Breast Cancer.  It’s a word most of us don’t spend too much time pondering about.  After all, we are busy college students with plenty of other things on our minds and problems to address.  Problems that seem significant or monumental as they occur in our little bubble world of college. Problems like:

“Oh my god, I just gained five pounds.”
“Shoot, I shouldn’t have had that extra slice of pizza last night.”
“Ugh I didn’t make the lacrosse team.”
“Grad school applications need to be in by next week? I am so screwed.”

Thoughts such as these are more of the day-to-day troubles on our minds. But breast cancer? No, not breast cancer.  Unless someone in our family is diagnosed with the disease, why should we think about such an awful, somewhat unthinkable possibility, which is so far removed from our current existence?

Well, I propose we change this lack of breast cancer contemplation. And I have good reasons for it.

Given the explosion of childhood obesity seen in our generation, health experts across the board are predicting crisis proportions of heart disease, diabetes, and you guessed it, breast cancer.  And seeing that we just rounded out National Breast Cancer Awareness month, I think it’s important to point out that the breast cancer Grim Reaper is going to plague our generation unless we take a proactive approach to keeping ourselves healthy and motivating our loved ones to do the same.

Most of my friends think that being diagnosed with breast cancer is all about being dealt an unlucky hand.  They think that no changes they make in their lifestyle will increase or decrease their odds of getting a cancer diagnosis later in life.  However, it’s so important for you all to know that this could not be farther from the truth!  Actually, lifestyle changes can be powerful prevention tools. Very powerful.  Like Superman saving Metropolis from destruction kind of powerful.  Yup, you can be your own Superman saving your own Metropolis (your body) from Lex Luthor (breast cancer).  Except this isn’t science fiction and I really am never going to meet Tom Wellings (star of Superman on the CW). Sigh.

Anyway, studies across the board show that what we eat and how much we weigh are significant contributors to whether or not we will get breast cancer.  No joke. Early studies on breast cancer found wide international variations in disease rates.  Due to such variable breast cancer incidences among countries all over the world, scientists began to wonder if diet was playing a role in the variability.  This question resulted in further studies on breast cancer, studies which have confirmed this hypothesis.

Turns out obesity is a significant risk factor for breast cancer:

* Gaining one pound per year during adulthood can double breast cancer risk after menopause.
* Obesity alone is thought to be responsible for 17% of breast cancers.
*  Countries with higher incidences of obesity, increased soft drink consumption and excessive animal protein consumption among it’s citizens have much higher rates of breast cancer than those that don’t.
* Greater consumption of vegetables during high school and college has been associated with a decreased risk of break cancer and high glycemic index foods, like white flour products and processed foods, has been associated with increased risk.

New research is showing  the strong protective effects of natural foods against breast cancer. For instance, mushrooms have anti-estrogenic activity and regular mushroom consumption is associated with a sixty percent decrease in cancer risk. Sixty percent!  Leafy green vegetables, like kale, bok choy, watercress and spinach, as well as other green vegetables, like broccoli, contain compounds shown to inhibit cancer cell growth. Cancer of all kinds!

So, in addition to wearing a pink ribbon and giving yourself monthly breast self-exams, eat plenty of vegetables, onions and mushrooms, reduce (or eliminate!) your animal product and processed foods intake, and keep on exercising and you can be your own breast cancer Superwoman.

I love my boobs. Seriously.  They are fabulous and I wouldn’t do anything in this world to replace them with anything else.  I’m happy to have them by my side whenever I‘m laying down need a handful of jiggly happiness to cry on.  I believe they are superb. I don’t want this post to seem like a giant complain-fest.  It’s simply the honest truth about having big boobs.

Because mine are ginormous.

I’m being honest.  You could probably see them from where you’re sitting right now.  I can barely fit half of one in my hand when I grab on to them (yes, I’ve tried) and when I look down, I can’t see my feet.  For a large handful (pun intended) of my life, they have been large.  When I was in seventh grade, all of the kids in choir made fun of me because I refused to wear a bra until my mother tackled me down and force-fed me a training bra (I thought it was uncomfortable).  Kids in my high school nicknamed me BLT.  And it had nothing to do with my devotion to bacon, lettuce, and tomato. The acronym was for ‘Big-Lucious-Tits.”

