www.savethetatas.com - Put some fun in the fight against cancer!

Britainy's Story, helping Save the ta-tas

2011-10-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/britainy

I love true stories of survivors, they help us all in so many ways. Here's Britainy's story. Read her blog and you could win a "now is all we have" tee!

What a Woman Wednesday, Oct. 26

2011-10-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

What a Woman Wednesday, written by Rikki Fayne- pre-vivor

One of the defining moments of my adulthood is the death of my mother. I was 30 years old, and I had spent the most of my 20s watching my mom fight breast cancer. It’s almost impossible for me to remember a time when my mother wasn’t fighting.

I have always taken the health of my breasts very seriously. I was getting yearly mammograms at 25 years old. At that time, not much was known about the heredity of the disease. Not that it would have mattered much to me. My mother was adopted. My health history went back to her. That’s not much to go on. But when I was about 35, several things happened. I became a single mother by choice of a beautiful little girl, and testing began for the BRCA gene. I spoke to my OBGyn at a yearly visit, but she did not think testing was necessary. The odds of my having the gene was slim to none. So, I went on with my life. I had another baby girl, and testing became more common.

First, let me say…I am a firm believer in testing. Information is power. But do you know what you want to do with the information? That’s an important question to answer. So, if I got tested, what would I do with the information? What if I was BRCA positive?   Several factors made my decision easier. First, I had 2 children. Living a long life was very important. Second, my breasts had already nursed 2 children…their job was basically done. Finally, without a spouse, I didn’t really need to worry about the psychological effects of a mastectomy on anyone except me.   So, the hard decision was made. If I was BRCA positive, bye-bye breasts. I was oddly matter-of-fact as I marched to UCLA to give them my blood.

Even the genetic counselor told me the odds were in my favor. Very few people carry the gene mutation. I nodded, then held out my arm. It was the first week of October, 2009. Results seemed to take forever (don’t they always when you’re waiting?) but sooner than I expected, I got a phone call from UCLA. Her first comment to me was “Wow, you called it.” That was all I needed to hear. I knew what the result was. So…where do I go from here?

My decision was simple (for me, anyway). I spoke to the UCLA Breast Center and got referrals to oncologists and plastic surgeons. For my family, the decision wasn’t so cut-and-dry. Both my parents are gone, and my family (aside from my children) was a tight group of cousins, aunts, and uncle….and one brother. I did not have to worry about the effects of my surgery on a spouse, but I was surprised at the effects of my surgery on my brother. My cousins, aunts, and uncles were very supportive. They asked lots of questions, but never doubted or questioned what I was doing. My brother….that’s another story. He immediately jumped to “don’t do anything drastic without talking to a doctor.” Really? Did he think these test results fell out of the sky? Who did he think I’ve been talking to? He sent me emails of articles that implied there was no reason to have surgery, and that simple vigilance was all that was needed. WHAT?!!!!! Oy…..his reaction was not what I expected. He was so disapproving of what I planned that he stopped talking to me. When my cousin called the day before my surgery to make sure he knew I was going to the hospital, he acknowledged knowing but not approving, so he had no desire to hear anything. At the time I am writing this, it has been almost 2 years since we have spoken. He does not respond to birthday wishes, and holiday cards have no personal greeting on them. I think his wife sends them. So, while I am disturbed by his reaction, it does not stop me. I must make choices that are best for me and my children.

So….jump to July 2010. After consultations and pictures and more consultations, I woke up early and took one last look at my breasts. I tried to imagine what they would look like after the surgery, but couldn’t picture it. I was nervous about general anesthetic (who isn’t?) but I had faith in the doctors I had chosen. I wish I had something exciting to write at this point, but sorry…I’ve got nothing. I had a lovely IV relaxant (once that started, really I could care less about the surgery….delightful), was taken into surgery, and woke up about 10 hours later with new breasts. Really….that’s it. In one surgery, one doctor took my breasts off, and another removed a portion of my stomach and recreated new breasts. Isn’t modern science amazing?! New perkier breasts and a tummy tuck. The pain was not what I expected…not better or worse, just different. Each hospital has it’s own protocol. A friend had the same surgery at UCSF and her experience was only slightly different than mine. The nurses were amazing, understanding, and helpful. Getting out of bed was excruciating, but necessary. After 5 days, I was discharged. I was told that by day 7 or 8 after surgery, I’d feel almost 100% better (better being a relative term). I arranged to spend the first few days at my cousins home (where my children had been staying). And this is when things did NOT go as planned.

That night, my right breast just started swelling and feeling tight. There’s not other way to explain the feeling. I didn’t notice a change in the color of the tissue (something I was told to look for). The doctor said some swelling was normal, and as long as the color didn’t change, I should relax and call in the morning (really…it’s not a cliché…he really said that).   In the morning, I had a small breakfast (in hindsight, not my best decision), and started to get dressed. I noticed that the center of my breast was a bit more purple than the rest of the breast. We called the doctor and decided to head to the hospital. Now, let me say now that I tend to overreact when it comes to my health. I worry about everything. My cousin is just the opposite, which is good for me. I felt bad that she had to drive me to the hospital, and she was calm and confident that things were fine, but knew I needed to be reassured. Neither of us expected what came next.

At the ER, my plastic surgeon’s resident came in (a very nice young man) and pulled out the little machine that listens to the blood flow in the new breast tissue….it was a lot quieter than I remembered from my hospital stay. Wait…quieter isn’t the right word…it was silent. So silent, as a matter of fact, that he immediately called the doctor (did I mention it was a Sunday and 4th of July?) who dropped everything and came in. I was able to make a quick phone call to my children to explain that I wasn’t coming home right away, then I was whisked away. Have you ever seen those medical dramas where the camera has the point-of-view of the patient and you see the ceiling tiles flying by? That’s exactly how it was. I was awake for a lot more than I was the first time…way more aware of what was happening and the urgency that was absent the first time. It took 4 different anesthesiologists to get the IV in me…I don’t say arm, because honestly, they would have put it anywhere they could find at that point. Apparently, I have bad veins. I guess they finally got it, though, because I don’t remember anything after that. But remember that small breakfast I mentioned earlier? It’s about to come back to haunt me.

When I woke up, all I remember is not being able to swallow comfortably, which did cause a feeling of panic. Something was in my throat.   Apparently, when you aspirate during surgery, they must reinsert the breathing tube and cannot take it out until you are fully awake. I will sum it up this way….waking up with a breathing tube sucks. I wanted it out, but was scared of what it would feel like to take it out. It seemed like I was in recovery forever. I remember I kept hitting the call button hoping for help, and the nurses were wonderful, but obviously I was not their only patient, and I had no concept of time anyway. But eventually, the tube came out. I don’t remember much so it was probably not as bad as I was worried about. I just remember that night…..the pain was localized in my right breast, shoulder, and arm. It hurt to move my arm at all. It wasn’t until the next morning that I learned they could not save the breast. Okay…was there any upside to this? Well, after a few days (which would have been day 7 or 8 after my original surgery….does that ring a bell?) I did notice that every other surgical area felt a lot better. Getting up by myself, using the bathroom, etc, was easier. I was able to take short, slow walks around the hospital. I could well imagine that if not for the hiccup of my blood clotted breast, I’d be very happy right now.

Okay…so fast forward a bit…..the surgery did not come off exactly as anyone had planned. Instead of two new perky breasts, I was Rikki, the one-boobed-wonder. Not the outcome I was hoping for. However, if I learned anything from my parents, it was to have a sense of humor. So, laughter and self-deprecation of my situation did wonders. I pulled myself up, dusted what was left of me off, and made a new plan. I was not that keen to have implants, which was why I chose to have the FLAP surgery, but since they could not determine why the breast clotted, I did not want to risk another surgery, so I started the process of a breast implant on the right side. It was a bit bizarre, having them pump saline into the expander, but not painful. And the following December, I went back in, had the implant put in, and the second phase of my original surgery. Apparently, the BRCA gene also increases your risk of ovarian and uterine cancer….and I was not willing to risk ovarian cancer. I was already peri-menopausal prior to the surgery, so I was perfectly willing to throw myself into full-fledged menopause if it meant no ovarian cancer. I had two c-sections, so I was not worried about this surgery at all. So, what did I learn? Apparently, surgery on your stomach can make your shoulder hurt. Really…it’s called deferred pain and it was NOT pleasant. Air bubbles in your stomach travel up and get lodged in your shoulder. Pain meds don’t work, but heat was amazing. I practically lived with my heating pad for about a week. But after that, I felt great. My kids were wonderful and helpful (as much as a 9 and 6 year old can be), my family was awesome, my co-workers helped out in any way they could, and my temple family supported me in any way they could….although still no communication with my brother.

I think it’s important to mention that as I looked back to the past 6 months (really? Was that all it was?) it’s important to say one thing. Even knowing what I know…..the pain, blood clot, breathing tube, etc…I’d do it all over again. Let me say that again….I’d do it all over again. Except maybe I wouldn’t have eaten breakfast that morning. But once the breasts were gone, I felt like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulder…or maybe off my breasts. I was not worried about finding the lump.   Yes, there was always a small chance of still getting breast cancer, but really my odds are less than the general population now.

My only worry, as I look at my two daughters, I wonder…..did one of them inherit the bullet? How do you talk to a child about that? At what age do you start to have that discussion? These are questions that I still struggle with. My girls don’t connect my surgery to themselves yet, but I know that day will come. So my journey is not over. I am confident that when the time comes, I will be able to talk to my girls about this part of our family DNA, and I will walk the path with them as they make their own choices.   I do not regret the path I chose in any way. I am very happy with my decision.

…and they all lived happily ever after.

CPA Mom helps Save the ta-tas

2011-10-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

I have followed CPA Mom for years. I hope you will begin a long and beautiful relationship with her today, too. And you might just win the giveaway!

http://cpamomva.blogspot.com/2011/10/fight-cancer-your-way-fight-cancer.html

Debbie helps Save the ta-tas

2011-10-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Debbie, an inspiring cancer fighter shares her story with us. Be inspired and maybe win a stargazer tee!
debsbreastcancerjourney.blogspot.com

Girlfriendcircles Helps Save the ta-tas!

2011-10-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today's blog comes from Shasta and is about Breast Cancer and the importance of friends. We love this blog and know how important friends are during both happy and trying times in your life. Shasta is giving away the "Now is all we have" tee! Visit her blog and learn how to win. Happy reading!

http://www.girlfriendcircles.com/blog/index.php/2011/10/breast_cancer_friendship/

4 Ways to Avoid Cause-Marketing Catastrophe

2011-10-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the NY State Attorney General sent letters to 124 cause-marketing businesses and 20 charities in the state of NY who claim to give funds to fight cancer to make sure they are keeping their promise to the consumer. This is potentially big trouble for those who are not keeping their commitments.

If you say you're going to give money from a purchase to a charity, you must follow through.

Here are four ways to avoid trouble concerning your cause-marketing campaign:

Tell the customer how much you're giving
If you're running a campaign and selling product claiming it gives back to a charity or charitable cause, and you're using this fact to sell the product, it is expected you will expose exactly how much you plan to give. We tell our customers that ta-tas® Brand gives 5% of the sales. It's a straight forward calculation. This is much more tangible than a profit pledge. Yah, so it's not enough for a few people. That's ok because it actually is a lot, has calculated to about half of our profits over the past 6 years, and adds up as well: $690,000 to date.

Be honest with the customer about how much you're giving
If you are giving off the profit and you know you're not going to make much profit if any, you may be playing with fire. Why? Because if you're selling something in the name of a cause saying you'll donate -you'll need to donate something. Sometimes there isn't a profit, herein lies the problem with pledging a profit based donation. The final calculation can be anything or nothing... and the customer would never know because you could use the term "raised" instead of the term "donated." Tricky? Yes. Is it done? Absolutely. Is it ethical? Well, the AG is going to step in and make some decisions about that. I'm really glad, at this point, save the ta-tas® calculates our donation off the sales. You also need to be honest if you have a cap, such as, "We'll give 25cents for every box top sent in..."well, if you're only going to do that up to $300 that's called a cap, and you need to tell your customer clearly that there is a cap. A lot of people don't disclose caps, and this is one of the things the AG is checking into. At save the ta-tas®, we don't have a cap. The more we sell, the larger our donation.

Be in a contractually binding agreement with your charity. If the AG comes calling, your charity can pull out the document and the proof of your financial donation. This could save your assets, so to speak.

Donate what you promised. Good intentions are not enough when it comes to a cause-marketing campaign. You have to put your money where your promise is. Do some people get away with not donating? Yes. This makes me angry and I personally don't know how they sleep at night. But, the tides are turning now, thanks to the NY AG.

Kind and generous consumers should be able to believe that their purchase "is doing the good that has been promised." At save the ta-tas® you can be sure that when you buy, you are creating a donation. We clearly disclose how we calculate the donation, you know what that donation is, and you can see where it goes. I'm proud of our company for doing this whether or not the AGs are looking. The truth is, for those who really care, it's not about avoiding the donation or putting caps on the donation. Why? Because those who really care know how much it's going to cost to find a cure, and they want to contribute as much as they can to efforts that are actually helping put an end to the disease.

