October is breast cancer awareness month and we’re showing our support by bringing you products where proceeds really are donated to organizations that care about funding breast cancer research.

Titties, melons, jugs, Thelma and Louise, whatever you call your lady lumps, it’s important to remember that breast cancer is no joke! Chances are, if you don’t have firsthand experience battling this disease, then you have probably been affected by someone who has. It’s easy for the majority of us who haven’t had breast cancer to forget just how sobering the statistics are. So before we get into the products that support breast cancer research, let’s take a look at some facts and figures from BreastCancer.org:

• About one in eight U.S. women (about 12 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15 percent of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.

Now that you have a little more information, let’s also discuss your breast self-examination. You must do these! There are no ifs, ands, buts, or boobs about it! And if you don’t feel like scouring the net for an image, then here, meet your new best friend…

And finally, when October rolls around, you’ll be seeing more than just the color orange in your big box stores and other retailers. There will likely be a sea of pink products all touting their support for breast cancer awareness. And while these are visually mindful, the actual idea is often poorly executed. From cancer causing chemicals in makeup found at high-end counters, to a bunch of junk that may have been constructed courtesy of child labor, it’s easy to understand why these aren’t well thought out. Check out Think Before You Pink for additional advice, donate directly to the charity of your choice, or take a peek at our list below.

1. Breast BFFL Bag

This bag is perfect for the loved one in your life after breast surgery. The bright and cheerful Breast BFFLBag has been carefully curated to contain the essentials to transition patient from hospital to home. It contains a specially-designed axillapilla comfort pillow for the underarm area, wound and drain care supplies, Bio-Oil, toiletries, KIND snack bars, and more. The Best Friends For Life Co. has several specialty bags to choose from, including: a double mastectomy bag, lumpectomy bags, chemo packs for him and her, and many more thoughtful gifts for those undergoing treatment or after surgery. The best part is that 15 percent of the proceeds from this bag can be donated to Soul Ryeders at checkout.  

2. Organic Bouquet

From the packaging to the working conditions to the product, Organic Boutique sells a wide range of certified, eco-friendly flowers. The beautiful bouquets are perfect for sending just because, or as a thoughtful get well sentiment to a patient currently recovering from treatment or surgery related to breast cancer. Choose from either the Breast Cancer Fund Yellow Roses, or the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Sweet & Lovely Rose Bouquet, and they will donate 5 percent of the proceeds to the named charities.

3. Karma Bliss

The online meditation and healing boutique Karma Bliss is raising awareness for the month of October with the rose quartz KB Wrap Necklace, “Love”.  Representing healing, peace, and unconditional love, this beautiful piece of jewelry invites hope and faith to its wearer. Perfect as a gift, or a remembrance piece, when purchased during the month of October, 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Young Survival Coalition.

4. Babeland Vibes

Whether you’re going it alone or with a partner, sexual health is important, which why I’m loving this next breast cancer awareness buy. Purchase either the OhMiBod Lovelife Discover Mini Vibe in phthalate-free body safe silicone, or the vegan-friendly Sliquid Pink Lemonade lube that’s glycerin and paraben free, and Babeland will donate ten percent of the proceeds to the Young Survival Coalition.

Along with breast cancer research and early detection, remember to support and encourage loved ones to do those self-exams and take good care of one another. Boobies are replaceable, lives are not! Have you or someone you care about been affected by breast cancer? Share your stories with us on the EcoSalon Facebook page throughout the month of October and beyond.

Related on EcoSalon

10 Foods to Fight Breast Cancer
Is Cell Phone Radiation Causing Breast Cancer?
We Love Breast Cancer Awareness, We Hate Breast Cancer Commercialization

Image of Woman With Pink Balloons via Shutterstock

Image of Self-Examination via Sisters Network, Inc. – Chicago Chapter

The post Let’s Talk Ta-Tas: 4 Pink Products that Really Do Support Breast Cancer Research appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with it comes a slew of advertising opportunities for big companies. It’s called: pinkwashing.

Pinkwashing is a term coined by Breast Cancer Action. According to the group’s definition, a pinkwasher is “a company or organization that claims to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon product, but at the same time produces, manufactures and/or sells products that are linked to the disease.”

Over the years, during the month of October, companies from Proctor & Gamble to KFC jump on board in the name of breast cancer awareness (I mean, in the name of their bottom line, because when there’s a chance to support a cause, there’s also a chance to make money) failing to point out that often the products whose percentage of proceeds goes to breast cancer awareness are full of the chemicals that cause the cancer in the first place.