For a long time, I believed that there was nothing positive about having big tatas.  Firstly, you can never wear skimpy clothing without looking like a slut (or risking a nipple slip).  Second, I understand men love boobs but during insecure moments I wondered if they just wanted to talk to me because they were so obnoxiously huge. And third, I was convinced come 40, I would have to tuck them in my socks or tie them over my head.

Having 34 DD’s comes with major restrictions, but I’ve learned to embrace my lovely jugs. Although I can never wear really cute, skimpy swimsuits and racy tops (out of fear I’ll immediately come off as a slut and experience generous side/under boob) I’ve found a subtly sexy way to dress myself… and my two big friends.  I’ve come to discover my own set of sexy big-boobied bras as well as the wonderful ones that minimize my lady friends.  People I just meet never know my boobs are the size of a human head until I tell them.  I’ve come to like it that way.

Oftentimes, guys don’t know what to do with them.  Sometimes, they end up grabbing them so hard mid-makeout sesh, I have bruises all over them the next day.  And when I’m working out, I don’t know what to do with them. It hurts when I go running because they are busy pummeling my chest and nearly smacking me upside the head.  To prevent it, I’ve been forced to wear (on average) three sports bras when I work out. [Editors Note: On the opposite end of the spectrum I use a little scotch tape and I'm ready for a marathon.]

Come the end of college (and when Mama’s insurance was running out), I debated getting a breast reduction.  They had yet to physically hurt me – I think my North Face backpack and Geology books beat them to that point – but one of my girlfriends had recently underwent breast reduction surgery and she did not regret it.  I saw her happy (almost to the point of being light on her feet – seriously, was she actually floating?) and I envied her.  Her boobs were the perfect size while I was busy shoving my nipples back into my bra.

But after a long, hard, topless look in the mirror, I decided against it. (Note: I also decided it was time to be more cognizant of locking my bedroom door, but that’s a whole other story.)

After struggling with accepting myself as a curvy, big-boobed lady in high school and learning how to express myself as a curvy, luscious woman in college, I realized that I actually love my boobs. Every single pound of them. As many difficulties and slight insecurities they have brought me over the years, they are a part of who I’ve become and, multiple sports bras or not, I wouldn’t have my body any other way.

Love your boobs or hate ‘em, make sure you take care of them!

Maureen Dolan-Galvaniz, a local film-maker and classmate of Claudia’s, heard about her previving blog and was fascinated. Wanting to not only tell the story, but spread the word about preventative options, Maureen began working on a documentary about Claudia’s journey to surgery.

Claudia has now appeared in Ladies’ Home Journal, The Today Show, and several other media outlets, spreading the message about previving. We were lucky enough to catch up with the producer/director of the webisodes, Maureen, and get a behind the scenes look into Previve.com and what previving is all about.

How did you first hear about Claudia’s decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy?
I was out one Saturday evening with girlfriends when they started talking about this Georgetown
girl that was cutting off her breasts and blogging about it! They thought what she was doing was totally crazy – I don’t think either fully understood the BRCA mutations. I had never heard of the BRCA mutation either. I was so intrigued that I started Googling ‘Georgetown girl cuts off breasts’ when I got home. Sure enough, I came across Claudia’s blog. Claudia and I had been colleagues at Georgetown, we had taken our first documentary production class together.

Why do you think Claudia’s story needs to be told?
Because it is incredible and inspiring and touches on so many big ethical health issues. Would you want to know if you had a genetic mutation? What would you do once you found out? Should we test our children? What is life like once you know that you have an increased risk for a deadly disease? Previvors blow my mind. They are some of the most inspiring, joyous people I have ever met. For example, Claudia is so thankful that she knows that she has this genetic mutation that she doesn’t waste any time worrying about what life would be like if she didn’t. She seizes every day and doesn’t dwell on her really unfortunate mutation.

What types of information have you learned about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation since meeting Claudia and following her story?
Obviously, I’ve learned a ton. However, sites like Bright Pink and Force provide factual information about the mutation: that it raises the risk of breast cancer up to 85% in women with the mutation, that men can be carriers, etc. The sites are extremely helpful on top of all the medical advice we have been dealing with since beginning the documentary.