Find out more about our researchers here:
http://www.savethetatas.org/researchers/

Read more about the crackdown in NY.
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1a02e8f2475745dcbc107c13ad62af42.html

I'm A Pink Warrior helps Save the ta-tas

2011-10-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

I love the blog today because it's about being your own advocate. Coco Chanel said "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud." We must do this concerning our own health and well being. Read on and be encouraged: http://www.iamapinkwarrior.blogspot.com/

Don't miss today's giveaway, read and post to enter to win.

What a Woman Wednesday, Oct. 19

2011-10-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

Survivor-ship is no easy task. This is Valerie Buck's continuing story of triumph...

Ta-Ta’s to Triathlon

I knew I was myself again right there. Every survivor talks about that “ah-ha” moment after the storms pass. I was closing on the 1^st anniversary of my last chemo session. I endured six in total, dose dense, every two weeks to the day – supplemented with Neulasta, following a lumpectomy and SAVI assisted brachyradiation for stage IIaN0 triple negative breast cancer. I was BRCA negative, a 36-year-old non-smoker who ate right & exercised religiously with no family history.

I was bad luck in a bottle, beating the odds on a lotto that you really don’t want to win. Diagnosed on March 16^th 2010 – to surgery on April 9^th, radiation finished by April 20^th and finished treatment by July 21^stthat year.

To celebrate the anniversary I was picking up where I left off. I was planning on competing in an Olympic distance triathlon (that’s 750m swim, 40k bike & 10k run); my super secret inner goal was a top 10 finish in my age group.

Now granted, I never ran a triathlon before. Oh, there was the minor detail that prior to beginning my training program with my coach; I could not “officially” swim. I mean, I could snorkel, dog paddle, surf and SUP badly, basic drowning avoidance. But I absolutely could not swim by a real definition.

So at 37, I was going to the beach in Hawaii where I relocated, for swimming lessons three times a week. I should have bit the bullet on that when I was 10. Oh well. I also never rode “clipped” in prior to purchasing my bike in March. But that was another minor detail. See, with the run and bike, if you get tired you can walk or get off. When your swimming then you’re not– that’s called drowning.

It was eleven weeks to the race. The training was exhausting. I gained about 20 pounds during my treatment, lost all of my muscle tissue and was left a swollen, lumpy caricature of myself. I resembled Grimace enough that I made him my profile picture on Facebook. Nobody really noticed the difference.

Hard work with a trainer followed the end of my chemo that August. It was critical to help regain my coordination and muscle mass. By February I was tentatively running again. At the end of March I decided to run a sprint duathlon in May as a trial run on the whole triathlon endeavor. I was hooked.

A desperate realization at the end of June left me aware that I was waaaaayyyy behind on the swim progress. I could see it in Coach Chad’s eyes when it finally hit me. That fear – of making it so far to not make it far enough to complete the 750-meter swim was enough. It jolted me to push through my mental block, which stopped me every time I became uncomfortable in the water. I finished the “dry” run at the race site swimming next to him the day before.

Now it was two weeks till race day. The puff & pancakes that hung off my frame were gone. I was undeniably fit again, standing on the beach waiting for my girlfriend to drag her SUP board out of the water.

I finished a three-hour bike/run combo earlier under the scorching Hawaiian sun that left me exhausted. Any sympathy she would garner from me was lost in arms that could barely move from my sides. I leaned against the wall by the shower waiting for her to rinse off her board when the spray from it hit me.

I turned glancing over my shoulder and saw a dude - no - a man rinsing off both himself and his board. The foggy haze in my brain lifted enough for the image to sharpen lingering appreciatively the spot on his perfect, sculpted torso where the water was hitting. Tired, lazy and with the arrogance that only surviving cancer and training for a triathlon gets you – I just blatantly stared at him showering while Lauren staggered up. My gaze didn’t move, flinch or waver as he finished and rounded the corner, carrying his board on his head.

Apparently my interest did not escape his notice and he ogled in kind. “Do you paddle?” he asked, eyeballing in my tiny, mismatched Hawaiian-style bikini. “No, not lately, I’m training for a triathlon in two weeks…” I replied with confident line drive down the middle. He smiled the practiced smile of someone used to this type of flirting, “you look fit”.

I smiled back at him. Behind the flirty, sideways smirk an inner voice said, “You have no fucking idea what hell I lived through to be here, how many miles, needles, tests, and horrors I endured to be staring at you man-meat…” But my head tilted obligingly in his direction and merely said, “thanks”.

I was back then. In that moment. Lauren walked up and a shocked expression on her face and asked, “What was that?”

Most people who think they know me think it was the race. Two weeks later I would finish 11^th in my age group in my first triathlon, 750 m swim, 40k bike and 10k run. I missed my goal of a top 10 finish in my age group by 24 seconds. Then again former top 10 finishers claimed spots 1-10 and that was my first race, oh, and yeah – it was a year after I finished chemo. The only hint about any of that were the pink “save the tatas” socks, they don’t make a triathlon suit yet. But it was that day at the beach. That moment.

See everyone thinks that being a survivor is about wearing a pink tee shirt at some walk, coming forward in the media & mentoring other patients. That’s what people expect. That’s the box that they will want to put you in, “the brave and heroic survivor”. That’s the easy part, been there done that. Surviving is like swimming – you can’t simply stop – you will just drown.

Really getting your life back can be as simple as watching a hot guy take a shower. Sometimes it can sneak up on you like a splash of water on a hot day. Sometimes salvation walks up to you and bites you on the nose when you least expected it. You can’t find it, no matter how hard you look. It simply finds you when you’re ready for it.

L.A.I.D LA In Destress helps Save the ta-tas

2011-10-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

God bless Larry the breast man. You go find those lumps, Larry (with permission of course!) You go do the work of a hero. http://www.laindistress.com/2011/10/larry-loves-tatas-save-tatas-for-you.html And yes, Larry has a ta-tas giveaway... so check him out... fair is fair.

Greek Angel helps Save the ta-tas

2011-10-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

7 Facts you should know about breast cancer... http://greekangel76.blogspot.com/ and maybe even get the badass ta-tas giveaway!

Mel Majoros is THE CANCER WARRIOR!

2011-10-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

I've never met Mel in person, but I've known her for many years and I proudly consider her a friend. I hope you will get to know her, follow her blog and her broadcast. She is marvelous. Today, Mel's giveaway is an Imagine a World Without Cancer tee.... won't that be a great day?

http://www.thecancerwarrior.blogspot.com/

Julia Fikse and Save the ta-tas in SELF!!

2011-10-15T14:03:00.001-07:00

I'm thrilled to be highlighted in Self Magazine online this week!! Check it out and tell me what you think!

http://www.self.com/health/blogs/healthyself/2011/10/my-healthyself-how-you-can-hel.html

Gingersnaps in the Morning and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have to confess, Lil'Miss'G is a dear friend of mine. She is hilarious onscreen and off. Check out her hilarious blog here bit.ly/oGsPn0 . You could win the giveaway today... read her blog to find out more.

Lil Trickster and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

A heartfelt look at breastfeeding, motherhood, and cancer (and the cutest baby pictures EVER!)
The giveway? An adorable save the ta-tas onesie. Comment to win, and gain a great new blogger for your following pleasure:

http://liltrickster.blogspot.com/2011/10/breast-cancer-ta-tas-and-giveaway.html

The Diary of a Bald Woman and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

Are you friends with a bald woman? If not, you should be and here's how now http://bit.ly/qeu52r . If you are, well, you can never have enough bald friends ... as you well know. So check out Think Pink: The Diary of a Bald Woman, and you may win the free giveaway, our awesome Green Saves Trees, Pink Saves These tee. Show our bald and beautiful women some love today!!

The HSS Feed and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-11T14:39:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you put sisters together who love to blog about their favorite things? Tons of great girlie info. Check it out and you could win a laughter heals tee!! http://bit.ly/pZwTCJ

Rock the Bolt and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

If you love football and love fighting breast cancer and love winning free stuff: This blog is for you!

http://rockthebolt.com/2011/10/07/beautiful-faces-ugly-disease/

Owning Pink and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

Melanie of Owning Pink is positively hilarious. You want to laugh? Read on about wresting cancer... aka...La Cobra Más Macho http://www.owningpink.com/blogs/owning-pink/wrestling-breast-cancer There's a giveaway, but the real win is sign up for her blog!

Leslie Sarna: Fighting Cancer with... Salad?

2011-10-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

Need somethin new in your life? Here's an idea: http://bit.ly/ojaIzp A dream girl with a plan for your wellbeing. Don't be afraid of her rolling pin, she's harmless, unless you're a greasy burger with a side of fries. The giveaway today is GORGEOUS. Go to the blog to learn more...

AfroChemo Rock ON

2011-10-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

As I was researching bloggers for Blogmania, I didn't find a lot of black bloggers. This struck me as strange. The statistics concerning black women and cancer will.stop.you.in.your.tracks. I love the gauntlet afroChemo lays down for us in her blog. Let's put our heads together. (And you could win a Laughter Heals tee!) Check it out:

http://afrochemo.blogspot.com/2011/10/pink-is-new-black.html

Waiting For the Storm to End and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-05T16:09:00.001-07:00

When I found this blog, I found a treasure. I'm excited to share it with you through Blogmania! And you just might get the giveaway to boot! Check it out:

http://beth-waitingforthestormtoend.blogspot.com/

What a Woman Wednesday - Adriana Lopez

2011-10-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

It's What a Woman Wednesday, and what a woman you are Adriana! Thank you for encouraging us and inspiring us. Here is Adriana's amazing story of hope, love and survival:

My name is Adriana Lopez and I was diagnosed with breast cancer on08/27/2011, exactly 1 week after I turned 30. My son had just turned 1(we have the same birthday) and my daughter was going to turn 3 inOctober. And I remember thinking that I was going to die and what hurtmore than knowing I had cancer, was thinking that my kids would grow-up withouta mother and wouldn’t even remember me because they were so young. It felt like taking a bullet to theheart!

Needless to say, this was a very scary and dark time for me and Iwas pretty shocked and numb, all at once. I was angry at first andcouldn’t understand what I had done that was so wrong, which caused me to getcancer. I wanted to know why thishappened and why God let it happen. I used to love night time because I’d wish, hope and pray that it wasall a really bad dream and in the morning I would wake-up and everything wouldbe back to normal. Night afternight, I prayed for the same thing, but I never woke-up from the bad dreambecause it wasn’t a dream, it was a reality….I had cancer!

After having the lumpectomy, my surgeon suggested I have a mastectomy. I felt my world crumbling down,again. My husband and I decided wewould do a repeat surgery and lymph node surgery and hope the margins wereclear, if not, we would consider the mastectomy at that time. I was back in the O.R. on 09/14 and Iremember nearly hitting the ceiling when the doctor said it was‘negative’. Those were thesweetest words I had heard in the last 2 weeks.

One day, I sat there and reminded myself that I only had 2choices; I could either feel sorry for myself or get up and fight every day andnot just for my kids or my husband, but also for myself. So I made peace with my disease andbelieve it or not, once I did that, everything got a little easier. However, being Mexican presented extrachallenges. My parents wouldn’t talkabout ‘it’ and wouldn’t dare say the word ‘chemo’. The word cancer is still ‘taboo’ and because I had cancer, Ifelt like I had let them down and that because of that, I too, in a weird andunexplainable way, was also ‘taboo’.

Once again, I decided to take charge. I made my parents go with me to a chemo session, so thatthey could see what it was and know that it was o.k. It took them a while to get as comfortable as one can get toseeing their child hooked up to this ‘thing’ called ‘chemo’, which also took awhile for them to say. Soonafter that, my mother was my loyal partner.

There were so many moments when I wanted to give-up, whatever thatmeant. I just didn’t want to doit. I hated not being able tocarry my kids. I didn’t want to smellmyself like I was burning after chemo, I hated having to flush the toilets andwashing my hands twice because I was getting chemo, I hated the port and felt Icouldn’t take much more. Well,little did I know that was nothing compared to knowing and seeing my hairfall. Wow, 2^nd bulletto the heart! My husband came homeas soon as he could and found me on the floor crying my heart out, or what wasleft of it, along with the brush in one hand and the phone in the other.

I had to pick myself up, again and one of my dear friends said weshould walk in the Revlon Walk in L.A.; a walk for all women cancers, so agroup of us did. She of course,wore her Save the ta-tas tee and I knew right away that I had to have one assoon as possible. After the walk,we found the booth and my sister; my friend and I bought our first Save theta-tas tees. Later, I decided towalk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and I couldn’t wait to wear my Kiss MeI’m a Survivor tee, as I crossed the finish line because that was my remissionanniversary! I signed up to sharemy story and was lucky enough to have been selected. I had the opportunity to tell my story in a nutshell on alive Spanish channel and I hope I was able to give somebody hope. I also knew then, my whole family hadto sport their ta-tas gear, so I went on-line and that’s when I learned aboutfounders and her story. I ended upbuying my husband and kids their tees and felt so good to be making adifference simply by purchasing the ta-tas brand. Since then, I’ve walked in the Avon Walk again, and thistime, I purchased Save the ta-tas stickers and boob lube as thank-you gifts tomy sponsors – they were big hits!!!

There are still emotionalissues that I deal with from time to time, but overall things are great! I am happy to report that I’m a 4 yearsurvivor now and am so looking forward to next year, when I hit the big 5 yearremission anniversary! I amso thankful and grateful for everything I have in my life. I am very blessed to be able to attendmy kids’ school events, small milestones, award ceremonies, etc. because at onepoint, I really believed that I wouldn’t make it to the next day.

