Thursday, October 13, 2011

Breast Cancer, Ta-Tas, and a Giveaway


As part of October's Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Save the Ta-tas Foundation invited bloggers to write a post on breast cancer. Their foundation was created as a way to fight breast cancer using “laughter and fun”. And as a pretty big supporter of those two things, I am excited to get to write a blog post. The Ta-tas website donates a portion of all sales to the fight against breast cancer. Keep reading and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a one of their onesies. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO COMMENT USING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU'D LIKE TO WIN.

I have never thought about boobs more in my entire life. As a new mom, they are constantly on my mind. In the past, they were just two things I had to contain in a nice, little, lacy bra. Okay, fine, I'll be honest…. A nice, not-so-little, comfortable t-shirt bra. But then I got pregnant. And things…intensified. They were huge. And hurt. I bought bigger, uglier bras. Then I had a baby and bought bigger, uglier nursing bras. Boobs were all over my life and I had better get used to it. After I gave birth, the hospital offered me a crash course in this new way of thinking when I had about 5 nurses pulling and positioning my breasts trying to help me breastfeed. A lactation consultant calmly examined my nipples and told me they were great for latching. I'd go to a mommy and me class and women were whipping them out and breastfeeding their newborns. Breastfeeding was, at first, quite a trial. Why in the hell don't they tell you how difficult it can be? So many books and classes made it sound like breastfeeding was the most magical, natural thing in the world and a newborn would latch on minutes after being born and angels would sing and bells would chime and there would be a pixie dust glow about the room. Maybe that's what it's like for some women, but not for me. It was a skill that both my son and I had to learn. But once we did we were off and running. I am now one of those women who breastfeeds in the mommy and me class and who casually nurses my son for an entire cross-country flight. I can certainly complain about some aspects of breastfeeding (and do) but only to my husband. And, well, maybe to the whole world wide web…the saggy boobs, the humongous size increase, the feeling like a human pacifier, the fact that your husband can't substitute for you at 3am, etc. All downsides to nursing. But most days I think of my friend and I am extremely grateful for this gift, saggy boobs and all.

Jenny is exactly one week younger than me. We've been to Italy together, we've thrown joint birthday parties, we've worked together for years. She's tall, I'm tall. She likes food, I like food. She's funny, I'm funny. So when she told me right after our 31st birthday that she had breast cancer, I was floored. 31 years old? My age? Impossible. She was so healthy! Way healthier than me. She would describe her 10-mile hikes, her yoga sessions, juice smoothies, and her exercise classes and I would shudder in horror. Yet suddenly I was pregnant and bemoaning my aching boobs, and she was about to have a mastectomy. And a few months later I had this tiny little being that I loved and, by some miracle, I could feed and nourish him all with my boobs. In the blink of an eye, our roles could have been reversed. I easily could have been the one who, early on a Saturday morning in the bathroom, found a lump rather than a positive pregnancy test. But here I was breastfeeding my newborn and I thought about what I would do if that opportunity were taken away from me. If these boobs I'd been complaining about and that nurses had been poking and prodding were no longer. And I was so sad. Then I was pissed. And then I was full of admiration for Jenny. She got her diagnosis and then refused to be a victim. She researched, she read every article and website about the subject, she fought her cancer with surgery, with Western medicine and with Eastern acupuncture and diet changes. She handled it about 100 times better than I ever could have. Breast cancer, like all cancers, is so damn unfair and cruel. And it doesn’t discriminate based on age. I could have easily been the one diagnosed in the middle of my 30s. I know women with double mastectomies certainly go on to have children and bottle-feed their newborns and I think that's so amazing. But to want to breastfeed and not have the option because of breast cancer… It breaks my heart. So even with my saggy boobs, stretched out nursing bras, bouts of mastitis, breast pads, engorgement pain, pumping sessions, and a teething infant, I'm forever grateful for this experience.

Learn more about donating to the fight against breast cancer by visiting Save The Ta-Tas. Ta-tas is helping me give away one of their baby onesies. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment. For an additional entry and chance to win, you can follow my blog. Once we've picked a random winner next Wednesday 10/19, I'll email that person to get the desired size and address. Good luck!
Contest valid for residents of the U.S. only. Must be 18 years or older and remember to provide a valid email address. We can't have an ANONYMOUS winner because I won't know how to contact you. Thanks!

16 comments:

  1. To the first part of your post: AMEN.
    The second part is heartbreaking, yet also very inspiring. Jenny sounds like a truly remarkable person - thanks for sharing your/her story, Lisa.

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  2. Women who face difficult choices and decisions with regards to their bodies always amaze me. As a biologist, I often think about the evolutionary reasons that our bodies are made to do the things they do and am amazed at the pressure I might feel if I could no longer do those things. However, over the years, I have discovered the human side of life and it is what we give of ourselves, and not what our bodies are meant to do, that is our greatest gift to society, our families, and each other.
    Thanks for sharing this story, Lisa.

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  3. Very well said Cara. :-) Thank you.

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  4. Also well said Cara. I would love to win this for someone that is battling this disease,and she could have her grandbaby wear this. Thanks for the chance and for the STRONG WOMEN that fight like a girl EVERYDAY...

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  5. This story brought tears to my eyes! And then joy knowing that even through the storm of it all you can't give up....you have to fight the good fight. Praying for Jenny!!

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  6. very well said and thought provoking!!! Thank you! I am in my thirties and have a 6 month old (in addition to my three teenagers... lOL!)! For us, breast feeding is the only way to go! I think I am lucky! I have had two aunts diagnosed with Breast Cancer... one survived and one did not... Cancer is always on my mind! I would nurse Jack regardless but especially in october I like to remind myself that i am doing something healthy for myself too!

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  7. Thanks for the nice comments! Please remember that if you'd like to win the onesie, you have to include your email address in the comment, use your google mail signin, or link to a URL with a way to contact you. I would hate to not be able to contact someone that would like to win!

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  8. Sorry Lisa! I posted right above your comment and I was trying to figure out how to do what i needed through google... anyway my email is: BarbaraMorganEsq@gmail.com thanks!

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  9. awesome post, lis. whenever i think of you and jenny, i see those pictures of you two from that restaurant in italy. can you believe that was just a few years ago? both of your lives have changed so drastically, yet you're still the same fun, funny ladies you've always been. ("she's funny, i'm funny." man, i laughed out loud. true dat.)

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  10. Great post Lisa...so sorry about your friend Jenny. I wish for her a speedy full recovery xo

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  11. Beautiful post, Lisa! You and Jenny are the best!

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  12. I participated in my 2nd Avon Walk for Breast Cancer when I was 3 months pregnant. A year later, I had a 6 month old and had to pump while participating in the walk for the 3rd time. How grateful I am that I could put my tiny boobs to good use at the same time that I was fighting to save others. Thank you for sharing your story! I'd love to enter the drawing for the onesie! Ranchgal182@aol.com

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  13. What a perspective changing story! Thank you for sharing!

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  14. Ah, so we both have good latching nipples. I was accused by the lactation consultant of having surgery because they were, "perfect." It is so strange to go from breasts being something you just keep tucked in a bra, to completely setting your life schedule. I'm glad your friend is doing well and happy you stuck with breastfeeding and wrote this post. It's amazing what our bodies can do. I like to say that the first 20 pounds of mijo was all from me. I gave him that base. A wonderful feeling.

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  15. Great post Lisa and thank you for sharing!

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  16. After having a baby a lot of people get a tummy tuck . After having a baby you want everything to go back into its right place so when you come out looking great you will feel great!

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