Much of this discussion is focused around beauty products – like providing breast cancer care packages with beauty products laden with chemicals known to cause cancer – but there are a wide variety of food brands who get on board as well. Not to mention companies who develop and use pesticides to grow our food in the first place.

Did you know that the primary corporate sponsor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Astra Zeneca? Yes, the pharmaceutical company. The same pharmaceutical company who makes a profit off of its cancer treatments (the sales of their top selling breast cancer drug Tamoxifen comes in at $573 million per year worldwide), as well as parenting a successful agrochemical business, developing and selling carcinogenic pesticides.

As the Breast Cancer Fund notes, “Modern food-production methods have opened major avenues of exposure to environmental carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting compounds. Pesticides sprayed on crops, antibiotics used on poultry, and hormones given to cattle expose consumers involuntarily to contaminants that become part of our bodies. Some of these exposures may increase breast cancer risk.”

Some examples of pink food products you can get your hands on this year: pink pizzas, brownies with pink frosting, pink pancakes, a buttery chardonnay or just get completely decked out in pink Hard Rock Cafe gear and then down a Hard Rock Cafe energy drink. And for those food companies who don’t participate, consumers fail to pull back the layers on what these kind of marketing campaigns really mean, that people rally together to try to get chains like Taco Bell to launch a pink taco.

The food and cancer connection isn’t a new discussion; what we eat matters. Obesity for example has been shown to increase the risk of premenopausal breast cancer by 70 percent, which make the sales of things like breast cancer awareness pizzas and energy drinks so disgusting.

But as Breast Cancer Fund points out “tips to ‘fight cancer’ often list reducing fat intake as a crucial step, but don’t mention that one reason this may reduce your risk is because high-fat, animal based foods are a main route of exposure to cancer-causing organochlorine pesticides and dioxin.”  In other words, there are a lot of chemicals used in modern day food production that are known carcinogens, and whether or not we are watching what we eat, we may still be ingesting them.

Some of the big agricultural players and their favorite pesticides have been linked to increased in risk for cancer, like Monsanto’s Round-Up and Syngenta’s Atrazine (which is so bad the European Union banned it in 2005). You will be very happy to know that, yes, Monsanto does take part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and even sends volunteers to Race for the Cure. Pesticides and pinkwashing are a match made in heaven.

Considering the severity of breast cancer – today 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime – this is about more than just eating well. It is about holding companies accountable for putting chemicals into our food system. Because while huge amounts of money have poured into breast cancer awareness and research, these companies haven’t done anything to actually tackle the problem; breast cancer cases are projected to increase by 50 percent by 2030. Huge corporations make money off of the pesticides and herbicides that cause cancer, and then pharmaceutical companies reap the benefits of more and more breast cancer patients needing their treatments. It’s a vicious cycle.

“Pinkwashing has become a central component of the breast cancer industry: a web of relationships and financial arrangements between corporations that cause cancer, companies making billions off diagnosis and treatment, nonprofits seeking to support patients or even to cure cancer, and public relations agencies that divert attention from the root causes of disease,” wrote Breast Cancer Action Executive Director Karuna Jaggar in an op-ed piece last year.

Money for research into finding a cure for breast cancer is essential. Just ask any breast cancer survivor. But as we have seen, often that money is tainted, and if we want to eliminate breast cancer in the first place then we need to do more than just treat it.

We need to regulate (and in many cases, eliminate) the use of chemicals, pesticides and herbicides. As a friend of mine recently put it, “thanks to anyone who has supported cancer research – my friends and I appreciate it. We are living proof that it really does help people. Pinkwashing, however, does not.”

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, think about what’s on your plate, and think about what companies are doing something to change the status quo of how our food is produced. Boycott the ones who aren’t. Sign a petition calling for change. Support a local organic farmer, and thank them for not putting pesticides into our watersheds.

That’s where the real change is going to come from, not from a plate of pink cupcakes.

Related on EcoSalon

We Love Breast Cancer Awareness, We Hate Breast Cancer Commercialization

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This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’ weekly column at EcoSalon: Foodie Underground, an exploration of what’s new and different in the underground movement, and how we make the topic of good food more accessible to everyone. More musings on the topic can be found at www.foodieunderground.com.

Image: DixieBelleCupcakeCafe

The post Beware of Pinkwashing in Your Food: Foodie Underground appeared first on EcoSalon.