I believe things happen for areason; even if you don’t understand it or see it at the time. And I also believe that attitude ishalf the battle, regardless of the battle!

I’ve heard from so manyfriends of mine that, if it weren’t for me telling them my story, they probablywouldn’t have started performing their self-breast exams and that makes me feelreally good. I love to talk, it’sno secret and I especially love to tell my story. Not so you can feel bad or sorry for me, but for you toshare it with at least one person because it could be the one person that makesthat phone call or starts checking. I believe, early detection can save your life; actually, I KNOW thatearly detection can save lives because it saved mine. I could go on and on, but I won’t because I have tokeep some things to myself. Things that only your heart will ever know andunderstand! J

I also know that if my kidswouldn’t have been as small as they were, my attitude would have beendifferent, so if it had to happen, I’m glad it happened how and when it didbecause it could always have been worse.

Of course, I wouldn’t be heresharing my story with you without the love and support of my husband, whom Ilove dearly, my family, who had to probably be as strong around me, as I aroundthem, my friends, whom had to deal with this in their own way and the wonderfulpeople that I’ve met along this journey who made me feel comfortable andbeautiful, no matter what!

My Life On Match and Save the ta-tas

2011-10-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Blogmania continues! Emily, you do know how to excite us. Thank you for getting us excited about saving the ta-tas... with a little help of course.

Emily has a giveaway, too. You'll have to read her blog and post if you wanna try to get the goods. And please, don't just get up and leave after, Emily likes to cuddle.

http://www.mylifeonmatchandmore.com/?p=522

Save the ta-tas® In STAR MAGAZINE!

2011-10-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

WOOT WOOT!
PS: You can find this keychain at ICING Stores...

and online at savethetatas.com

Environmental Booty Guest Blog

2011-10-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Pinktober Bloggermania continues today with a post from Environmental Booty - a blog about green living. They are giving away our best selling Laughter Heals shirt! Read on to learn more...

http://shaneshirleysmith.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-save-ta-tas-laughter-heals-tee-and.html

HoopLA Guest Blog

2011-10-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

I've asked some amazing bloggers to guest blog for us this October! I'm so excited about the many different points of view and ideas that will be shared this month. AND ALL THE FREE GIVEAWAYS for fans!! Every blog will be giving away a free item, so give their blog a read to learn how you might be that lucky fan.

Here is our first guest post from HoopLA - a blog for angelinos on a budget with an artsy twist! They'll be giving away a Save the ta-tas hoodie. Happy reading and get excited for a big month!

READ The Hoopla Blog www.hooplablog.com

Save the ta-tas PINK HAIR PROJECT!

2011-09-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

You've seen the meme's going around. Remember when we all posted the color bra we had on? Or where we liked to leave our handbag? The latest was our shoe size. That's fun for everyone, and it builds awareness, which is nice...

But awareness alone doesn't buy research. And research is going to end cancer.

At Save the ta-tas we think it's time to start a meme that really makes a difference. We're calling it The Pink Hair Project!

Go to Savethetatas.com this October, make a donation of your choice, send in your picture and we will give you pink hair for your profile picture!

If we rally enough people to join the fun, we could raise enough to support another cancer researcher for one year. WOW! Now that's a meme that makes a difference. Join in the fun! You've always wanted to try pink hair, now's your chance! And in doing it, you really will be helping fight cancer.

And for our fun fans who already have pink hair, make a donation and send in your photo. It's the donation that counts... plus, you'll get this cool frame.

Thank you for helping save the ta-tas! Come join the pink hair fun today! http://bit.ly/oBwooU

And, the Shocking Pink Story this year is...

2011-09-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm hearing buzz this year that the real story for October is how "pink products" don't really give back to breast cancer. I found this out because I had an interview in works with one of the top networks on a huge morning show, but because we were the only organization they had lined up that actually reports specifically how the donations work and where they go, I was informed my story was cancelled because the real story this year isn't about the "good ones." (Wait, what?) I was informed that the big story this year is exposing the dirty underbelly of pink. So, they informed me I will not be getting the airtime because save the ta-tas is a good one. (This seems backwards to me.) Regardless, as this develops, it's important to me that you, our fans, know that supporting save the ta-tas® really does give back. I want to assure you that you are making a difference when you shop with us and donate to us. Here's how:

1) WE CALCULATE AN ACTUAL DONATION WITH PURCHASE. When you buy a ta-tas® Brand product, from savethetatas.com or from any of our official retailers and licensees, ta-tas® Brand donates 5% of the gross sale. This is not the same as 5% of the profit. The gross sale is the sale price before the cost of doing business is taken out. Giving off the gross calculation assures our customers that there will be a donation whether or not we make a profit. Even though it doesn't "sound as good" as someone who promises "100% of the profits" it often works out to be more in a side by side comparison.   Giving off the gross, instead of the profit, is a great way for you, as a customer, to be sure a donation is created from your purchase. Calculating the donation this way has equaled 50% of our profits over the past 6 years.

1A) We don't cap our donation. A lot of companies will promise you a certain donation, but in the fine print somewhere they have stated that they won't give over a certain amount. We don't have a cap. If we sell it, we'll donate our commitment, no matter what this adds up to.... because honestly, isn't more better? Isn't the point to raise the most possible? We want to find a cure and that takes cash! ta-tas® Brand isn't about a cap, we're about a cure.

1B) We give from the sale of every product all year, full price or on sale. Others tend to do pink promotions, such as: one product, one time of year, etc.

2) WE DON'T JUST RAISE FUNDS, WE DONATE FUNDS. A lot of organizations will tell you how much they raise, or how much they have "dedicated." This doesn't mean the same thing as donating. We tell you how much we've donated. In the upper right hand corner of our home page you can see exactly how much has been donated to date. Currently it says: Donations To Date: $690,000. This number grows regularly. Watch it grow because of your purchases. We don't hide behind double speak. You can always stop by and see the number.

3) WE TELL YOU OUR PROCESS. In the past ta-tas® Brand has supported many different organizations. In 2008 we felt we could pass more money through to research if we created our own foundation (It just costs a lot to run the large organizations we were donating to. We hoped to create a foundation with minimal costs and more donations because it was small.) Today, ta-tas® Brand donates to The Save the Ta-tas Foundation. The Save the Ta-tas Foundation also very gratefully accepts independent donations. The Save the Ta-tas Foundation, is a separate entity from ta-tas® Brand. The Save the Ta-tas Foundation has a board of directors and is governed by all the laws that apply to a non-profit in the state of California. I am proud to report that in 2010, the Save the Ta-tas Foundation donated 80cents on the dollar, which is an astonishing number for a new non-profit, and a non-profit that does not have any endowments. This donation percentage sits proudly beside the other larger breast cancer non-profits. That's just one reason why we were named a top Health Charity by Guidestar in 2010.

4) WE TELL YOU HOW WE USE THE MONEY.   The Save the Ta-tas Foundation currently focuses on independent cancer research. In order to keep a well rounded perspective, we use some of the donations for awareness and education, our Scholarship Grant for a college student fighting cancer, and other donations (such as product donations). But our main focus is funding cancer research. You can meet the researchers your donations are supporting online at http://www.savethetatas.org/researchers/. I was recently told by a major media personality that we are the only company she found that actually provided this information to the customer. We are very proud of this fact. We want you to know that you are making a significant difference when you choose to shop and donate with us.

As "pink wars" heat up and the mud slinging ensues, I hope you notice we try to avoid these battles. If you catch a glimpse of the negative pink story this year, I hope you'll be at peace knowing that your purchase at save the ta-tas does give back and really does matter.

Most importantly, pink isn't bad. Pink is great! Yah, there are some people out there who take advantage, but I truly believe that we are in "The Golden Age of Breast Cancer Research" because of all the people who have embraced pink, what it signifies and the donations created through the pink movement. (That's you!) So keep doing what you're doing. Keep believing that we can find a solution to cancer, and don't let the negativity stop you from pressing on in pink with a smile - knowing that you really are helping create a world without cancer. Thank you for your support. Thank you for helping save the ta-tas®.

Donation process and details can be found at savethetatas.com and savethetatas.org

Your favorite Boob Joke, And Go!

2011-09-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

What did one saggy boob say to the other?
If we don't get some support soon, people are going to think we're nuts!

That's my favorite boob joke, what's yours?

I wonder if Wanda Sykes knows...

2011-09-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Last week on Ellen, when asked about announcing the news that she had breast cancer, Wanda Sykes said, "How many things could I have? Black? Lesbian? I can't be the poster child for everything."

WOW.

Besides the obvious risk taking humor here, and you know I'm an advocate of using humor to get through hard times, she is throwing away a huge opportunity to help motivate the public to be proactive about cancer.

I wonder if Wanda Sykes knows that statistically black women are 75% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

I wonder if she'd be the "poster child" if she knew that. I hope she would...in true Wanda style, of course!

3 Ways to Bring Laughter to Tears

2011-09-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

“Comedy and tragedy exist on a very fine line.” –Michael J. Fox

My dog died this week. He was my first dog. Before him I didn’t know what it was like to get so attached to an animal. He was very old, he died peacefully at home with the family in the background playing and our other dog by his side. He had a great life, and a great day and he made his passing very easy on us as a family. I loved that dog.

As I was sobbing alone in my room I remembered that “laughter heals,” and I felt upset. “LAUGH? NOW? NO!” I couldn’t possibly, not in that moment, probably not that day. (little did I know…)

I reached out to people in our life who cared for our dog and shared the news. I wrote an FB letter to a friend who puppysat him when we lived in Prague for 6 months. I told her the news and as I typed I found a small smile when I wrote “Thank you for teaching him “pork tennis.” Brynn and her husband discovered if you said “pork” he would perk up and look right at you. If they sat on either side of him, they could take turns saying “pork!” and he would look back and forth, back and forth at them, like he was watching tennis. They called it “pork tennis.” (They didn’t realize till we got home that he thought they were saying “park.")

She wrote me back later that day, and said thanks for telling her, that he was a good dog and that she was thankful to him for starting a “pork tennis tradition” that they now play with their children.

And then it happened. I laughed. She was joking of course, but the mental picture of them sitting on the couch playing pork tennis with their kids struck my funny bone and I laughed. Hard. For the first time since we said goodbye.

Elizabeth Kubler Ross said there are five stages of grief.
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

I’d like to offer three ways to infuse laughter into your sadness. Sometimes it is hard, not the right time, or even impossible to do it (like in the anger stage.) But if we can incorporate some kind of joy into the grief process, it benefits us greatly.

1) Reach out to Friends. Friends love you and want to care for you. They also have a totally different feeling and perspective on what you are grieving about. Much like Brynn, a friend can make a comment and find fun in a memory that you simply can’t find because you are so incredibly sad. Be thankful for your friends and talk to them. They will help you find joy in surprising ways.
2) Be honest. I went to the hair salon yesterday and the owner said, “How are you?” I wanted to lie and say the standard, “Fine.” Instead I paused and whispered a short honest answer, “My dog died yesterday.” She perked up and said, “There are puppies in the back, wanna come hold them?” I then entered the wonderful world of “puppy therapy.” I never would have gotten that major lift and smile if I had lied about my true experience in that moment. I didn’t bring one home, I’m not ready for that. But the puppy love made me feel so much better.
3) Have patience with yourself It takes time to work through the grief process. Sometimes you can’t truly laugh until you reach the stage of Acceptance. This can take time. Smile when you can, and when you’re ready, you’ll laugh again. When you do, you’ll lift your head up, breathe in the fresh crisp air of life, see the bright future, and know that you can overcome.

My dog lived with exuberant spirit. What a way to live!

Ta-tas in SEVENTEEN Magazine!!

2011-09-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

With Taylor Launtner on the cover. SWEET.

One Step to Having a Better Day

2011-09-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Consider the size and benefit of a penny. Now consider the size and benefit of the sun.

Someone once told me, that with the right perspective, holding a penny in your outstretched hand, a single penny can block out the sun.

Perspective is a huge part of creating a dark and sad life or a bright and fulfilling one.

Is there a penny blocking your sun?

Spend some time today thinking about the "sun" your life, the good things, the blessings, the things that light up your life and feed your soul.

Next, consider the perspectives you hold that block your enjoyment of these blessings. These are your "pennies."

Choose to lay your "pennies" down, and bask in the beauty of your "sun."

Blog-tastic October!

2011-09-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Don’t you love it when you find a great blog? I remember when I first discovered the Manolo shoe blog. I couldn’t get enough, I still can’t.

There are so many great bloggers to choose from out there. How do you decide where to devote your valuable time? This October, we are going to share some of our favorites with you.

We’re calling it Blog Mania! and it is going to be Blog-tastic.

In October, wonderful bloggers with wonderful voices will be guest blogging for us. We have asked them to share their thoughts, ramblings, wise words and humor concerning breast cancer. You can meet them, they can meet you, and best of all…

You can enter to win free stuff!

Every blogger will share with you their favorite ta-tas® item, and you can enter to win one for yourself! All you have to do is read their blog and find out how.

We’re really excited about sharing October together. We all have our own ideas, and ways of fighting cancer. It’s when we find common ground, put our heads together and share the journey that we make progress.

Have a blog and want to join in the fun? Contact erosenbergsnl@gmail.com

Blog Mania here we come!

So what you're saying is, I have to do coffee enemas?