What has the response been like since the first webisode aired?
Positive and encouraging. People really like Claudia and want to see her journey unfold. They are so gracious – we get tons of people saying ‘thank you for connecting us’, ‘thank you for the work you do.’

Why do you feel the option of preventative surgery is important for women to be aware of if they have a genetic mutation like Claudia’s?
Women with BRCA have up to an 85% lifetime risk of getting breast cancer.  BRCA women have a genetic mutation in their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. Yes – these women are extraordinarily vulnerable to breast cancer. Vigilance is always an option for young women with BRCA – this involves mammograms, breasts exams by doctors, sometimes even MRIs.

When doctors find an unusual lump in a woman with BRCA’s breast, they are more likely to biopsy it. These biopsies can be frequent and painful. Breast cancer in a BRCA woman is also more aggressive than in a woman without the mutation. For peace of mind and to dramatically decrease your risk for breast cancer (some say less than 1%), prophylactic double mastectomy might be the best option.

Why did you, personally, want to begin this project as a young female?
I really wanted to tell this story because I thought Claudia was so courageous and inspiring. Claudia and I really connected and I thought her and I could work together to tell this story the best possible way.We have similar goals: to tell a great story and get the word out there about preventative breast cancer measures. There was a great story, right here in Washington, that needed to be told, I had access to the subject and I had the know how and resources. It seemed too great an opportunity to spread the word, while making an interesting documentary, to pass up.

Why is prevention, especially for young women, so important?
Breast cancer – cancer in general – is so devastating. If we can be vigilant, take our health into our own hands, and actually do something to avoid cancer… why wouldn’t we? Women have been having prophylactic mastectomies for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently (within the last few months) that studies have come out supporting prophylactic double mastectomies.

What message do you hope the site sends young women?
That you are responsible for your own health and that you do have options. Also, that you are not alone. We have heard from so many woman who have felt isolated because of their BRCA status. If there is anything I have learned, it is that you are not alone and the BRCA community is really a sisterhood that you can tap into and feel supported.

When will the next webisode air?
October 29th… be sure to check it out at Previve.com!



Here are 10 totally unsexy costume ideas.

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ABC Family gives ‘Friday Night Lights’ the axe.

So, how does the Mulberry for Target line stack up?

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite CollegeCandy writer!

Is it just me or does Nicki Minaj always look crazy?

Even more fabulous ways to shot and support breast cancer research.

While I’m sitting here in Splitsville mending my heart with candy corn and Halloween M&Ms, let’s take a look at some less-depressing recent hot topics.

-It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and one CC reader wants you to know the disease isn’t restricted to older women.  Check yo self, ladies.

-We told you how to score Blake Lively’s look for less.  Because shopping always makes us feel better! Especially when that shopping puts money back in our pockets.

-With Halloween only a couple weeks away, we wondered if our favorite holiday breeds sexism.  Those sexy kitten, nurse, and maid outfits sure are revealing, after all…

-We found that some bitches are crazy, even outside the TV.  Do you know how to spot a real-life Gossip Girl?

-If you’re out of college with a slightly out of focus post-grad path, you’re not alone.  Stop hyperventilating, start embracing.

-How accepting are you really?

-Ugh, Blue Books. Just writing about them gives us anxiety.

-We swear we’re never too old to wear pigtails, lick the bowl, and do these other childhood favorites.

-From poopin’ in private to creative culinary solutions, Columbus may have found America, but we’ve got the 411 on the best college discoveries.

- And, not that you should need one, but we gave you 5 reasons to get out there and vote on November 2nd. Do it.

So we’re halfway through October (I know, how did that happen?!) and by now you should be well aware that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And that means 2 things:

1) We’re reminded that we really should all be feeling ourselves up more often.
2) We’re reminded of the importance of funding breast cancer research to help find a cure. And that means we race or we shop.

And since, let’s face it, we’ve all been spending the last month eating late night cheesy bread, Racing for the Cure doesn’t seem like the best choice. But pair shopping, all things pink and a good cause together,  and call me Elle Woods because I am SO there.

There is no shortage the pink goodness to go around this month – it seems like everyone’s getting in on the fun (including the NFL!). The best thing about it (besides the fact that every dollar spent helps find a cure, of course) is that a lot of stuff we’d buy anyway is going pink, so it’s never been easier to contribute to the cause. And there are also so many luxury items that we’d never splurge for on a normal day, but now we finally have a reason to!

