSenn , tigertiger , pix , midsummeradieu , RandiLynn , limecoconut , jonathans287 , meitman , Nacht Stern , UnchartedTerritory92 , Augustxsins , ravenbara , jennifur77 , courtneylynne09 , cagypsy , LoveYouLikeThat , Abombadong , Beautiful-Disaster , Kathie , Silverdrop , newfiechic , uclangel422 , MomsToyBoxxx , Hardware , Tania B , malantha , jaybaybay79 , Beck , engineeredgoddess , Ningyo , SubmissiveFeminist , 0990 , fallwillow , surfer , gsfanatic , Omegaice , ss143 , Ajemm , SubReiSkyeM , TheSinDoll , Karakaten , GONE! , mchalupa , SumFun75 , Deanna Bull , FallFire , amplified to rock , bluekaren , Rin Rin , molly , Wehaf , potstickers , Serafina Longarina , Sbmsvschoolgirl , hem , panthercat23 , Smooth , secdoover , Chelle Love , skeeterlynn , ReadmyLips , thornrose , DirtyAngel7

Total votes: 472 (124 voters)

Poll is closed

10/01/2012

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Lady Neshamah

i voted "Do you have a family history of breast cancer?" as other because i have had breast cancer.

i really don't think that i am the only one here that has been though it. i would love to see something a bit more for those of us that have been though this.

~ldk

10/01/2012

Ansley

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Neshamah

The question about whether or not someone has had breast cancer was intentionally left out because it is a public poll. If anyone wants to talk about their experience having survived breast cancer, they are more than welcome to - polls and discussions are starting points for the community to divulge as much or as little about their past as they would like.

10/01/2012

Leather & Lace

Yes to all!

10/01/2012

Leather & Lace

Yes to all!

10/01/2012

*Camoprincess*

I haven't had cancer nor a mammogram as I am too young according to the doctors. I have a tubal shape lump/knot that I had to have an ultrasound done on for them to just tell me that is how my tissue in the breast grew. I have also been told I have chances in the breast tissue but nothing to be too concerned about but I plan to push forward with it to know more just in case.

10/01/2012

ksparkles16

what a great thread! I'll add this to my banner

10/02/2012

P'Gell

There's no check for being part of the age group, yet never having had a mamogram. I'm old enough to have had one, but in light of the evidence that younger women may actually increase their chances of breast cancer later with yearly mammograms, I refuse to have one yet. Most breast cancers are caught by the woman or her partner by touch! Mammograms also miss some cancers.

I may eventually have one, but I think manual exams and ultrasound scanning, if you do find a lump is a better plan. MOST women will not get breast cancer. There are things one can do to reduce one'e chances of getting breast cancer. Having children early and breastfeeding each child for at least 6 months or longer can reduce the chance of breast cancer more than ANY other strategy.

Seeing as I had my first baby before 25, and breastfed my kids for between a year and half and four years apiece, and have no family history, was a vegetarian during my formative years and do monthly exams properly, my GYN says my personal chance of breast cancer is "about 1 in 1000 or more!"

I'll start giving money to breast cancer research when they strongly endorse the known fact (more than a dozen peer reviewed studies) that breastfeeding can reduce the chance of breast cancer by a gigantic margin. Most breast cancer groups refuse to include this fact, as I was told by one of the bigger ones at a meeting "We don't want cancer victims to feel guilty." HOW does keeping good data from women who still have the chance to make the choice by breastfeeding help anyone?

As long as they refuse to acknowledge this fact, they're not getting much from me. Also, I'm not a big fan of Komen because of the Planned Parenthood fiasco, when Susan Koman for the Cure stopped their donations to PP because of pressure from Right Wing groups. They have reversed their choice now, but WHY did they do it in the first place? And why were they so easily swayed by these groups?

I support La Leche League because they tell women the truth, breastfeed for a significant period of time and your chance of breast cancer will be REDUCED to somewhere between 11% per 6 months of breastfeeding to up to 56% reduction in many studies. Also, women who were breastfed as infants have a 25% decrease in developing breast cancer as an adult.

Here's some info from Katheryn Detwyller's website (she's a lactation-anthropolgis t)

The authors write: "An increasing duration of lactation was associated with a statistically significant trend toward a reduced risk of breast cancer (P < 0.001). Lactation at early ages and for long durations was associated with more substantial reductions in risk. If women who do not breastfeed or who breastfeed for less than 3 months were to do so for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among parous premenopausal women could be reduced by 11 percent, judging from current rates. If all women with children lactated for 24 months or longer, however, then the incidence might be reduced by nearly 25 percent. This reduction would be even greater among women who first lactate at an early age."