2011-09-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

As a part of my ongoing effort to be educated concerning the information available when it comes to helping fight cancer, I am taking some time to listen to and acknowledge our MANY fans who claim there is a cure, watch the videos they have sent me, and continue the conversation. It's important to me that you know I am listening and I really do care about helping find a cure. Whether or not a cure is out there right now, we still need to fund research AND we still need to keep searching the world over for a cure that might surprise us.

Last night I watched "The Gerson Miracle." If this is true, it's pretty astonishing.

I wonder if one reason the the Gerson Therapy isn't widely talked about is partly due to the coffee enema component. It sounds immature to even mention it, like we should be talking in hushed tones and giggling. It's so much safer to blog about a radiation experience than a coffee up your rear one.

But... they are claiming it cures cancer, so even if it feels impossible to discuss in a public forum shouldn't it be incorporated into the cancer discussion?

Let's talk about it.

Has anyone done the Gerson Therapy? If so, please share your story. Does this have merit?

And one more time, from yesterdays blog, since so many of you believe there is a cure and the establishment is holding out on us...

"For those of you who feel it’s time to end the corruption that is destroying the health of Americans you may want to consider learning more about a new movement called The Canary Party.

We are a group of citizens who are disturbed by the increasingly failing health of those in our society. Among us are those who have been injured by the medical industry, those with children or loved ones who have been harmed and killed by the medical industry, medical professionals who are upset with what is happening in their field and those who endeavor to preserve human health in spite of increasingly corrupt and failing medical establishment.”

taken from http://CanaryParty.org

So what you're saying is, there IS a cure?

2011-09-15T21:23:00.000-07:00

I started ta-tas Brand® in 2004 because I truly care about helping find a cure for cancer. Seven years ago I was new to this world of breast cancer in every way. I had not been organizing walks for years like Susan G. Komen, or funding research for years like The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I never had cancer. I was simply, very simply, a private citizen who wanted to make a difference with the skill set I had.

I was a fashion designer by training, trade and experience. This is what I could offer, a clothing line that designated a set amount, regardless of profit, to the cause. God willing it wouldn’t be long before there was a cure and I could move on to another issue I cared about.

It was settled, I would use what I had to try to make a difference. It’s been 7 years, and I have been faithful to my commitment to use the product to generate donations. In 2008, we even started a non-profit at great cost to us (ironic, isn’t it?) Our new non-profit gave 80cents on the dollar last year without endowments (a form of donations that can drastically offset the cost of doing business as a non-profit so that your donation per dollar can be higher.)

I’m really proud of us for staying strong and using what we had available to us to create an actual, significant donation as private citizens running a small business. It’s due to you, our supporters, combined with our commitment to you and the cause, that makes this brand, and this movement, what it is today.

But what I really want is for us find a cure.

After crying throughout the day yesterday reading our Facebook fan page posts, (wow save the ta-tas fans are incredible) I decided it was time to put my kids to bed a little early and watch a movie I’ve been meaning to watch for a long time. A movie a fan sent to me. It looks like contraband, and it is titled: Burzynski, the Movie.

Oh My Gosh.

Fans often post that they believe the government has a cure. According to this particularly film, a man named Dr. Burzynski from Texas patented Antineoplastons, which basically could evaporate deadly cancer completely in 25% of if his patients. This would mean one man owned a potential cure, or at least the closest thing we’ve ever come to one.

According the movie, the FDA, Pharma, The American Cancer Institute and the US Government did everything in their power for almost two decades to stop his work, steal his work, and ultimately patent his work.

The movie left no call to action.

So, I’d like to offer one, since so many of of our fans believe there is cure out there and the establishment is holding out on us.

For those of you who feel it’s time to end the corruption that is destroying the health of Americans you may want to consider learning more about a new movement called The Canary Party.

“We are a group of citizens who are disturbed by the increasingly failing health of those in our society. Among us are those who have been injured by the medical industry, those with children or loved ones who have been harmed and killed by the medical industry, medical professionals who are upset with what is happening in their field and those who endeavor to preserve human health in spite of increasingly corrupt and failing medical establishment.”

http://CanaryParty.org

The Chairman Mark Blaxill will be on Fox News Sunday morning, announcing the launch of the party.

The Canary Party is known for their fight for integrity in vaccine practices, but they could certainly use the support of those fighting cancer that desire integrity by the establishment.

I am writing this to give an option to act for those who believe there is a cure and it is being withheld. If what you’re saying is true, it is an atrocity against humanity. This is one way to take action.

Regardless of whether or not a cure exists, I still truly care about finding a cure for cancer. This is why: If a cure does exist, we have a lot of work to do to get the cure to the public. If a cure doesn’t exist, we have a lot of work to do to find one, and then we have lot of work to do to make sure it gets to the public. Either way, we need all hands on deck.

What do you believe? But more importantly, what are you going to do about it?

Julia Fikse Named a 2011 Most Influential Woman by Transworld Business

2011-08-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

WOW. I am so honored to be named one of The Most Influential Women in Action Sports by Transworld Business!! Here's the article titled "Giving Back to the Front." hahaha Good one, Transworld!

What would you do?

2011-08-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

We had a great post last week about a man who had to turn his ta-tas shirt inside out at work. Here's the story...

"Just so you know, I am going to battle with my husband's employer today because after 2 years of owning a Save The Tatas shirt and wearing it to work, they told him to turn it inside out at work today because it might offend someone. They have offically offended me! We love this site and the shirts!! And we are supporting those who fight this disease every day." -Amberly L.

What would you do?

NEW FINDING! Mammograms Cut Breast Cancer Deaths By a Third

2011-06-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

On November 17, 2009 The US Preventive Services Task Force released a statement that said women age 40 to 49 don't need to have routine mammograms anymore and that breast self-exams aren't recommended in general. The group found no evidence that self-exams reduce breast cancer death rates, and discouraged teaching women how to examine themselves.

This caused quite a stir, and many prominent organizations stood behind this statement. Not Save the ta-tas. We stood our ground that mammograms help women live longer if cancer is caught early, and if even one life is saved, mammograms are worthwhile. We also believe teaching women (and men) to examine breasts is also potentially life saving.

Yesterday, it was announced in an MSNBC article that Mammograms cut cancer deaths by a third!!! We want you to know of this important finding in case you cancelled your mammogram.

Get your mammogram, it really can save your life!!!

Mammograms can cut breast cancer deaths by a third
By Julie Steenhuysen
updated 6/28/2011 9:04:53 AM ET
CHICAGO — The longest-running breast cancer screening study ever conducted has shown that regular mammograms prevent deaths from breast cancer, and the number of lives saved increases over time, an international research team said on Tuesday. read more...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43560858/ns/health-cancer/t/mammograms-can-cut-breast-cancer-deaths-third/from/toolbar

5 Tips to Keep It Off!

2011-06-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

As I continue into my last 4 days of a 21 day cleanse, I have lost some weight. My pants don't fit well anymore (yeah!) and I feel REALLY GREAT. I started to wonder, "How will I keep it off?" To get the answer I went to someone I trust and adore, our wonderful Controller here at Save the ta-tas, Lesli Gilmore. I asked her to write a guest blog on the topic... so without further ado ... (THANKS LESLI!!!)

5 Tips for Keeping It Off - By Lesli Gilmore

About 9 years ago, I lost a significant amount of weight. What I didn’t believe when I started my journey, is what everyone tells you… maintaining a weight loss is more of a challenge than losing weight, because it is a life-long skill set of habits that each of us has to develop – and adjust along the way.

I believe that a huge factor in my ability to maintain my weight within a healthy range is because I catch myself when the pounds start to creep back on, and go back to the basics.

So, here are a few basics I’ve learned along the way that work for me. I don’t think you’ll find any surprises, but I hope you’ll get a simple reminder or nudge (dare I say… food for thought), that might help you out if you are struggling.

1. Moderation 1.0: DIET and exercise,,,, diet and Exercise … diet and exercise. I know… I know…. but, it’s true. You have to find your happy balance and understand that you may need to change it up from time to time. For me, exercise and happy didn’t fit together until I found a wonderful trainer who has worked with me and kept me motivated for 5 years. My friends know that I am willing to forego fancy vacations and meals to make sure Paul is in my budget!

2. Moderation 1.2: Find healthy foods that satisfy you. Keep looking! And if you can’t find a satisfying alternative to a favorite treat, allow yourself to have it… with joy! My greatest delight is finding a yummy food, only to learn later, that it is healthy. I also understand that there are some foods that simply can’t be replaced, that I allow myself on special occasions. I’ve found that deprivation always backfires – so I don’t bother.

3. Weigh yourself once a week (or try on those jeans if you are anti-scale) to keep yourself honest and gauge how you are doing.

4. Re-calculate. If you don’t like the number on the scale or the way the jeans fit, change something or go back to what worked for you in the past. Also, recognize that as we age, things change within our bodies and we have to keep the process organic and adjust it as necessary. For me it’s usually something simple that I lost sight of such as not eating after a certain time, or packing up part of a restaurant meal in a to-go box, rather than pick at it as it tempts me while I’m waiting for my friends to finish theirs.

5. Don’t beat yourself up or compare yourself with anyone else. Your weight will fluctuate and there will be times you don’t like how the jeans fit. Okay. Now what? There’s always going to be someone else who seems to have an easier time of it or a better proportioned body. But, this is about YOU. My Mom uses a couple of expressions I like that may help motivate you if you’re feeling a little less than stellar. “The first bite tastes as good as the last”. This one helps me moderate my food when I go a little overboard and need to get back on track. “Nothing tastes as good as feeling thin feels”. Wow. Talk about putting your….uh…fork where your mouth is.

Because you’ve read this far, here’s a bonus just for you!
6. Ask for help if you need it. Really. This is about you. It’s about your quality of life and you deserve every resource available to help you get where you want to be. Some of us need therapy to deal with issues that trigger an inappropriate relationship with food. Some of us need to connect with people who have faced the same struggles. Whatever it is, you don’t need to do it alone and there are lots of resources available.

Thank you, Julia, for asking me to guest blog on this topic. I know it’s a hot one and there’s a lot more to say. But, this little bit of sharing has been a gift for me, reminding me how passionate I am about maintaining my health and how good it feels to share these few thoughts.

Fighting Cancer Starts With You

2011-06-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

As I find myself deep in the world of fighting breast cancer, one thing is abundantly clear. Fighting cancer starts in the hearts and minds and bodies of the individuals fighting it.

First we have to wrap our hearts around how badly we want to end cancer. This can come out of a sincere care for the human race, watching a loved one suffer and possibly pass from the disease, or enduring a personal scare. This is really hard, and that's why all of us at save the ta-tas believe laughter is so important. It's not that we are "happy" about cancer, it's quite the opposite. It's that cancer makes us so sad we have to seek out the joys of life and find the bright points to live in.

Next we have to get our heads around it. How to fight cancer? There are so many ways like participating in breast cancer walks, donating and supporting products with the pink ribbon that donate funds. There is another way, a way we often think of last, but in this blog I'd like to suggest we start sooner...

Fight cancer in your own body. Start the practice of getting healthy today. Just today. See how you feel. Maybe you'll want to do it tomorrow, too. There are lots of simple changes we can all make to help our body out, boost our immune system and get our body chugging forward to healthier days. Don't wait till you get cancer to get healthy. If you start now, you could possibly take the step of prevention your body was waiting for.

Eat some plain whole almonds as a snack
Walk for 10 minutes twice a day
rotate different products in (like coconut milk) with your dairy products
have a fruit smoothie for breakfast instead of a carb heavy meal
skip seconds for the day, learn to listen to when you're full and stop

Here are a few ideas I have...

What are some ways you are making today more healthy?

Transworld Business Highlights ta-tas Behind the Scenes

2011-06-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you Transworld Business for coming out and supporting the ta-tas!
Check out the article and see behind scenes footage of what it's like here at save the ta-tas:

http://business.transworld.net/62441/features/behind-the-scenes-at-save-the-ta-tas/

Great Night at Hahas for Tatas!

2011-06-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

Last night was a great night at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, celebrating ta-tas and raising funds for independent cancer research.

I'd like to take a moment to highlight some of the amazing people and organizations that contributed to this FANTASTIC event, and ask you to support them, become a fan of theirs, follow them on Twitter. This fine group sincerely cares about stopping breast cancer, so let's show them some love!!

Thank you to our beautiful, funny and amazing host
Cynthia Fox from KLOS

Thank you also to our comedians
Steve Simeone
Tiffany Haddish
Kevin Farley
Jen Kirkman
Dov Davidoff
and
Chris D'Elia

Always Cookin for the food!
alwayscookin.com

Amy from Dazzled Balloons for donating all the pink balloons!

NBC Univeral, for their volunteers - who were AWESOME btw

Thanks to the very lovely FANTASY SHOWGIRLS, from the Luxor in Las Vegas. Follow them on twitter and FB. During the month of October, if you see them in Vegas, they're going to donate to the Save the Ta-tas Foundation from ticket sales!!

And to the Laugh Factory - WOW, once again, an amazing event. Thank you so much.

Our New Premium Tees Fights Cancer with a Samurai Spirit!