So here are our top 10 favoritest Pink items – from coffee makers (SO cute) to Hanky Pankys to, yes, even bad ass running shoes for those in-shape ladies who choose to go all double duty and Race for the Cure. And bonus! Finally, an excuse to eat bagels. That’s right peeps: Carbs for a cause! Check out Panera Breads pink ribbon bagel! Nom nom find a cure nom.

Click on each item to buy (and support breast cancer research!)

The following post was written by Liz, a CollegeCandy reader and 21-year-old breast cancer survivor.

I was your typical college sophomore. I was active on campus, had a great group of friends, and kept myself busy with schoolwork. I was enjoying my time at The College of New Jersey, and felt truly blessed with an amazing life.

Then in April 2009, everything changed completely. In the midst of studying for final exams and celebrating the end of the school year, I was going back and forth between TCNJ and New York City for doctor visits. I had found a lump in my right breast, and went for tests and exams just as a precaution. Although I was optimistic and really believed I had nothing to worry about, I received the news that nobody wants to hear: I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

How could this have happened? I was only nineteen years old, with no family history of the disease, and was a healthy athlete my entire life. Weeks earlier, my toughest decisions dealt with my college course load, finding a summer job, and balancing family and friends. Flash forward and I’m being told I need surgery, months of chemotherapy, and I will have to start my junior year of college wearing a wig. I began making life-changing decisions and dealing with things no teenager should ever have to deal with.

In May of 2009 I elected to have a bilateral mastectomy, which called for the removal of both my right and left breasts. Though the cancer was only located in a tumor in my right breast, I chose to be as aggressive as possible with the surgery. I was diagnosed with this disease at age nineteen; what would stop it from coming back again in my other breast? I did not want to have to relive any of these moments, so I made one of the hardest and most important decisions of my life.

After about a month of recovery from my surgery, I began my chemotherapy treatments and the breast reconstruction process. I needed eight cycles of two different chemotherapy drugs; the entire process would last four months. In hindsight, four months is such a small, insignificant period of time. But those were the hardest four months of my life.

When I started chemotherapy, I kept asking myself, “Why did this happen to me?” “What did I do to deserve this?” I even wondered whether I would be able to get through the whole process. I relied heavily on the strength of my family and friends just to keep me going day by day.

In the days that followed, I realized “Why me” questions were pretty silly and somewhat selfish.  There was nothing I could do to prevent what already happened and focusing on my past would do nothing to improve my future.  The questions I needed to ask suddenly came into focus:  ”What do I need to do to put this behind me?” “How do I get healthy again?”

I realized that sitting around feeling sorry for myself would accomplish absolutely nothing. I was extremely fortunate; I found the lump at such an early stage that my cancer was completely curable.  So I made it a point to lead as “normal” a life as I could – I went to the beach and hung out with friends when I was feeling well, and came back to TCNJ in the fall, taking three classes while finishing the last of my treatments. I put on my wig, got myself dressed every morning, and put on a happy face to let everyone know that I was doing just fine. Cancer was not going to stop me from enjoying my junior year of college.

It was certainly a tough time, but I stayed positive, and was able to push through. Looking back on the past year and half of my life, I cannot believe everything that I have accomplished. I am officially one year out of treatment, and got a clean bill of health from my doctors.

I have learned a lot about myself over the past eighteen months. I have become a stronger person, and everything has been put into perspective for me. I don’t worry so much about the small things, and enjoy every life experience much more than I ever thought I could. I also learned how important the people in my life really are. I would not have gotten through this without the support of my friends and family.

I truly believe that his happened to me for a reason; I am a survivor, and want to help spread my message to other young women. Breast cancer is not just a disease for our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers; it is affecting women younger and younger every year. And as young women we are not invincible, although at times I know we think that we are.

Take my story as a reminder to protect yourself now.

Contrary to what all those fashion mags tell you, earth tones and jewel tones are not the color right now. No, maam. It’s October and the it color is pink!

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, peeps! This means that in addition to donning all your pink goodies and shopping for a (great and important) cause, there’s one thing on everyone’s mind this month: boobies. Lady lumps. Tatas. Gazongas. Head lamps.

