*Please, stop feeling badly about your breasts. *

Just stop it. Right now.

"But breast cancer runs in my family." So what. Only 10% of cancers are due to inherited genetic mutations. (1)

"But my breasts hurt so often. The doctor said they are fibrocystic." Unfortunately, you are in the majority. Over 50% of women have fibrocystic breasts and/or dense breasts. (2) When this many women have a condition, perhaps it should not be treated as a disease? Massage is known to reduce adhesions and decrease congestion. Specifically, breast massage could help. You could learn to do this for yourself in 5 minutes. (3)

"I don't want to touch my breasts. I might find something." Over 90% of breast lumps investigated are found to be benign (4). There is a difference between lumps and bumps. Practicing hands-on techniques with a breast model will help you learn the difference. You can purchase a model for yourself for a nominal fee. (5)

"So many breast cancer correlations are out of my control (e.g. age of onset of puberty, not breast feeding, age of onset of menopause). What can I really do to prevent this?" Many natural diet (eating foods rich in iodine, magnesium, vitamin D) and lifestyle changes (exercise) are showing promise for improving breast health. Taking what we know about the cause of breast cancer can lead us away from breast scare and toward breast care. (6)

"What about the 1-in-8 chance of developing breast cancer?" A 1-in-8 chance of developing breast cancer also means you have an 88% chance of NOT developing breast cancer. In depth study reveals that this risk changes throughout your lifetime. (7) Let’s all remember that we can choose to think and act in more positive ways. Being afraid increases cortisol and anxiety. This sympathetic nervous response has recently been found to increase the chances of breast cancer metastasizing. (8) Meanwhile, positive attitudes improve health in myriad ways.

Evolutionary biologists now theorize that the development of breasts in humans may be responsible for increasing our frontal lobe development and advancing our species! (9) Let's nourish these amazing endowments; honor and keep them 'till death do us part.

Empower yourself with education. Join me and other amazing women at the Centered in Wellness clinic in Kirkland for a fun and fact-filled conversation on Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm. It will be fruitful- attendees will receive free self-care education materials and a coupon for a 15% discount toward a massage and/or education session with Aubrey, your mammarologist. (10)

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(1) http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics (2) http://www.breasthealthproject.com/breast-cysts.html (3) http://www.breastremedyseattle.com/self-care-handouts/ (4) http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/womens-health/in-depth/breast-lump/art-20044839 (5) https://mammacare.com/product/self-breast-exam-kit/ (6) http://blog.dslrf.org/?p=56 (Dr. Susan Love) (7) McGinn, Kerry Ann; The Young Woman's Breast Health Book: Breast changes that are not cancer, for women in their 20s, 30s, & 40s; 2012 Gray Dog Press; Spokane, WA (8) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK84265/ (9) Williams, Florence; Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History; 2012, W. W. Norton & Company, New York City, NY (10) http://www.breastremedyseattle.com/about-aubrey/