2011-06-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Fans and Friends,

A dear friend of mine, Meghan, took the photos for our new premium line.
She's AMAZING. Thanks Meghan, for doing this shoot for us. Check out our line and her blog at:
http://meghanchristinephotography.blogspot.com/2011/06/save-tatas-premium-tees-los-angeles.html

This line is about strength, courage, peace and being a female samurai to fight cancer. We didn't end up producing all the shirts, but you can buy the "Harmony" Light Blue shirt with the shimmering koi fish or the pink "Beautiful Warrior" tee online now. I love them both.

In Japanese tradition, the Koi fish, or carp, swims in a life or death struggle upstream against the current to fulfill his dream to become a dragon. I love this imagery when it comes to fighting cancer.

The Cherry Blossom also has special meaning because it represents the cycle of life and how our lives burst into bloom then fall. It reminds us to live for today because we don't know how many days we have. This tee is for all of the Beautiful Warriors I have witnessed fight cancer with such life and passion.

Purchase these gorgeous Premium tees at http://www.savethetatas.com/women/

When you do, you will have created a donation to fight cancer. Thank you!!!

Are You "In a Relationship" With Food?

2011-06-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

As the founder of save the ta-tas, I increasingly run into the issue of health, weight and the problem of what we eat. I am doing this cleanse for myself, but also to live what I believe. In cleansing my intake, I want to encourage YOU to do it with me. We must get healthier in small ways and in some big ways... and I hope if that is daunting to you, you'll know I'll encourage you in your effort to make life enriching changes that heal - and you'll know I'm doing it too.

I don't think I could have done this cleanse if I hadn't addressed my obsession with food last year by way of another program. When I was reading up on the cleanse, one of the bloggers talked about how depressed she got walking up and down the aisles of food, when all she was buying was veggies and fruits and lean meats. I can relate, when I did the other program last year, I got depressed when I drove by my favorite drive thru. It was all I could do not to stop, but I wasn't really hungry - the burrito would have met an emotional need. I firmly believe an unhealthy emotional attachment to food has to be addressed before we can get our bodies healthy. I mean, I don't know if we can control what we put in our mouth if eating satisfies a deeper need for peace. The mind first, then the body.

And why wouldn't we search for easy peace? Our lives are fast paced, packed, stressful, the stakes are high, the world is in turmoil. Nothing a friendly food fiesta won't cure... right?

The program I did last year made me realize that a surprisingly large number of us, myself included, often can't "just go on a diet" or do a cleanse because our emotional bond to food overpowers the logic of "a diet" or "lifestyle change."

Look, I'm not trying to take away your comfort. What I am saying is that if you get angry because you "can't eat what other people can" and be thin... if dieting drives you crazy and none of them work for you... If you're obsessed with what the scale says... if you eat because it makes you feel better emotionally, instead of physically... you may be in an unhealthy relationship with food.

In doing this cleanse, I still struggle with going to food for comfort. For me, the worst time is about 7:30- 9:30 at night when I want to calm down from all the cares of the day and relax. This particular cleanse is a good stretch for me because it doesn't allow me to eat for 12 hours through the night. So from 7pm-7am, I can't eat (I'm letting my intestines rest.) If I had done this before last year's revelation, I would be so angry and "starving" every night. This year... well, I think to myself, "I can do this for 24 hours." And I have! For 5 days and counting to 21.

If you can relate at all to what I'm saying and you have a depressed self image because you just can't get a handle on what you're consuming, you're not alone. The first step is to realize that you need support. There are free programs out there, you just have to seek them out.

I struggle with it still, but not to the same degree. I discovered the tools I need to overcome my emotional attachment to food and I work every day to incorporate them into my own battle to be healthy.

This is my journey... what's yours?

Tweet Me! JuliaTatas

2011-06-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hey Tweeple! I'm on Twitter! Come tweet with me! I'm JuliaTatas ... who are you?

The Cost of Clean, Day 18

2011-06-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

I started a Cleanse on Monday the 6th. It's a 21 Day Cleanse and I'm counting down. It's day 18 and only 4 days into it, I am coming face to face with the cost of clean.

I spent an hour (at least) at Whole Foods yesterday picking out onesies and twosies of 20 different fruits and vegetables. This is not what I normally do. I usually grab a bunch of bananas and a bag of apples. That's it. So, for me, this was time consuming.

Then- I had to pay for them. Oh my goodness. When the number popped up on the register - my cleanse was almost over right then and there. That moment was much worse than my caffeine withdrawal headache on Tuesday.

OH MY GOSH! The cost of shopping healthfully isn't only more, it's A LOT MORE. For what? Smaller portions and less satisfaction (more on that tomorrow.)

Not only that, there is the cost of time. Along with the hour long shopping, it took me an hour to prepare the soup I ate for dinner. To find, clean, cut up and juice and then prepare the soup was frustrating. I could have had drive thru for much less time and money.

However - I must say, after only 4 days... I FEEL AMAZING. I'm less tired, I am happier... maybe, it's worth it just for the sake of starting the practice of clean consuming. Maybe, in the journey I will learn how to fit a clean lifestyle into my life and my budget. It'll take doing it to figure it out though... so I will press on.

American Woman, Day 21 of a 21 Day Cleanse

2011-06-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

I run across a lot of "reasons" people get cancer. Everyone seems to have "the reason" and they have to tell me. Some reasons seem ridiculous, like underwire bras or certain kinds of sex (yah THAT was an awkward conversation...) Some reasons make sense, like smoking or tanning, and others seem unavoidable - like the sun or the air we breathe. And so I live in fear somewhere between the ridiculous and the unavoidable...

In the midst of all the "information" coming in, there's a consistent thread in all the things I hear and read that sticks with me and bothers me.

American Women have a higher risk of cancer - just because we're American. In fact, a woman who moves from another country to America, suddenly joins our higher risk category, just because she's here now.

I have thought about this for a long time, and I'm writing about it now because I think it is something we as American Women need to contemplate and do what we can to address.

As for me, I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with what we choose to consume - and why we consume it.

In the next few weeks I am going to embark on an experiment- a 21 day cleanse to explore what it means to change what I consume. I'm going to do the "CLEAN" program, based on the book by Dr. Alejandro Junger, (but I don't think it's the program that matters as much as the act of a cleanse.)

I'm not saying a cleanse is THE answer, but it certainly can't hurt, among all the things of life that can.

Race and Cancer

2011-05-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Most of the time when we hear the words race and cancer together, we think of a fundraising event, but I'm not talking about the running kind of race - I'm talking about the ethnic kind. For some reason I find it very difficult to talk about a person's ethnic background and skin color when I'm discussing cancer... but I always want to because ancestry is a significant piece to the breast cancer puzzle.

So, as much as I try to live my life seeing the soul and not the skin, today I will approach ethnicity with caution. Why? Because it was just announced that breast cancer is now the most common cancer in Filipino women and men. (1)

Due in part to these findings, the breast cancer risk calculator for Asian Americans has been changed. This includes any Asian American who would identify themselves as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, or other Asian.(2) It used to be Asian-Americans had the lowest risk. Now according to information I was given when I called the NIH, it's 1 in 8, same as the rest of us.

What's more, "Only 48.5 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander women 50 years and older in the U.S. have had a mammogram or clinical breast examination within the last two years. This is the lowest rate of screening among all racial/ethnic groups."(3)

This is probably because the risk has been lower. Not anymore. I think if you are an Asian-American, you should know this.

There is some very interesting information out there about race and cancer. For example Black women are less likely to get breast cancer than White women, but Black women are 75% more likely to die of breast cancer. This statistic gets worse if she's under 40. This is attributed to less testing and ancestry.(4)

When I meet middle-aged Black women who tell me they haven't been tested or gotten a baseline ... I feel frantic and I want to immediately express the high risk factors they face, but I am often silent because, well, the truth is - I'm really afraid to come across racist. How can something so important to discuss feel so impossible to mention?

There are striking similarities between Black and Hispanic women when it comes to breast cancer mortality risks.

"The paradox is that while African-American and Hispanic women have a lower overall risk for breast cancer, they have a higher mortality..." said study co-author Dr. Vincent Caggiano, research medical director of the Sutter Cancer Center at the Cancer Surveillance Program in Sacramento, Calif." (5)

Another reason I hesitate to talk about this is that such conversation invites heated debates about the unfairness of society, the problems with healthcare, race relations (or lack thereof) and sometimes the solutions to these problems feel beyond reach.

But if I may, as one human to another, I'd like to suggest that we accept ourselves and our situation and act swiftly if we notice something of concern with our bodies. I still believe that some form of medical breast screening on a yearly basis for women over 40 can prolong life if something is found. Even if we eventually die of the disease we may add a few more priceless decades, years, or even months to our lives. One day we may have a treatment that cures us whether we're at stage 1 or stage 4, but we're not there yet.

I'm so convinced of this, I'll give you a free Boob Lube Trial Pack with any order you place on savethetatas.com 5/23/11 - 5/27/11 (request: FREE TRIAL PACK in the comments section to get your free gift.)

I am 39 and I request a mammogram once a year. The nurse always says, "Wow, you're so proactive." Yep, more of us white women get cancer than any other race. I know my risk is highest just cause I'm white... so, YES, I'm proactive.

If you knew your race risk, what would you do?

(1) http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=686830&publicationSubCategoryId=63
(2) http://www.nih.gov/news/health/may2011/nci-16.htm
(3)http://medicineworld.org/cancer/breast/stats/asians.html
(4)http://savannahnow.com/accent/2010-03-30/black-women-breast-cancer-lower-risk-greater-danger
(5)http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4506327&page=1

NEW SITE LIVE TODAY! CELEBRATE WITH 20% off STOREWIDE!

2011-05-18T07:41:00.001-07:00

Our New Site is Live!! Save 20% storewide to celebrate! If you run across a problem please tell me... we still have some kinks to work out. http://www.savethetatas.com/

The Perfect Gift for the Newly Ta-tas-less PART 2

2011-05-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Last week I posed the question: What is the perfect gift for someone just diagnosed with cancer, or losing their breast(s)?

I'm here today to give my top ten list, which includes suggestions from fans and friends who have been there. I hope this helps you when you're deciding what to do for the one you love going through this devistating time.

10. Hospital or Doctor visit

If you live in the area, and if your friend feels comfortable with it, offer to be at the hospital when she comes out of surgery, or sit outside in the waiting room while she gets the low down on her prognosis for the first time. It would be horrible to be alone after either one of these events. Be the friend who shows up.

9. 2 Movie tickets

Going through treatment can leave a patient with little energy to do much of anything, and going to a movie doesn't take much exertion. Give your friend a date to escape to a movie she wants to see with you by her side when the time is right for her. Movie tickets sitting on the counter will remind her that she has a friend in you, and a way to get out when she's up to it for just a little while.

8. Coupon for a housecleaning

Depression, fear, loneliness and exhaustion -not to mention, the treatment!- can really get you down. So can a messy house. Give your friend a coupon for one housecleaning and get a list from your friend of who she would feel comfortable coming with you. Once you have a list of names, ask one or two others to help you clean for a morning. Do what you can to pick up and wipe down, then spend time sitting and talking with your friend in her newly clean home. Allow her to rest after awhile, leaving her with hugs and the fresh smell of a squeaky clean kitchen.

7. "Permission to Flash" gift card

This one was a surprise for me, although it shouldn't be because one time I was pulled unwittingly into a laundry closet and flashed by someone I love who wanted to show me her scars. LOL

Give your friend a gift certificate that lets her know you are a friend she can show her scars to when she is ready. You will bring the tissue and the hugs and a listening ear. Tell her she does not have to bear those wounds alone.

6. Dinners for a week

Find out what your friend can and can't eat then go grocery shopping. Fill her fridge and pantry with the nutrition she'll need to recover, without having to go out or think about what to make. It's done cause you did it.

5. Uplift

Uplift : Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors, by Barbara Delinsky

I often will give this book, or send it out to someone headed into or currently experiencing the cancer treatment process. It's a great book, filled with stories about how women, just like your friend, coped throughout.

4. Private Photoshoot

Before your friend goes in to get her breast(s) removed offer to take private, topless pictures. Take the photos for her and give her the digital pics that day, erasing your copies off the planet in front of her. These are for her use only, you are only there to document what once was. Remind her that she will be the same beautiful woman after the picture changes.

3. Wage War on Cancer Tee, Laughter Heals Tee

When I asked this question, a man (who's sister died of breast cancer a couple years ago in her 30's) told me our shirts are the perfect gift because he said, "You need to laugh because it is so hard." Two of my favorites for this time in the fight are our Wage War on Cancer Tee, and our Laughter Heals tee.

2. Bra ~~Burning~~ Toss Party

A friend of mine, Joules Evans, is writing a personal memoir of surviving breast cancer. She is a fearless person so I'm not surprised this was her idea, and experience! I personally cannot suggest it, as some bra materials may cause toxic fumes when burned ... however, the concept is amazing. Get together with your friend and liberate her from her bras forever!

1. Call a Week, Card a Month

When you go through something as serious as cancer, a lot of friends abandon you because they can't handle the emotional burden.

Be the friend who rushes in, not the friend who rushes out. You can do this in so many ways, but I believe the way that is completely attainable is to choose one of the following and commit to doing it for one full year:

a. visit once a month
b. send a card once a month
c. call once a week

You can do more of course, but this alone would be wonderful. Because being the friend who stays throughout the entire duration of treatment is the best gift of all.

The Perfect Gift for the Newly Ta-tas-less

2011-05-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

One of the most common emails I receive is from a friend or customer telling me the story of their loved one who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer or who just had a mastectomy. They always ask me, "What should I send them? I really want to DO something!"