Topless women are not a danger to society. Seeing female nipples will not undo a person’s decency. And all breasts – male and female alike – are totally safe for work.

I get the NSFW (Not Safe For Work) label for some nudes. I mean, you probably shouldn’t be clicking through photos of topless women about to engage in a threesome on company time. But there are other nudes out there that are quite artistic and some that tell real, human stories.

Let’s talk more about the nudes that tell a story… Recently, Refinery29 posted an article that displayed some beautiful nudes of a topless woman who had breast cancer:

“When Kerry Mansfield was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31, she was shocked… To grapple with how her cancer treatment was changing both her body and spirit, Kerry, a photographer, turned her lens on herself… When she began her photo series, called ‘Aftermath,’ she had no idea how her treatment would end — but now, both the series and her treatment are complete.”

Every single one of these photos is beautiful and absolutely none of them should be considered NSFW.

Now, we’re not bagging on Refinery29 for using this tag. We’re pissed at the companies that would actually reprimand a worker for clicking through this piece on their break because it contains multiple photos of a topless woman.

Mansfield’s showing her breasts to tell a story – a harrowing, personal story – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

As you can probably surmise, I’m a big fan of #freethenipple and women who support ditching bras to screw with society. (Now, some women love their bras and NEED them – I realize this. I’m a medium-chested woman, so I don’t have to mess with those undergarments.) But what are your thoughts on the NSFW tag? Do you think topless women are offensive?

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Image: José David Leiva

The post Are Topless Women Still Considered NSFW Even When Discussing Breast Cancer? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Breast cancer prevention means controlling the environmental toxins running rampant in your home.

Manufacturers love to say that their products only use trace amounts of dangerous chemicals, often known or suspected carcinogens. But the problem is these “trace” chemicals add up in a woman’s system. This is especially true because the industrial era has brought so many chemicals into our lives in places that we might never have suspected.

Carcinogens hide in personal care products, furniture, building supplies, and cleaning products to name just a handful. But there are a number of steps that you can take to detox your home of many of these chemicals.

One of the biggest changes holistic health nutritionist and breast cancer survivor Kristina Sampson’s made in her life is switching to cleaning with vodka. That’s right, this health guru couldn’t believe what she found in so many of the household cleaning products we use without even thinking. Today, Sampson heads to the liquor store for her cleaning fix because she’s found that the cheapest vodka in the store is one of the best natural disinfectants on the market.

But that’s just the beginning. With the help of Sampson and tons of research, we’ve uncovered a crazy list of chemicals that all women should avoid where possible.

81 Toxic Breast Cancer Prevention Culprits Hiding in Your Home

Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body, and they are found in everyday products. They disrupt the body’s endocrine system (a bodily system made up of glands and hormones) from sending the correct signals. This group of chemicals include parabens, phthalates, triclosan, and triclocarbon. Of 40 women tested, parabens were found in 99 percent of their breast tumors, according to Sampson. These ingredients are used because they are chemically very stable which is good for manufacturing but bad for your body. Since the chemicals can’t break down, they stay in your system. Avoid them by reading labels. Also, avoid anti-bacterial products that likely contain triclosan. Here are a number of places they hide.

1. Shampoo

2. Conditioner

3. Body lotion

4. Face lotion

5. Anti-aging creams

6. Toothpaste

7. Socks

8. Foundation

9. Shaving cream

10. Anti-perspirants

11. Deodorants

12. Makeup remover

13. Spray gel

14. Facial wash

15. Eye cream

Fragrance

Many products that contain endocrine disruptors also contain another scary culprit, fragrance. When you see the word fragrance, you may picture fields of lavender or sunflowers–a subtle natural fragrance that makes all of your favorite products that much more appealing. Not so fast. Fragrances are one of the most dangerous chemicals in everyday products. Here’s why: Fragrances are protected by intellectual property and that means that manufacturers don’t have to tell you the source of the fragrance. Basically, it’s a ridiculous loophole that allows companies to hide what could be hundreds of chemical additives. Fragrance are a means of hiding endocrine disruptors, allergens, and neurotoxins in products. And they’re everywhere including almost all of the products listed above. Avoid fragrance by choosing fragrance-free products or fragrance that comes from natural sources which are listed. Here are some places you’ll find fragrance.

16. Soap

17. Body wash

18. Lipstick

19. Lip gloss

20. All purpose cleaner

21. Perfume

22. Body spray

23. Pet shampoo

24. Hand soap

25. Scented candles

26. Diffusers

27. Facial masks

28. Massage oil

29. Dryer sheets

30. Laundry soap

BPA

While BPA is also an endocrine disruptor, it gets a separate category because it’s found in another category of household products. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used in plastics and resins.

