Big ones, medium ones, small ones, and “Oh Honey, you ain’t got nones!” What am I talking about?! Boobies! Yes, you know those two things sitting up on your chest. Or in my case, the two things that formerly sat upon my chest but now are taking up residence by my knees. Le. Sigh. This post is all about the tatas!

If you don’t know, or have forwarded your snail mail to the nearest rock you live under, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In our goal to spread breast cancer awareness the BLM Girls are participating in a blog hop. I am hopping along with the BLM Girls to tell men and women, yes men get breast cancer too, three ways to reduce their risks for breast cancer.

1.) Get Your Weight Under Control!

Yes I know everyone can’t be the size of a fetus, but please watch the scale and take safe measures to reduce your weight if you are obese or grossly overweight. The reasons why: estrogen is produced by fat tissue, breasts are composed of fat tissue, larger breasts equal higher production of estrogen, and estrogen has been linked to fuel certain cancers. In other words, big tatas are nice but they could also be dangerous.

2.) Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Now look almost everyone loves to unwind with a glass or two of wine after work, or on the weekend. However, all things in moderation. You can’t throw back half a bottle of Merlot every day, less than one drink a day is plenty. A National Cancer Institute study found women consuming one or two alcoholic drinks per day, had a 30 to 60 percent increase in breast cancer risk. So, just say no sometimes to the alcohol.

3.) Limit Hormone Replacement Therapy.

I know, I know, I know you may not be old enough yet to think about hormone replacement therapy. Your inner child isn’t playing with matches and trying to burn you up inside out with hot flashes. However, you will get there one day my little grasshopper and you will need to talk to your doctor about the risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to reduce the signs and symptoms of menopause. If you are all ready post menopausal but you are still snatching your wig and clothes off when a hot flash strikes, and considering taking HRT, consider talking to your doctor about the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time. The Women’s Health Initiative Post Hormonal Therapy Trial discovered post menopausal women who take hormone therapy replacements which combine estrogen and progesterone have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Last, this isn’t prevention but it’s something we all should be doing:

Get your tatas smashed and feel on them regularly!

Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early. If you are between the ages of 40–49 years, talk to your doc about when and how often you should have a mammogram. If you are 50 and above, please be sure to have a mammogram every two years. For the rest of us 40 and below please feel your girls, or guys for the fellas, up! Perform a regular breast self-exam and look and feel for lumps, changes in the size or shape of your breasts, and for any changes in the armpit area.

XOXO, Miss Foodie Fab!