I have never had breast cancer, and I don't know what it's like to have my breast or breasts removed. I can only imagine how painful, lonely and scary it must be.

So what is the perfect gift for someone who is suffering in this way?

I'd love to hear from you! If you've had breast cancer and/or a mastectomy, what gift did you receive that was particularly memorable?

Honey Badger is Really Pretty Badass

2011-04-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

I love Glee, and my husband got an amazing opportunity to do some work on the show the past few days. As a result, he came across some jokes, one of them being "The Honey Badger," Sue's nickname for Teri. We didn't get the reference until it was explained, so Craig came home and we watched "The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall)" on YouTube and laughed till we cried.

If you're fighting cancer today, I hope this video gives you a laugh midst the sadness. Maybe the Honey Badger's fighting spirit will even inspire you (as you face your own bees, vultures and cobras) to be badass, be fearless, & smack the sh*t out of cancer - and though you may get hurt or taken out for a moment, get up to live another day.

FACT CHECK, LA Times Article 4/19/11

2011-04-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Fans,

This morning an op-ed piece was published in the LA Times called “The Trouble with those Boobies Bracelets.” This article concerned me for a number of reasons and as the founder of Save the Ta-tas I want to make sure you know what exactly we do that is different than other breast cancer groups out there.

1) The article states: Groups with names including ta-tas, boobies, etc. are suppressing discussion of real cancer

The Truth: We not only discuss real cancer on the Save the ta-tas blog http://savethetatas.blogspot.com/ and on our foundation page, but we have products that encourage discussing cancer, our foundation supports researchers doing research on real cancer, and we give out scholarships for students battling cancer.

2) The article states: "Experts no longer recommend self exams for anyone"

The Truth: Some experts, but definitely not all.

Taken from the Winter 2010 Pink Press: "BCRF Advisors have reviewed this report [Set forth by the US Preventative Task Force about women not needing to do self breast exams] carefully and we do not endorse the proposed guideline changes. There has been a clear and consistent reduction in the rates of death from breast cancer in every country, including the US, that has instituted a regular screening program."

3) The article states: Our agenda is "mushy" at best

The Truth: A donation of almost 3/4 of a million is not mushy. That's what you have helped us give every time you buy something from our website or a retail partner. We also have a college scholarship program that awards students fighting or who have battled cancer. We also participate in countless fundraisers that aid to the awareness and fight against breast cancer. It is VERY DIFFICULT to create that kind of a donation through a hard working small business. We've been able to do it thanks to our fans and friends who keep coming back to buy.

40 The article states: "The idea that you are taking action merely by wearing a titillating bracelet is not a great life lesson."

The Truth: Actually, at savethetatas.com it's by adding up the donations created by each sale, big or small, on our website, at our 1000+ retailers and through our many licenses that generates the money that supports our many initiatives that fight REAL cancer in a REAL way. Using your purchasing power to buy a product from a trustworthy company that gives back is a great life lesson.

For those of you who know and love save the ta-tas for who we REALLY ARE, please read this article, and take the time to defend us, comment on the article, write a letter and tell Peggy and the LA Times about all the great things we are doing together. Because WE ARE. Thank you so much.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-orenstein-boobies-20110419,0,7726424.story

Exercize and Breast Cancer

2011-03-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today I read a great article about how exercise can dramatically decrease breast cancer risk.

http://richmondregister.com/lifestylescommunity/x449490546/Exercise-cuts-breast-cancer-risk

WOW! I know I need to get out there more, but how? What do you all do to get motivated, get out there?

Can You Be Too Aggressive?

2011-02-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

Today I read another article about how women are often over tested for cancer. This particular article is about Breast Cancer Lymph Node Analysis and how it is unnecessary in many women.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/01/19/breast-cancer-lymph-node-analysis-unnecessary-study-says/

Without fail, I find a common thread in articles like this, and it is this statement:

"The results showed that five years after treatment, there was only a 1.2 percent difference in survival between the two groups of patients."

The question the article leaves us with is this: Can you be too aggressive in testing for cancer?

Spark & Hustle

2011-02-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

This weekend had the honor of speaking at Tory Johnson's Spark & Hustle in Los Angeles. It was an amazing experience.

Spark & Hustle is a conference packed with information for those who want to go from being employed to being an entrepreneur. It was informative, inspiring ... and they are just getting started on the country-wide tour!

I'll be speaking at the event again and NYC and in Chicago.

For cities and dates and more information go to SparkandHustle.com

This is a not to miss event. See you there!

Color Me Mine Saves the ta-tas Thursday Oct 14 -Join the fun!

2010-10-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

On Thursday October 14, more than 50 Color Me Mine studios throughout the U.S. will host a Save the Ta-tas® themed ladies night from which a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Save the Ta-tas® Foundation.

Events will vary from one studio to another but may include goodies or door prizes, ribbon themed bisque to choose from... in addition to the hundreds of items always available to paint, free paint techniques, appearance and product of local vendors such as bakeries, accessory, shoe and clothing boutiques, etc.

Throughout the month of October, customers can sign a donation card that will hang in the studio showing their support of breast cancer awareness.

For a listing of all participating stores, please follow link below:

http://www.savethetatas.com/index.php/color-me-mine-ladies-night/

www.savethetatas.com

Thank you Color Me Mine!

PlayStation and Save the ta-tas!

2010-10-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

A big shout out and thanks to PlayStation! It's official, your avatar can now sport a save the ta-tas® tee! Rock those virtual ta-tas®!!

Find out more:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/10/06/this-week-in-playstation-home-inuyasha-save-the-ta-tas-community-theater-update-more/

Are avatar clothes cute or what?!!

Save the ta-tas in Breast Cancer Wellness

2010-10-07T10:12:00.001-07:00

Save the ta-tas on The Today Show

2010-10-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to NBC and The Today Show and Bobbie's One-minute Breast Buzz for featuring save the ta-tas today. We are truly honored and amazed!!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

From this page, click Watch the show under "shortcuts" on the left side of the page. From there a new page will load with an ad and then you can select "Bobbie's One-minute Breast Buzz" to watch the clip from today's show.

Thank you Tic Tak and DJ Toro!

2010-10-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sending much love out to Tic Tak and DJ Toro for supporting the ta-tas®.

http://923now.radio.com/2010/10/01/save-the-tatas-october-is-breast-cancer-awareness-month/

Great to talk to you on air this morning. You are so much fun! WOO HOO!!! Check out their show live now:

http://923now.radio.com/

You guys ROOOOOCCCKKK!!!!

Save the ta-tas in Seventeen Magazine!

2010-10-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

Save the ta-tas in Woman's World!

2010-10-01T13:41:00.001-07:00

Boob Lube Promo Released Today!

2010-10-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p8pIHy2GRI

How I Turned an Idea Into a Half a Million Dollars to Fight Cancer

2010-09-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

By Julia Fikse, Founder of Save the ta-tas®

Who am I? I’m a normal person. My last boss called me “rank and file.” I was a designer in a sea of designers. I was one in a multitude, replaceable.

The truth is, I don’t believe anyone is just one of the crowd. I was raised knowing that each person is unique and here with a purpose. Rank and file… I don’t think so.

I quit my job. My husband and I were broke, and I wondered if I could start a business that gave back to a human need. If I made a sale, I could give a little bit from that sale away. Maybe it would amount to something one day.

It was 2004, my aunt got breast cancer and my mind was filled with the dark thoughts that come when you think about what it must be like to have your breasts cut off.

Walking through Walmart I saw a white boxy tee with a gargantuan pink ribbon on the front. The shirt scared me to death. Looking at it made me wonder if it was a sign warning me, “JULIA YOU HAVE CANCER. DO YOUR SELF BREAST EXAM OR DIE.” I ran out of Walmart screaming, kind of like the kid from that movie “Home Alone.”

I could change that. I could make breast cancer shirts fun, and non-threatening. I could provide an opportunity for people who didn’t actually have cancer to make a donation and get a fun product in return. I didn’t have much to get the idea going. Let’s see, I had some trade experience and a $500 budget - max. I had no investors.

I called my husband and told him I was going to make boob shirts to fight cancer. He was pretty quiet until I suggested we call it ta-tas®. He laughed a very male gutteral laugh, “Haha, you just said ta-tas.” He told me to go for it.

Simple, fun, for a cause. I would make up some shirts. We started out with five shirt sayings, “caught you lookin’ at my ta-tas,” “If you can’t see my ta-tas, my ta-tas can’t see you,” “itsy bitsy ta-tas” “I <3 my ta-tas” and “I <3 my little ta-tas.” I printed them up and took them around town. I called lists and lists of stores. People told me they couldn’t possibly buy a humorous shirt about cancer, they told me my shirts were too expensive, they told me they didn’t believe I could survive and donate 5% of every sale back to fight cancer. (5% of our gross sales has translated to about 50% of our profits over the past 6 years equaling more than $450,000 donated to the cause. It was a huge goal.)

With a lot of perseverance, daring, and integrity I got my shirts in five boutique stores. I wrote my first donation check: for $32.20. I had a little bit of money left over to invest in more shirts. I asked a friend to help me take the next step and open savethetatas.com. We opened our Yahoo Small Business account. We could securely take orders and review our sales stats to learn about our customers and provide better service.

We grew in our partnerships and friends. We’re so thankful for partners like Harley Davidson, Hard Rock Hotel, Torrid, Seagrams, Revlon Run/Walk for Women, and Coach House to name a few- there are so many more. We have many successful license agreements with wonderful companies, like Newhall Coffee, Sock Guy Grand Trunk, and Team Beans – all with 50% of the royalties going to fight cancer.

We even started a non-profit foundation in 2008, The Save the Ta-tas Foundation, thanks to so many people demanding we accept their donation to support our efforts.

This year, we are finally able to support our own cancer research! What a dream come true. In the next few weeks we will also be awarding two students who are battling cancer a $4000 scholarship to help them get an education and live life to the fullest.

This Fall, we released our very first specialty tee line, ta-tas® Premium. It’s gorgeous.

If someone asked me today how they could turn a dream into a half a million dollars in donations I would simply say: we use what we have and we strive to turn it into something great.

We continue to follow this philosophy every day, and with your help, imagine where we could be a year from now, six years from now. The Save the Ta-tas Foundation could actually support an army of researchers. Lets keep dreaming big!

We are more than just one in a multitude, but as a team working together, each of us shining with our special gifts and talents, we can change the world, and we can stop cancer forever.

Go to www.savethetatas.com to find out more about how we are making a difference and learn how you can help make great things happen.

save the ta-tas in Fashion Mannuscript!

2010-09-23T09:57:00.001-07:00

Save the ta-tas in Military Spouse!

2010-09-20T18:07:00.001-07:00

Save the ta-tas Featured in Denver Life Magazine!

2010-09-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Save the ta-tas Featured in the San Fernando Valley Business Journal!

2010-09-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.sfvbj.com/news/2010/sep/13/cancer-research-fundraising-company-lands-contract/

Save the ta-tas® With Your Morning Brew!

2010-09-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Get your Fun Bags here!

ta-tas® joins forces with Newhall Coffee to make delicious coffee for a cause.

Save the ta-tas has joined up with Newhall Coffee because their coffee is made fresh, right here locally in California. I've been to their plant, I've watched them perfectly roast and flavor the organic beans. As a coffee connoisseur - I can personally say with confidence - this coffee is terrific.

I've even enjoyed a cup with the owner (at Mitch's Java and Jazz,) Mitch McMullen. What a cool person. Mitch has done many wonderful things with his life, he even had a career in basketball. Sadly, lukemia took the life of Mitch's brother, Corey.

Today Mitch not only makes great coffee, but he makes coffee for a cause. You may have heard of the "Patriot Blend" and now.... *drumroll please* We're so thankful they've chosen to support the fight against breast cancer with our delicious FUN BAGS!

Head over to Newhallcoffee.com to learn more and purchase some delicious coffee to fight breast cancer. When you sip this smooth organic blend, you're not only brightening up your day - but everyone's future.

Newhall Coffee is made fresh and ready to ship directly to your door, all for the cause. Go to NewhallCoffee.com/catalog for more details ... and get you some Fun Bags!

The price of COTTON in China (and India and Pakistan and the USA...)

2010-09-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Great article.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/09/news/economy/cotton_shortage_could_inflate_clothing_prices/index.htm?cnn=yes&hpt=T2

Save the ta-tas Socks Save the Day!

2010-09-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

A great story from our Sock Licensee, Sock Guy!

Save the Ta-Ta Socks Save the Day!

The Socks in Action!

We've got another great story of a Fleet Feet Peep coming to the rescue. This time our story takes place over 2,000 miles away on a mountain top in Wyoming.

Fleet Feet Peep and half marathon training participant Anna Namnoum was vacationing with her family last week at the Red Rock Ranch just outside of Grand Teton National Park. As part of her training plan, she was supposed to run 9 miles. Running a few miles while on vacation in unfamiliar territory is hard enough, let alone 9 miles at elevation...in bear country. So when Addie, one of the ranch owners, invited her to go on an 18 mile hike up a 4,000ft mountain to a pristine mountain lake, Anna jumped at the chance.

Joining her on the hike were two other men, including an oral surgeon named Dale. About four miles into the hike, Dale's hiking boots fell apart. The rubber outsoles completely separated from the leather upper. Being a surgeon, Dale had the brilliant idea to use an extra pair of shoelaces he had packed to reattach the two pieces. This did the trick until they reached the lake at the top of the mountain and the shoelaces disintegrated.