31. Canned foods

32. Baby toys

33. Baby bottles

34. Plastic #7, polycarbonate

35. Compact discs

36. DVDs

37. Protective eyewear

38. Sales receipts

39. Sippy cups

40. Cell phones

41. Laptops

42. Tablets

43. PDAs

44. Computer gaming units

45. Game consoles

Benzene

Benzene is a colorless or light colored liquid that’s very flammable. Benzene is one of the top chemicals used for industrial purposes in the U.S. It’s also a chemical linked to breast cancer.

46. Tobacco smoke

47. Glue

48. Paints

49. Furniture waxes

50. Detergents

51. Gasoline

52. Solvents

1,3-Butadiene

This chemical is found in many of the mammary tumors of rodents. It’s an air pollutant and a human carcinogen. The pollutant had a greater impact on younger female rodents than on older.

53. Latex gloves

54. Spray sunscreens

55. Carpet

56. Adhesives

57. Rubber

58. Tires

Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring substance that’s found in the Earth’s crust. It’s an element, so it can’t be broken down into smaller pieces. Researchers have found that lead is a substance that causes cancer to grow. Although more research needs to be done to know definitively, it’s good practice to avoid this known neurotoxin whenever possible.

59. Drinking water

60. Soil

61. Ceramics

62. Bullets

63. Batteries

64. Pipes

Mercury

Methylmercury can disrupt the hormone regulated cellular process. Higher accumulations have also been found in cancerous breast biopsies of women than in women without cancer. Mercury is also known to impact the central nervous system. Those exposed to too much, can suffer from a wide array of symptoms including sleep disturbance, headaches, fatigue, memory and concentration problems, and neuropathy.

65. CFL lightbulbs

66. Fish

67. Thermometers

68. Thermostats

69. Skin lightening creams

70. Antiques

71. Vaccines

72. Dental fillings

Pesticides

Household pesticides and pest killing poisons are often listed as human carcinogens. Dichlorvos, a common ingredient in household pesticides, for example is associated with mammary tumors in rats and mice. Another, glyphosate is linked to non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Avoid household pesticides as much as possible in your home. Use natural methods like predatory insects to protect your garden and household plants.

73. Roach sprays

74. Roach baits

75. Bath and kitchen disinfectants

76. Rodent poisons

77. Insect repellants

78. Weed killers

79. Products that kill mildew

80. Flea and tick soaks

81. Bleach

Don’t panic. Of course some of these chemicals are currently in your home. It’s nearly impossible to be free of all environmental toxins. But there are steps that you can take to start reducing the build up. Some, of course, are easier than others. Start buying natural makeup and personal care products free of the chemicals above. Clean with vodka, white vinegar, and baking soda rather than chemical cleaners. Choose natural materials like untreated wood and glass in your home instead of plastic. And lose the chemical pesticides.

Related on EcoSalon

Behind the Label: Avon’s Crusade Against Breast Cancer

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Tis the Irony: Susan G. Komen Partners With Major Fracking Company 

Image: Wicker Paradise 

The post 81 Toxic Breast Cancer Culprits Hiding in Your Home appeared first on EcoSalon.

There are many breast cancer risk factors, and new research has found 102 more of them in common chemicals. But BPA is not on this list.

Researchers from the Silent Spring Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health have compiled the comprehensive list of chemicals that can be considered breast cancer risk factors—and the list surprisingly does not include BPA (bisphenol A)—the much fretted over endocrine disruptor found in plastic bottles and aluminum can linings.

“Instead, the study draws attention to much more potent estrogenic chemicals than BPA, such as Estradiol-17b, a component of oral contraceptives and hormone therapies, which has entered domestic wastewater—and possibly drinking water—via urination,” reports Forbes Magazine.

The study actually suggests that BPA is not a breast cancer risk factor, even though it’s been pointed to by numerous health organizations. Instead, the study focuses on other chemicals, including acrylamide—a chemical that is created in high heat cooking of certain starches (like potato chips). Also on the list in benzene, which can be produced in the presence of sodium benzoate when in combination with vitamin C. Sodium benzoate is a preservative in many food and skin care items. The authors write in the report, “these 102 comprise a diverse set of chemicals and exposures, including components of automobile exhaust, gasoline, and air pollution (1,3-butadiene, benzene, PAHs, nitro-PAHs), chemicals in food and drinking water (acrylamide, ochratoxin A, heterocyclic amines, styrene, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone [MX]), chemicals in consumer products and building materials (flame retardants, aromatic amines, perfluorinated compounds), pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, and some chemicals with important occupational exposures (halogenated solvents, ethylene oxide [EtO]).”

