Feel Your Boobies

OK, you might think I've lost my mind, but really I'm just posting a friendly reminder to all you ladies. After reading Middle Place (by Kelly Corrigan) and meeting Amy (breast cancer survivor) on the cruise, breast cancer has been on my brain a lot.

Women in the United States have the highest incidence rates of breast cancer in the world. Among women in the US, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second-most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). Women in the US have a 1 in 8 (12.5%) lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer and a 1 in 35 (3%) chance of breast cancer causing their death.

So of the roughly 200 female Facebook friends I have, over 12 of you will get breast cancer. Did you know that you are more likely to find a woman with breast cancer (12.5%) than a female engineer (9%)? Did you know that research shows that "feeling your boobies" is just as effective at identifying changes or lumps as doing a formal self-breast exam?

Feel Your Boobies is a non-profit breast cancer organization. It's mission is to utilize unexpected and unconventional media to remind women, especially those under 40, to "feel their boobies" or do a self-breast exam. As a way of raising money, they sell humorous t-shirts (like the one above), bumper stickers, etc.

So go ahead and do it...feel your boobies and participate in a local Race for the Cure or Breast Cancer 3-Day.