Now, he was stuck 4,000 feet up and 9 miles away from civilization. In a scene reminiscent of Apollo 13, Anna said the four hikers all started rummaging through their backpacks to try to find a solution that would help him get down off the mountain safely. Unfortunately, no one had any more string, duct tape or glue. Just when Dale was about to head down the mountain barefoot and risk injury to his foot, Anna had an idea: socks! What if Dale slipped a sock over the outside of his boots to hold the two pieces together?

It was worth a try, and as luck would have it, Anna had packed an extra pair of socks in her backpack (in fact, it was a last minute idea to bring that extra pair in case she felt a blister coming on). Of course, these weren't just any socks. They were her bright pink "Save the Ta-Ta's" socks from Fleet Feet.

Turns out the socks were perfect. They fit super tight over the boot, holding the two pieces together as if they had never separated. Everyone in the group thought the fix would only last a few miles considering the rough terrain, but the socks held up for the full 9 miles back to the ranch. Now that's one tough sock!

As a memento of their adventure, Anna came into the store on Monday to buy Addie and Dale a new pair of pink "Save the Ta-Ta's" socks. We decided she deserved a pair on the house to replace her well worn ones. She's going to keep them in her purse. You never know when they might come in handy!

Be fit!
Steph

Thoughts on Michael Douglas and Cancer Treatment

2010-09-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

Cancer is awful, obviously, but so is the treatment.

I really appreciate how Michael Douglas is being very open and honest about that. When I read this article today I felt for him.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/01/wednesdays-intriguing-people-23/?hpt=T2

Radiation burning the mouth, not able to take solids. As if getting cancer isn't enough, you must endure this kind of pain.

Two years ago I participated in a day at Universal Studios as a volunteer guide for kids who had or had recovered from different kinds of cancers, mainly blood cancers. One of the 10 year olds was bubbling around as a ten year old girl would, so happy. I naively said to her mom, "Wow, she's recovered really well!" Her mom retorted, "She has the bones of a 70 year old woman. She has osteoperosis." I crumbled inside. I think that was the first day I put a face with the physical cost of treatment.

We are currently supporting a researcher who is studying how to stop and reverse tumor growth, how tumors get into the bone, and her research is also helping gain scientific knowledge about osteoperosis and breaking new ground in terms of finding new treatments. I believe I was drawn to this particular scientist because of the sweet 10 year old girl at Universal. I got it that day. I realized how damaging, while life saving, our current treatment options can be.

Share your treatment stories on FB, or here at this blog. Your stories help us choose researchers, your donations help us fund more research.

Go to http://www.savethetatas.com/index.php/mission/ to find out more about our mission and the research we are funding now. And tell us your story here, or on our FB page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000855256141&v=app_2309869772#!/pages/Save-the-ta-tas-breast-cancer-awareness-tees-and-accessories/33525193712

If you want to help fund more research, donate today!

http://www.savethetatas.com/index.php/contribute/

We will use your donations to fund new science, new options and hopefully - one day - treatments that heal without long term damage... until that day we kill cancer forever. Which is a day we all long for.

Thank you for helping us save the ta-tas!! (... and so many more organs that fall victim to cancer.)

Keep up the fight Michael! You and your family are in my prayers.

ta-tas Premium online today

2010-08-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

ta-tas Brand is launching our ALL NEW PREMIUM line today online!
Check it out! Limited quantities, great shirts, for a great cause. Get yours today!

http://www.savethetatas.com/index.php/catalog/womens/premium/

What are your thoughs on this article?

2010-08-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7948878/US-breast-cancer-drug-decision-marks-start-of-death-panels.html

Big Thanks to Seagrams Escapes

2010-08-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

WOW!

All of us here at save the ta-tas want to give a HUGE shout out to SEAGRAMS ESCAPES who recently donated $15,000 to The Save the Ta-tas Foundation!!

Seagrams Escapes gave us this donation, asking nothing in return except to be able to tell people that they are donating to us in an effort to help end this fight against cancer.

THANK YOU SEAGRAMS ESCAPES!!

If you'd like to thank Seagrams for their commitment to fight cancer and for helping save the ta-tas, why not go on to their Facebook page and give them some love?

http://www.facebook.com/SeagramsEscapes?ref=search

I didn't realize it until recently, but Seagrams is a very philanthropic brand. I know that in addition to us, they also give generously to City of Hope. Isn't it wonderful to find a brand that cares?

Thank you so much Seagrams Escapes, for all you do for others - and for helping us escape this devastating thing called cancer. YOU ROCK!

Winner, Best Health Charity, 2010!

2010-08-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

We are extremely proud to report we won Best Health Charity, 2010 through Guidestar! What a wonderful award. Thank you Guidestar for this honor.

Be a part of our dream, just by purchasing and wearing a t-shirt.

Our DREAM to find solutions to end cancer become a reality with every researcher we support. Our dream to support individuals struggling to live life regardless of having cancer becomes a reality with each scholarship we give. And our product, with each person that wears it, brings encouragement and renewed hope in this fight that is so important to the human race.

And isn't that a dream we all share?

find out more at www.savethetatas.com

Enter to win a $4000 Scholarship!

2010-08-08T16:23:00.001-07:00

We are so happy to launch this program to help college students fighting cancer. Go to savethetatas.com for more info

Can I be the next Simon?

2010-08-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

While I would love to take Simon's place on American Idol, the call just hasn't come. LOL But with all this talk of next season, being an AI fan I just have to join in the fun.

I am a closet JLo FAN. (Not anymore I guess!) I have seen all her movies, and ... I love her E! True Hollywood Story. Yes, she should totally be a judge, if she is, I will keep watching!

But, in my opinion they should not stop there. Did any of you see the episode with Kady Perry v. Kara? Now THAT was good television.

So here's my suggestion, put Randy smack dab in the middle of
Kara, JLo and Kady. That would ROCK!

And Paula? I adore Paula. She made the show lovable. But Paula, I think you should move on to something more meaningful. Something with heart and humor ... something like save the ta-tas! Wouldn't Paula make a great spokesperson for ta-tas? I think so. Straight up!

Save a life – become a bone marrow donor today!

2010-05-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

I met an awesome doctor, and very nice man, recently. I actually got to have dinner with him at an event (I'll share more with you about the event soon) for the Concern Foundation.

Doctor Cooper is a bone marrow transplant specialist. He told me all about children who live in isolation rooms (like the boy in the bubble) and are very very sick. If they can find a match, a simple cup of genome juice (that's what I call it anyway) from you is shot into their body to reboot their system - FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

For the donor, as I understand it (do check with your doctor), worst case you get a broken bone, best case, it feels like someone kicked you in the hiney for a couple of days. For the recipient, it's a much trickier recovery, however... in a relatively short time, they can leave the hospital- AND LIVE! Simple things like going to a baseball game, going to the park with their family, and so much more, are now possible.

The below information is courtesy of Dr. Cooper's office. Get on the list. You may never get a call, but the day you do, on that day, you get to save a life.

********

You can save a life today. By simply becoming a bone marrow donor, you can help someone who has cancer.

This is not difficult to do. A simple wipe around your mouth using a cotton-tipped swab will trap cells to be sent for typing. This is similar to blood typing, but is a more detailed process. The information gathered is used by cancer doctors, or oncologists, to determine if your genetics as a donor will match the genetics of the immune system of a patient or recipient. If you are a match, you will be contacted for additional information to make sure you are healthy. And, if all is well, your donation to your recipient may save a life.

The actual donation process requires scheduling and some interruption of your day-to-day schedule. However, the coordinating center ('Be The Match' or DKMS) that helps pair donors and recipients, works to keep this at a minimum. For information see http://www.marrow.org/ and http://www.dkmsamericas.org/.

The donation procedure itself occurs either in the operating room with the donor asleep on the stomach while doctors harvest marrow from the bones in the buttocks area, or occurs while sitting in an armchair for several hours with two intravenous catheters hooked to a machine, which separate components of your blood.

Reasons why one procedure is preferred over another will be explained prior to the donation. These collection procedures are safe and take place across the world every day. However, it's not every day that you can save a life. Today could be the lucky day for both you as a donor and for the potential recipient. Save a life – become a bone marrow donor today!

Small Business BEST of BUSINESS Award!

2010-03-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

Save the ta-tas Receives 2009 Best of Business Award!

Small Business Commerce Association’s Award Honors the Achievement
SAN FRANCISCO, March 15, 2009, Save the ta-tas has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Women's sportswear category by the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA)
The Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is pleased to announce that Save the ta-tas has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Women's sportswear category.
The SBCA 2009 Award Program recognizes the top 5% of small businesses throughout the country. Using statistical research and consumer feedback, the SBCA identifies companies that we believe have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy. The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off statistical research and also information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports. Award winners are a valuable asset to their community and exemplify what makes small businesses great.

About Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA)
Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is a San Francisco based organization. The SBCA is a private sector entity that aims to provide tactical guidance with many day to day issues that small business owners face. In addition to our main goal of providing a central repository of small business operational advice; we use consumer feedback to identify companies that exemplify what makes small business a vital part of the American economy.
SOURCE: Small Business Commerce Association

CONTACT:
Small Business Commerce Association
Email: Press@SBCAAwards.org
URL: http://www.SBCAAwards.org

Save the ta-tas would like to thank the SBCA for this amazing award. THANK YOU SBCA!!

Boy Toy Jesse at KIIS FM

2010-03-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of jaunting off to Burbank for an interview in studio with Boy Toy Jesse at KIIS FM.

It was a great time! He has a show on Sundays called Community Council, where he interviews and promotes charitable organizations.

What an awesome person he is. I did a little bit of reading up on him before I went in to chat on air. He talks about how you have to make sacrifices for the things you love, and in addition to his work on the radio, he cares about teens and has a passion to speak about teen pregnancy. It's always inspiring to meet someone who cares so much about the world we live in and the people in it.

All this to say, check out his show on KIIS FM and become a fan of his if you aren't already.

http://www.kiisfm.com/main.html

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=boy+toy+jesse&init=quick#!/pages/Boy-Toy-Jesse-Lozano/60482970869?ref=search&sid=725487618.2616198270..1

Our interview should air this Sunday on three station, KIIS FM 102.7, KYSR FM 98.7. KLAC AM 570. If we get a copy I'll post it to the site. Go ta-tas!

The Importance of a Second Opinion

2010-01-29T16:21:00.000-08:00

I was talking to one of our board members the other night who is a breast cancer survivor and fighter. She had an interesting perspective on the discussion of regular breast checks and screenings.

Let me preface this by telling you a story about my teeth. When I first moved to L.A., my husband and I were pretty broke. I found a nice dentist in a VERY nice neighborhood and while my regular check ups and cleanings were covered by insurance he told me I had a cavity in a cracked tooth, a crack that would get worse if I didn't fill it. For some reason it was out of pocket to get a filling, so I put it off. I ignored getting a filling for so long that by the time we actually had some spare change to afford the procedure (years later because the tooth wasn't bothering me) ... I had changed insurance and needed a new dentist.

So, I walk into the new dentist, and announced with shame, "I know, I've got a huge cavity and by this time I probably need a crown or root canal." And he says, "You don't have any cavities."

Um. Excuse me?

I was shocked. Stunned. He told me that in a rare instance cavities can heal themselves.

Well, that's a nice way to look at it... but I also think there's a possibility I was being bamboozled for billing purposes.

These things happen. And, as one of our board members mentioned to me the other night, it can happen when it comes to lumps and breast cancer. There are doctors that will remove a lump that is nothing.

But let's not be alarmist, because it doesn't happen that often.

However, since none of us want an unnecessary procedure done, remember there's no harm in seeking out a second opinion.

If your doctor
a) isn't dealing with the offending development in a way you think is helpful
b) diagnoses you with cancer

Remember there are lots of different kinds of breast cancer. Some grow fast, some grow slow. Some need to be removed right away, others have different solution options. Talk to your doctor about all of this, and get a second opinion if you think it would be in your best interest.

A lot of women I know will get a second opinion from a place like City of Hope. This is a great idea because they not only can help you identify what you've got, but they can also download into your understanding all the information they have on the specifics.

A lot of the talk around self breast exams and lumpectomies etc, are forced by this issue of fraudulent doctor diagnosis. Don't be a victim, but do be proactive. You're not going to hurt your doctor's feelings (if they're a professional) and you are taking care of YOU.

But this is just my humble opinion, one you'll hopefully never need to consider.

And I do not stand alone

2010-01-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

On Nov. 20, 2009 I wrote a fairly snarky blog with my opinion of the US Preventative Task Force new proposed guidelines for mammograms and breast checks. Needless to say, if you've read said blog, I did NOT agree.

Here's their position (taken from the article noted in my Nov. 20 blog)

"New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say that women age 40 to 49 don't need to have routine mammograms anymore and that breast self-exams aren't recommended in general. The group found no evidence that self-exams reduce breast cancer death rates, and it discourages teaching women how to examine themselves."

Several prominent breast cancer organizations came out right away in support of this proposal. I was livid. And I honestly thought I was standing alone against the machine.

So I've been sort of waiting to see what would happen, and I'm happy to say that the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a foundation I love and have supported in the past, released their "OFFICIAL RESPONSE" to the USPTF Proposal...