Even the “best-established risk factors for breast cancer are associated with fairly modest increases in risk” the study authors note. And reports Forbes, “weak associations based on long-term chemical exposures are going to be very hard to detect, and risk producing many false positives.”

The study once again proves that prevention is key: avoiding chemicals in food, water and personal care products, as well as having a regular physical activity practice.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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The post Is that All? Breast Cancer Risk Factors Connected to 102 Chemicals Besides BPA [Harvard Study] appeared first on EcoSalon.

With concerns over the negative health effects of BPA (bisphenol-A) on the rise, news that exposure may lead to breast cancer doesn’t bode well for the plastic industry.

According to the research from the University of Texas at Arlington and published in a recent issue of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, when breast cancer and mammary gland cells were exposed to BPA, the chemical worked with naturally occurring molecules, including estrogen, to create a more hospitable environment for breast cancer growth.

The researchers looked at a molecule known as RNA HOTAIR (HOX antisense intergenic RNA), which is a long, non-coding RNA found in human and some animal DNA. It has some ability through expression to suppress the genes that would slow tumor growth or kill cancer cells. “High levels of HOTAIR expression have been linked to breast tumors, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, sarcoma and others,” reports ScienceDaily.

BPA seemed to assist in the production of “abnormal amounts” of HOTAIR expression. “We can’t immediately say BPA causes cancer growth, but it could well contribute because it is disrupting the genes that defend against that growth,” said researcher Subhrangsu Mandal, associate professor of chemistry/biochemistry. “We were surprised to find that BPA not only increased HOTAIR in tumor cells but also in normal breast tissue,” added Arunoday Bhan, a PhD student in Mandal’s lab.

Used in a number of food containers, thermal register receipts and household products, BPA was recently banned from some baby products sold in the U.S. including sippy cups and bottles. The chemical has been banned or tightly restricted in countries including France, Canada and China.

BPA is known as an endocrine disruptor, which mimics human hormones thus interfering with hormone regulation and function. It has been linked to reproductive issues, including early puberty, obesity and cancers.

“Understanding the developmental impact of these synthetic hormones is an important way to protect ourselves and could be important for treatment,” said Mandal.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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The post BPA Creates Environment that Promotes Breast Cancer Growth, Study Finds appeared first on EcoSalon.

Are dangerous chemical toxins hiding in your personal care products? Thanks to a new cosmetics database released by The California Safe Cosmetics Program, it only takes a few clicks to find out.

Crazy as it might seem, a large portion of the personal care products sold in America contain ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. These toxins have nearly unpronounceable names and are hidden inside shampoos, lotions, make-up and other products we slather all over our bodies on a daily basis.

To help consumers become more informed about what they’re being exposed to, The California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP) has created an online cosmetics database that makes it simple to find out if your favorite lipstick is putting you at risk for a life threatening disease.

“Searches can be done on a type of product, a specific product name, or a brand, chemical or company name. About 475 companies have submitted information for about 30,000 products so far, and the chemicals in the database include phthalates, mercury and mercury compounds, toluene and formaldehyde, among other known toxicants,” reports SF Gate.

Creators of the cosmetics database point out that just because a product contains a potentially harmful ingredient, it’s not necessarily a risk. Manufacturers are required to report the presence of a chemical, even if it’s only trace amounts.  Some chemicals are considered safe at certain levels of exposure. Although amount of ingredient is not listed on the website, it’s important to consider not just the levels of a single exposure, but cumulative exposure over a lifetime.

Encouragingly, the cosmetics database also contains information about about each of the chemical ingredients, and how chemical exposure can affects consumer health. Some health advocates say this website is an important tool for consumers that will continue the fight for safer cosmetics.

“The database reveals a snapshot of a Wild West industry where cosmetics companies can and are using a shocking array of unsafe and cancer-causing chemicals in seemingly innocent products,”  Janet Nudelman, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is part of the Breast Cancer Fund, told SF Gate. “It will also keep the pressure on companies to reformulate products to remove chemicals linked to adverse health effects.”

