Checkin' Out the Ta-tas

Alright ladies (and any men who visit) it's time to talk about an important topic! Our breasts!! As many of us know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! If you have a family history of breast cancer or are 40 or over, make sure you get a mammogram every year!

I had one done 11 years ago because I felt a lump in my breast. Turns out I was pregnant!! Well, I turned the big 4-0 this summer and decided that I wanted to have my mammogram done during October.

I brought my camera with me because I wanted you to see it's something that's survivable. I'm small in the breast area so the gal had quite the time making sure I was all in the machine. I felt like the bones in my ribs were getting into the picture. I'm small around the rib cage also so leaning into the the machine was a bit uncomfortable.

I think having nursed 4 kids I was a bit more, how shall I say it, pliable with the squishability of my girls. Yep, they ended up like pancakes. I think mammograms are like childbirth. It's uncomfortable for the moment, but we forget it after it's over. It only took maybe 20 minutes for the entire exam process. And those 20 minutes were worth all the discomfort. Now is the waiting game to get the results in a week.

The first photo below is pixelated in a certain spot even though in this small view you might not be able to tell...just so we're clear. I keep seeing it and thinking, "Oh my goodness, this could be a really bad picture if I don't explain it."

There was a huge visual difference between my mammogram from 11 yrs ago and the new digital view. My first one was filled with all kinds of white stuff. The new one was much more clear. I have no idea if there's a big difference since I was pregnant with my first one.

I hope I haven't offended anyone with my photos. That certainly wasn't the purpose. It wasn't intended to be risque either. I tried to be as modest about this important and life saving procedure as possible.

There are a number of sites I'd like to direct you to in case you would like to receive more information or to help a woman who can't afford a mammogram.

www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

www.nbcam.org/

www.breastcancer.org/

www.avoncompany.com/women/avoncrusade/

Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to the NFL and commentators for making pink apart of their October games! Favre is #4 this year for the Vikings and as many people know, his wife had breast cancer. I love seeing pink everywhere! Coach Brad Childress has a pink bow on his turtleneck, many players are wearing pink gloves and pink arm bands. As the players get down to the different end zones, there are pink banners.