Drumroll please:

The BCRF has publicly announced that they "do not support the proposed guideline change."

YES!

Taken from the Winter 2010 Pink Press: "BCRF Advisors have reviewed this report carefully and we do not endorse the proposed guideline changes. There has been a clear and consistent reduction in the rates of death from breast cancer in every country, including the US, that has instituted a regular screening program."

The article also exposes, "The most controversial aspect of the report was based on mathematical models using old data..."

If you would like to know more go to you may visit the website and read the entire article at http://www.bcrfcure.org/action_scnews_bcscreening2.html

Thanks BCRF for doing the research and taking a stand against this preposterous recommendation. As people and patients, survivors and supporters, we need to have the opportunity and options to provide preventative and early detection care to ourselves and loved ones.

I am so happy right now.

Helping Children in Haiti

2010-01-22T16:22:00.000-08:00

My husband and I are proud to personally support the relief efforts in Haiti through Bethany Christian Services. BCS paired us with our adopted twin daughters, Megan and Mallory in January 2009. We are pro-adoption and are thankful an organization we believe in so strongly has a partner on the ground in Haiti helping children in need.

God's Littlest Angels Orphanage, a partner of BCS, has pushed through all finalized adoptions that were simply waiting on visas. Children arrived in Florida January 21, 2010 and were happily united with their excited families!!

The task now is to try to locate the relatives of children who appear to be orphaned and then find homes for those precious little ones truly orphaned by the disaster.

For more information on how to help go to: bethany.org

Sad news

2010-01-20T15:49:00.000-08:00

People.com reported today that Jennifer Lyon, who placed fourth on "Survivor: Palau" in 2005, died Tuesday night. She was 37.

"In the summer of 2004, I felt something in my right breast that didn't feel normal," Lyon told PEOPLE in October 2005. "I thought it was probably scar tissue related to my breast implants. So I let it go -- for a long time."

I feel very sad to have lost another life to breast cancer. I think it's AMAZING that Jennifer would say openly to the world that she "let it go -- for a long time." This is a generous and honest encouragement to all of us. Like a voice from the grave saying: DO NOT WAIT.

I've often said, and I truly believe, if you notice something different whether you're putting on your bra or doing a check, it's not that big of a deal to have a doctor check it out. Statistically speaking, it will not be cancer, however, tragically in Jennifer's case it was. And it took her life.

As you remember Jennifer and say a prayer for her family and friends...don't let her message to us be in vain. If you haven't felt around in awhile, make sure your boobs haven't changed since you last had a look/feel. If you're sitting on a change you know about and haven't been in to see your doctor... why not just give a call and see what your doctor has to say about it, maybe make an appointment. Because there are some things we can't choose (like whether or not we get cancer) but we can choose to be proactive and take preventative steps that could add YEARS to life.

I believe we will see a day without cancer, but that's not today. So keep fighting, and don't forget the battle raging on the homefront - your front!

We send our heartfelt condolences to Jennifer Lyon's family and friends.

New Fashion from Save the ta-tas®

2010-01-19T16:14:00.001-08:00

Great news! Save the ta-tas has a brand new fashion line! Each quarter we'll be releasing a fun new line of tees for you to wear and share! Check out the newest releases today and help save the ta-tas!

http://www.savethetatas.com/index.php/catalog/new/

The Pink Pee Project

2010-01-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

(See me chuckling as I write this....)

Beets are quite possibly the ugliest vegetable I've ever seen in their natural state. Cleaned and sliced tho, wow, what a color! Why beets? Well, they are chock full of vitamins, antioxidants and are even reported to be a natural cancer fighter.(a)

How interesting they turn our pee pink...

Other reported benefits? Protection against heart disease, birth defects, inflammation, well, the list goes on and on. (b)

I like to dice them up (cleaned but unpeeled) steam them, then toss some olive oil, a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar and... oh yah here it comes: a teeny tiny pinch of goat cheese. DELICIOUS.

Sometimes we think that if we eat healthy it's gotta taste bad. Hey, I'm not saying go on a diet, I'm just saying add a few beets TO your diet. They're good for you, and they actually taste pretty good when you add a dash of excitement (aka something you really like) to 'em.

And if your pee turns pink, well consider yourself a proud participant in the Pink Pee Project. Just keep that part to yourself... LOL

Enjoy! Now beet it!

(a) http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/538479/15_health_benefits_of_beets_fight_cancer.html?cat=51

(b) http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=49

40% off LAST DAY TODAY

2009-12-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Today's the last day to take advantage of our storewide 40% off sale. Don't miss out! Great deals on all your favorite ta-tas!

Tis the Season!

2009-12-23T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hello to all, and Happy Holidays! Lots of great stuff happening at ta-tas! Have you seen our new website? If not go to www.savethetatas.com

Also, we have a surprise after Christmas sale coming and it's going to be huge! A big thank you to everyone for a great year of fun and support. Want to know more and keep up to date on fun stuff like this? It's easy, become a fan on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=45b45c355884fa734d0ff7ddb7c41e87&#/pages/Save-the-ta-tas-breast-cancer-awareness-tees-and-accessories/33525193712?ref=nf

Finally, for all of you who want to help us raise funds, we have a opportunity! We now offer awesome plastic bracelets that you can sell and raise money for The Save the Ta-tas Foundation. Every $50,000 we raise supports a researcher for one year! See our "Contribute" page on our website for more details.

http://www.savethetatas.com/index.php/contribute/

Tis the season to save the ta-tas!

Breast Checks, Mammograms and The US Preventive Services Task Force

2009-11-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

In a recent CNN article, By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
November 17, 2009 3:40 p.m. EST It reads:

"New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say that women age 40 to 49 don't need to have routine mammograms anymore and that breast self-exams aren't recommended in general. The group found no evidence that self-exams reduce breast cancer death rates, and it discourages teaching women how to examine themselves."

I have a question...

So the USPSTF is telling me that self exams do not reduce cancer death rates. OK... but how does stopping self exams decrease the cancer death rate? It's a flawed correlation.

The whole reason we fund research is so we can reduce the cancer death rate. No one has figured out how to kill cancer so it doesn't kill us. I think it's illogical to suggest that discouraging self breast checks and reducing mammograms is a step towards the end goal of eradicating cancer.

The real question should be: What is the corellation between early detection and life expectancy? We all die of something and if cancer (and all the treatments) have weakened the body in the past, cancer may very well be the EVENTUAL cause of death.

HOWEVER (and this is a big huge HOWEVER) early detection is a key component to A LONGER LIFE. Cancer grows and spreads, so finding it early MATTERS. Cancer can be cleaned out of our body for a time, and while it might kill eventually (= previously mentioned cancer death rate) catching it early can drastically increase how long we live!

Alas, apparently the "emotional weight" of doing self exams is way too much for all us sensitive women folk. Yah, it's in the article.

Excuse me?
The implication that we as women are too weak and/or too ignorant to perform a self breast exam so we just needn't bother is not only denial at its best but also offensive.

I have another question...

The article suggests that generally, women should be aware of their bodies and should notice something like a lump on their breasts the same way they would notice a change on one of their arms.

Just curious: does the person making these "recommendations" have an arm AND a breast? In case not, I want take a moment to explain a couple of important differences.

1) Generally speaking, breasts are circular and round, fleshy and full. A great place for cancer to hide out unseen for awhile. Arms... yah, not really the same thing.
2) There's this thing called BREAST Cancer, that arms don't get. Hence the reasons for mammograms, and not armmograms.

Hope clears things up a bit.

But WHY OH WHY as women would we subject ourselves to the emotional and intellectual drain of self breast exams anyway? The article clearly states that what might be discovered is probably not cancer. "those who did check themselves had almost twice as many biopsies with benign results as those who did not." Let me get this straight: are we hearing a human life is not worth the cost of a biopsy if the odds (imposed by a control group studied at a certain point in time and place) dictate that it is probably not cancer?

Attention: IT COULD BE CANCER! That's why we do a biopsy.

PS: A human life is worth the cost of a biopsy - even if the same person EVENTUALLY dies from cancer.

OK, I have another question.

Let's say I'm younger than 50 and I'm an EXTRA brave woman who can handle the intellectual strain and emotional pressure of preventative breast care and I find a lump.

OH NO, I did a self breast exam unsanctioned by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force! Shame on me for checking my breasts by myself. Shame on me for finding a lump that's twice as likely to be benign. Shame on me for finding it before my yearly approved mammogram during my post 50 years of life! Shame on me for wanting to test it and see if I need to have it removed or not.

Should I tell my doctor?

After all, I was not following approved USPSTF recommended breast awareness behavior. Will I get care, or is there a special holding cell for rogue breast checkers like myself?

Just thought I'd ask.

Dan Simons, An Editor Mouths Off

2009-10-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Dan Simons wrote this brilliant article about Save the ta-tas. We had such a laugh here at the office we had to share. Thanks Dan, you're hilarious and we're so glad you gifted us with your talent!

http://oaklandpostonline.com/readStory.php?a_id=1597

Design your own breast cancer fighting tee!

2009-10-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Save the ta-tas has teamed up with Lemondrop.com to host a tee shirt contest!
Here's the info, you could win $500 of ta-tas®Brand merchandise!

Enter today!

http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/10/16/you-can-design-lemondrops-new-breast-cancer-awareness-t-shirt/javascript:void(0)

The Wendy Williams Show

2009-10-15T09:24:00.001-07:00

Wonderful news for the cause of Boob Lube! I was invited to introduce Wendy Williams on her show, The Wendy Williams Show, this week in the Big Apple.

I love New York. The blessed smell of concrete, mall perfume and food carts... the screams and honks ... and those awesome old skool hats New York's finest wear. Sweet.

And it was so cool to be there with Wendy! The show was so fun. Dancing at 10 in the morning on the stage! The audience whooped it up. I got to introduce her and then she spent time talking about Boob Lube, our all natural soap packaged in a reminder bottle that's a calendar with instructions for doing a self breast exam.

I surprised Wendy by giving her an "I love my Big ta-tas" tee shirt. We all got a big laugh!

Wendy is raw and HILARIOUS. Her personality is incredible, I wished I could have gone to Jersey with her and painted the town red. She is just that much fun.

If you haven't watched her show yet, you gotta check it out. She has some big stars on, and it's totally light hearted. You probably won't cry (unless they are tears of laughter) Which, these days, is nice cause life seems to be a bit tougher.

Thanks Wendy for giving us props, and for your show that brings easy laughter to us all in these trying times. You're hilarious and I wish you the best of luck with your new show!!

Check out the Wendy Williams show today
http://www.wendyshow.com/watch-it/

And to see my intro go to:
http://savethetatas.com/happenings.htm

"How you doin?"

Talking About Breast Cancer in the 1970's

2009-10-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

Everyone always asks me how breast cancer affected me personally. Well, I remember the very first time I learned about breast cancer. I was in the car with my Mom after I first noticed Grandma had a solid, pointy chest. We had said our goodbyes and were driving away and I asked my Mom, "Why does Grandma have such a hard chest?"

At that moment, my mother told me why. Grandma got breast cancer, she had to have her breasts removed and now she had foam cones. My mom was very discreet, yet direct about girl body stuff with me.

Now, bear in mind this was the 1970's ... and there was still a huge blanket of shame and secrecy covering breast cancer. So, to protect my Grandmother's feelings, the issue was not discussed openly, and most certainly not with her directly. But this was societal and it was a "taboo" subject. You just didn't talk about it.

It's hard to stand where we are now (in a society that's much more open about this topic and so many others) and fully grasp how difficult it was for women, just a generation ago. They bore alone the humiliation of having their breasts cut off with no options for reconstruction or even emotional and community support. There was no internet to log on to and find millions of sisters fighting alongside you. No, you suffered alone in silence. And how could you ask for information, or help, if you couldn't even talk about it? The resources for healing were very limited.

Some women, even today, suffer alone in silence. Shame can still taint the topic of breast cancer, but it doesn't have to. I think there are a few ways we can start to tackle this subject together.

1) Moms: talk to your daughters. Surviving that awkward moment together will bring you closer and the information you provide may save your daughter's life someday. I'm glad my Mom told me, and your daughter will be too.

2) If you're a woman who lived through breast cancer in a generation where it wasn't discussed, get online and look at all the resources you have now. So much has changed! Talk to your doctor, read books survivors have written. Share your feelings with a trusted loved one. Just a few ideas, to start the process of recovering from an unfair burden of silence you've carried alone for so long. Your journey, your life, is so important and your loss experience may very well help someone else, and you'll both gain so much in return.

And hey, if you find a resource you love and want to share - something that helped you, please post it and share it with others. Let's keep this important conversation going...

David Cook ROCKS!

2009-10-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

David Cook, Thank you so much for supporting us! YOU ROCK!!!

The kind of research we support

2009-10-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Some people want to know what kind of research we support. We fund gene related research, which is exactly what this article is referring to. Very exciting!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6261309/Breast-cancer-gene-discovery-most-important-for-20-years.html

Save the ta-tas inspires save the boobs and others

2009-10-06T12:01:00.001-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WireStory?id=8756459&page=1

Last minute sale!

2009-10-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer awareness month is here! Show your spirit by wearing a save the ta-tas tee!
Now until midnight tonight get 20% off your purchase by entering code pinkpower2009 at checkout. If you order a pink tee in size S-XL get an additional 10% off! Come by and see us!