Newcomb's study is merely the latest in a long series of studies that find protective effects of breastfeeding for mothers. It should also be pointed out that many women nurse far longer than the 24+ month limit in this study.

The second study I referred to in yesterday's post looked at whether having been breastfed protected women from breast cancer when they grew up. This study involved 1,130 women from two counties in Western New York. "Breastfeeding&am p;qu ot; was defined as ANY breastfeeding, so some of these women may have only been breastfed for a week or a month, and others for several years. The reference is:

Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994. "Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer." Epidemiology 5:324-331. (NOTE: epidemiologists use the term "exposure" to refer to both good and bad factors).

Their results showed:
Health Status

Relative Risk
Premenopausal breast cancer if not breastfed 1.00
Premenopausal breast cancer if breastfed 0.76
Postmenopausal breast cancer if not breastfed 1.00
Postmenopausal breast cancer if breastfed 0.73

Thus, for both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who were bottle-fed as an infant. END QUOTE

These are only two of the more than a dozen studies in this area.

It makes sense, priests have a higher rate of testicular and severe prostate cancer. Why? Most of them didn't use those organs for the intended purpose, making sperm and releasing it on a regular basis. The result: more cancer in the unused organs.

The breast is no different.

What is "fair" really doesn't matter when it comes to science. Women who have children earlier in life and breastfeed for a significant period of time (at least 6 months per baby and the reduction increases with each additional month or breastfeeding) have lower breast cancer rates. It doesn't completely wipe out the risk of cancer, but certainly reduces it significantly. Also, exclusive breastfeeding has a much higher protective rate than "mixed feeding" (using both breastfeeding AND formula.) Nature really doesn't distinguish what is "fair" is is Nature. Nature doesn't care about one's "Life Plan" it only has biological imperatives and for women, using the breast for what it was intended for is a biological imperative.

It may not seem "fair" for some, but it is fact.

10/02/2012

Gunsmoke

Voted for my wife - we lost a sister-in-law to BC, but no direct relatives on either side of her family. She does self-exams and gets an annual mammogram.

BTW - there are better tests than mammograms, but the insurance companies don't want to pay for them! PET scans detect tumors at a much smaller size, greatly increasing a woman's chance of survival.

10/02/2012

Kitka

I don't know anyone who's had breast cancer so I'm not exactly sure if there's a family history of it or not. I do my self exams regularly and am constantly on the look out for anything amiss. I'm used to looking at my body and noticing differences because I've been known to get hives as an allergic reaction to something and they always start in the same spot. I think my chances are minimal of developing breast cancer but you never know.

10/02/2012

unfulfilled

We don't have any history on either side of my family and like P'Gell I breast fed both my kids.

10/02/2012

Ansley

According to research, my decision to never have a child has increased my chances of breast cancer immeasurably. Does it still apply even though I've been pregnant?

10/02/2012

travelnurse

Thanks Eden and Stormy, This is great Info. I have so much respect for Eden and their support of all of the causes and especially Breast Cancer!!

10/02/2012

Ansley

Quote:

Originally posted by travelnurse

Thanks Eden and Stormy, This is great Info. I have so much respect for Eden and their support of all of the causes and especially Breast Cancer!!

You're welcome! It's scary stuff, on either side of the coin really. I know someone who questions her decision to go through the chemo and the radiation. She always says, "if I'd known then what I know now, I wouldn't have done it. I'm constantly in pain, I'm constantly sick, and people constantly coddle me". For some that might be okay, but she was really strong before her diagnosis and the slips and slides are sometimes too much to bear for her.

10/02/2012

Badass

Quote:

Originally posted by travelnurse

Thanks Eden and Stormy, This is great Info. I have so much respect for Eden and their support of all of the causes and especially Breast Cancer!!

I concur. Thanks for all the information.

10/02/2012

brevado

Great survey!!

10/02/2012

P'Gell

Quote:

Originally posted by Ansley

According to research, my decision to never have a child has increased my chances of breast cancer immeasurably. Does it still apply even though I've been pregnant?

I know that personal decision is important, and one certainly shouldn't have children simply to reduce a risk. But, yes, never being pregnant, never giving birth and especially never breastfeeding does increase your breast cancer risk by about double or more.

The thing is, we are animals, until recently, the "choice" to NOT have children did not even exist for women. I completely support women who chose not to have kids. Not everybody will enjoy them and not everybody can afford them and not everybody wants them! But, the biological imperative to breed, and have that imperative be part of the way our bodies were meant to function most efficiently isn't connected to very modern life choices.

It doesn't seem "fair" but Nature has Her own agenda. Sadly, some of that agenda doesn't always go along with modern life choices. Still, the biology and physiology are there. Women who breed, breed early in life and use their breasts to feed their young have a HUGE advantage in avoiding breast, ovarian, uterine and other cancers than those who choose otherwise.