Learn more about what’s in your cosmetics and personal care products at: www.safecosmeticsact.org

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The post Dangerous Toxins In Personal Care Products Exposed in Online Cosmetics Database appeared first on EcoSalon.

Young women everywhere are tucking their cell phones into their bras – but is cell phone radiation putting them at risk for breast cancer?

Bras are the new purse: When you’re all dolled up with everywhere to go, it’s the perfect place to stash your credit cards, cash, keys, iPod and cell phone for easy access (especially when you don’t have a boyfriend to sucker in with, “Babe, can you hang onto this for me?”). It’s become so commonplace there are now bras available (like the JoeyBra) that double as a convenient – and literal – carry-all.

However, scientists are starting to link breast cancer with cell phone radiation. Young women across the globe are coming forward with stories of breast cancer diagnoses and an alarming pattern: The location of the tumors line up perfectly with where they used to store their cell phones.

Such was the case for Tiffany Frantz, who recently appeared on The Doctor Oz Show. At just 21 years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’d been keeping her cell phone in her bra for the past four years, and after the diagnosis she and her parents began to connect the dots. She was young and healthy, had no family history, and didn’t have the breast cancer gene. The only other culprit in her lifestyle was how she carried her cell phone.

It’s been two years since her diagnosis. After undergoing a mastectomy on her left breast and reconstructive breast surgery, she’s spreading the word to women everywhere: Make your bra a no phone zone. Tiffany’s also part of a new study dedicated to finding a direct link between cell phone radiation and breast cancer.

Although it’s still considered a myth that cell phone radiation causes breast cancer, why take the chance? I’d much rather heed the warning now instead of threatening my health and future – especially when the solution is such an easy fix.

Are you concerned about the effects of cell phone radiation on your health?

Related on EcoSalon:

10 Foods to Fight Breast Cancer
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Image: JoeyBra

The post Is Cell Phone Radiation Causing Breast Cancer? appeared first on EcoSalon.

After she put off getting a mammogram for over a year, ABC’s Amy Robach was persuaded to do so on-air for Good Morning America’s Pink Day – and the assignment saved her life.

On Monday’s Good Morning America, Amy Robach shared shocking news: The on-air mammogram she completed for the show in early October revealed that she does, in fact, have breast cancer. She’ll be going in for a bilateral mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery, on November 14.

“Only then will I know more about what that fight will fully entail, but I am mentally and physically as prepared as anyone can be in this situation,” she said in a post on ABC News.

She’d been putting off getting a mammogram with no way of knowing she was in a life-or-death situation. Like many women, the responsibilities of career and family came first – there was always a reason to put it off. Because of her lifestyle, she considered it impossible that the test would come back positive:

“I work out, I eat right, I take care of myself and I have very little family history; in fact, all of my grandparents are still alive.”

It was GMA host (and cancer survivor) Robin Roberts who put it into perspective for Robach: “If one life is saved, it’s worth it.” Her words resonated and Robach agreed to take the test on-air. Little did she realize at the time that the one life saved would be her own.

The doctors told her bluntly the mammogram saved her life, and she’s beyond grateful to everyone who encouraged her to do it – especially since she wasn’t planning to have it done anytime soon.

“For every person who has cancer, at least 15 lives are saved because people around them become vigilant… I can only hope my story will do the same and inspire every woman who hears it to get a mammogram, to take a self-exam. No excuses.”

How has Amy Robach sharing her story impacted you?

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The post ABC’s Amy Robach Diagnosed with Breast Cancer After On-Air Mammogram appeared first on EcoSalon.

In which we are asked to consider the assinine.

I was so baffled when I came across this video that I had to watch it twice. It’s a spoof video about a health & safety officer (played by Chris O’Dowd) for the Topless Female World Trampolining championships, which, produced by the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign and CoppaFeel!, is intended to raise awareness about male breast cancer. Beyond the failed attempt at what appears to be a combo of an Eastern European and Scandinavian accent (because those people are good at gymnastics and being topless, right?) it’s pretty much just one long video objectifying women.

What do topless trampoline jumping women have to do with raising awareness about breast cancer? I am not entirely sure, except for the fact that if you’re wanting to talk about breasts there are A. Lot. Of. Them. And derrieres too, just for fun. Keep in mind though, there’s not a male breast in sight, which was supposed to be the thing we were being made aware of in the first place.

There is certainly nothing wrong with raising awareness through edgy campaigns, but when they come at the cost of objectifying women and sexualizing a serious issue you have to sigh and give a hearty, WTF?

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