All of this boob-talk got us thinking – first about the ever-important self-exam, then about all of the different and amazing names people have for breasts. Seriously, who knew two lumps of fat could spur such creativity?

Here are our top 20 faves. Share your own (names….not sexy pics) below!

1. Blouse muffins

2. Droopy Snoopies

3. Babaloos

4. Badoinkies

5. Chesticles

6. Rib Cushions.

7. Jahoobies

8. Magambos

9. Pushmatahs

10. Teetees

11. Whimwhams

12. Humpty dumplings

13. Super Big Gulps (???)

14. Vegas congo bongos

15. Goombas

16. Wahwahs (Did Snookie make this one up?)

17. Fun bags

18. Pinky and the Brain

19. Neeners

20. Moobs (let’s not leave the man boobs out of the equation)!

You already know that it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What you might not know is that retailers around the country are releasing special Pink Ribbon merchandise to commemorate the occasion. Buy any of these awesome products, and a portion of the price gets donated to breast cancer research.

I’ve always known shopping to be the best form of therapy, but who knew it had the power to potentially save a life?

There are tons of awareness tie-ins out there—one site is selling everything from pink products for pets to “balloons and party supplies”—but have no fear: CC is here to let you know about the best stuff available. Here are six of our favorites:

Sony Reader Pocket Edition in Pink, $199.99

This iPod for books is much cuter than a boring old Kindle. If you buy it directly from Sony, it also comes with a gold clutch and four free inspirational books. Bonus points for the fact that this Reader owner seems to be a fan of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Pink Ribbon Candy Bouquet, $44.95

Nothing says “I love you” like an enormous basket of chocolate. And nothing says “I honor your strength” to a cancer survivor like an enormous basket of chocolates that kicks some money to breast cancer research. Buy the bouquet—which also comes stuffed with candles and a pink bracelet—and 10% of your purchase gets donated to breast cancer screening.

Unique Vintage, various prices

Got a fancy soirée coming up? Check out the fun, vintage-inspired dresses at this website. 20% of all profits from these items will be donated to Breast Cancer awareness. This peach embroidered tulle is crying out to me.

Sonia Kashuk Beauty Curl For A Cause, $9.99

If there is one beauty product every girl needs (besides under-eye concealer) it is an eyelash curler. Giving a little extra TLC to those lashes makes your baby blues (or browns, hazels, grays, etc.) pop and sparkle. This eyelash curler, from a breast cancer survivor herself, does double duty: making you beautiful and giving back 15% of proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Yummie Tummie Tank, $62

Yes, $62 for a tank top expensive, but you really can’t put a price on looking good. And by good I mean slim, toned and totally smokin’. Yummie Tummie tanks have built in panels that suck and lift so you look a little more like Cameron Diaz (and a little less like Octomom…during the pregnancy) whether you’re going to class or out on the town. And the ladies behind the tanks are giving 50% of every tank purchased during October to breast cancer research. (That’s a LOT of money!) Look good, do good.

Mike’s Hard Pink Lemonade,$8.95

We’ve all been looking for a good reason to drink, and the guys at Mike’s Hard Lemonade have finally found one. Their special-edition pink lemonade is available for October only and gives a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research and prevention. Bottoms up, ladies, it’s for a good cause!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but this is an issue that should be brought to light at all times. In an effort to spread the word, designers have been coming out with some simple and flattering t-shirt designs that can be worn way past the month of October to remind all of us of this worthy cause. Many of the t-shirt designs still show the recognizable pink ribbon and use the bubble-gum pink color that we’ve all come to associate with Breast Cancer Awareness, but in an effort to reach a larger audience, designers are also introducing looks that include more versatile colors, trendy details and cute graphics that still sound as a voice for the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, allowing you to wear these tees for numerous occasions.

Not only would the message for awareness be seen more often, but a large percentage (50% to 100%) of the proceeds are donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, helping spread the word for prevention and funding the search for a cure. Even celebrities like Nicky Hilton, Sophia Bush and others are jumping on the Breast Cancer awareness bandwagon and have designed shirts to help spread the word.

Check out the cuteness (slide show!) over at StyleHive to shop the tees and help raise awareness in the process.