There are some things we can't change that are built into our DNA. And the estrogen drops and "cleansing" effects that are caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding reduce a number of cancers.

10/03/2012

P'Gell

Quote:

Originally posted by Ansley

You're welcome! It's scary stuff, on either side of the coin really. I know someone who questions her decision to go through the chemo and the radiation. She always says, "if I'd known then what I know now, I wouldn't have done ... more

That's so sad. How far out from treatment is she? The first year after cancer treatment is usually the worst for many.

I have two close friends who had premenopausal breast cancer. They both had the chemo and radiation (one had a full mastectomy and hysterectomy and the other only had a lumpectomy) and they are 12 years and 7 years out from treatment and are both incredibly healthy, now. One has a "touchy" liver, from the chemo, but it only shows up in blood work and causes her no symptoms. (She actually got pregnant 4 years out from treatment, she had had NO children before and had never been pregnant. She went into menopause when she had the radiation, and was told she could never have children. She has a healthy little boy, now.)

Maybe as your friend heals from the treatment, she will feel much better.

10/03/2012

Ansley

Quote:

Originally posted by P'Gell

It's been almost four years now, maybe longer?

I'm glad to hear your friends were able to go on to be healthy and conceive. She was post-menopausal when she was diagnosed. That may have had an impact.

10/03/2012

Ansley

Quote:

Originally posted by P'Gell

I've never claimed life was fair, it's anything but fair.

My high school sophomore teacher used to say to us, "the only fair thing in life is a blonde-headed chid". I loved her to death; she had a great outlook on life.

10/03/2012

mjtheprincess

Prayers are with everyone who has to struggle with any kind of cancer

10/03/2012

Mamastoys

I have been faithful in doing monthly exams and having mammograms. We've known I have dense, cystic breast but this past Feb. they saw something suspicious. I had an ultrasound and biopsy followed that. Thank goodness it came back OK. I just went for a six month repeated ultrasound and they have found another cyst. We aren't going to biopsy at present but I have another six month ultrasound scheduled.
My mom had to have a biopsy and hers was ok. She died young so who knows if anything else would have been found.
Girls, regardless of your age, please do your monthly exams and see a doctor immediately if you feel anything different. Being a nurse, I preach preventative care! So what if you find something, they biopsy it, and it is benign. At least you will have peace of mind.
I don't worry about having them but I had to admit I do get nervous when they biopsy them.

10/03/2012

SiNn

Quote:

Originally posted by Ansley

My moms grandmother passed from breast canser that travled to her body

10/04/2012

kitty1949

I don't do breast exams as often as I should, but this thread prompted me to be more mindful of it. Excuse me, I'm gonna to touch my boobies now.

10/04/2012

P'Gell

Quote:

Originally posted by Ansley

I've never claimed life was fair, it's anything but fair.

My high school sophomore teacher used to say to us, "the only fair thing in life is a blonde-headed chid". I loved her to death; she had a great outlook on life.

Oh, no no no, I didn't think you did think or say that! I was just saying, "Sometimes Nature hands us stuff that simply isn't fair, but it's still true and scientific."

That was all. I never assumed you thought it was "unfair." I'm sorry if I gave that impression.

10/04/2012

P'Gell

Quote:

Originally posted by Ansley

I'm sorry she's suffering.

Has she spoken to her oncologist about this?
Normally, she should be feeling a lot better by now.

I hope things get better for her. Some people get liver damage and it can cause long term health problems. But only by seeing her oncologist and having an exam and blood work would she know why she isn't feeling well.

I hope she heals soon.

10/04/2012

Carrie Ann

Psst. If you voted in the poll, remember to head on over to EdenCafe and get your bonus entry in for the Bras for Breast Cancer Awareness Shopping Spree!

10/04/2012

Andrey2052

No, there is no known history in either side of my family.

10/04/2012

Ansley

Quote:

Originally posted by P'Gell

Oh, no no no, I didn't think you did think or say that! I was just saying, "Sometimes Nature hands us stuff that simply isn't fair, but it's still true and scientific."

That was all. I never assumed you thought it was ... more

Oh okay, no worries. Yeah, Mother Nature, she can be cut-throat wicked when she wants to be.

10/04/2012

Ansley

Quote:

Originally posted by P'Gell

I really don't know, it's not something I'm in a position to really ask. I just hear the result of things. I hope things get better for her as well, there seems to be something rather sinister about the cure adding to the problem even if the original issue is resolved. And thank you.

10/04/2012

Total posts: 60 Unique posters: 41

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