FitSugar

Breast Cancer Prevention: 5 Tips From Dr. Susan Love For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

PopSugar LivingTV — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:50:27 PDT

Since breast cancer is a growing concern among women, we talked to Dr. Susan Love, a known expert in the field, to share her tips on how to prevent breast cancer. Watch our video to find out what she thinks the likely causes are and easy things you can do now to keep cancer at bay, including staying away from unnecessary radiation and the right time to get a mammogram.

What If You Do Find a Lump?

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:00:00 PDT

A few weeks ago a study stated that self-breast exams didn't save lives, but I am not buying it. Many women I know have caught their breast cancer early because they did monthly exams. So if you're still a believer and continue to check yourself monthly, you should be reassured to know that most lumps you find aren't cancerous. Here's what you may feel according to Living.Health.com:

A soft lump: It's smooth and round (like a grape), and it moves a little when you press on it. This lump may be painful to the touch, and it can range in size from small to large. It could be a cyst or sacs filled with natural fluid, but you should get an ultrasound just to be sure. If it is a cyst, your doctor may recommend that you go on the Pill to lower your chance of developing cysts.

A hard lump: This will feel like a clearly defined smooth, hard, rubbery, round lump. It could be small like a pea, or up to five inches wide. If you can move it around under your skin and it doesn't hurt, then it sounds like it's a fibroadenoma, which is a noncancerous tumor. They're not as common as cysts, but not uncommon for women in their 20s and 30s since they're caused by hormonal changes. Of course, it's best to have your doctor take a look and perform some tests just to make sure.

To find out what else you may feel and what it means

read more. Fluid: If fluid is leaking from both nipples, it could be cause by a thyroid or pituitary problem. Talk to your doctor and if it is a gland issue, medication should clear it right up. Soft mass: You could feel a soft lumpy mass that's about one to four inches wide, and it may be tender right before your period. It most likely is caused by fluctuations in your hormones, which thickens breast tissue. This isn't anything a little acetaminophen or ibuprofen (or chocolate) can't take care of. Hard Mass: If you feel a solid, irregular shaped mass with jagged edges that won't move when you push on it, this is something to be concerned with. It could be a cancerous tumor so call your doc and schedule a mammogram. Fit's Tip: This info isn't meant to scare you, but since you are the one person who can notice changes in your breasts, it's best to know what to look for. If you ever have any concerns, I'd recommend seeing your doctor because you'll feel relieved to get a professional opinion. Source

My Breasts are Lumpy

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:00:00 PST

I have a distinct memory of sitting in my high-school sex ed class, learning about self-breast exams. That night, in the privacy of my own room, I felt around and was in shock. My breasts were full of tiny little bean size lumps. I was convinced I had breast cancer.

But later, I found out that normal and healthy women's breasts are lumpy. And the lumps can change with your monthly cycle as your hormones naturally fluctuate.

What a relief. Overall lumpiness is normal.

But, the thing is some lumps can be bad news. So how can you tell?

You've got to work it into your schedule and do self-breast exams throughout the month. Become familiar with the shape, texture, and consistency of your own breasts.

Here's the rule of thumb. If you feel a lump that feels different from those around it, don't freak out just yet. Wait it out through 1 or 2 menstrual cycles. If it doesn't change, or gets bigger, definitely get it checked out.

Check out this commercial urging you to perform monthly breast exams.

Do Your Kids Have Birthdays in the Same Month?

BabyCenter — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:37:54 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Denise Cortes about siblings sharing a birth month.

Growing up, I always had to share my birthday month with my little brother. His birthday came first on Feb. 4, and then three long weeks would pass until it was my birthday, Feb. 24. The funny thing is we are the same age for about three weeks out of the year. We’re what you call "Mexican twins," born 11 months apart. Every year, his birthday card from me reads something like this, "So, you’ve caught up with me once again . . ."

Sharing a birth month meant lots of joint birthday parties growing up. It also means we would celebrate our birthdays near his actual birth date, then when mine rolled around, it was all "we already celebrated your birthday already, remember?" OK, so I’m still a tad bitter about this whole birth month sharing.

Ahem.

My first son was born on Sept. 9. Then three years later, I had my third son (yes, I had another son in between - three children under the age of 3 aren't something I recommend if you enjoy quiet evenings and sanity), and he was born on Sept. 19. About three years later, I was pregnant once again and looking at another September due date. Sadly, I miscarried that time, so to this day, I only have two children that share a birth month. But it opened my eyes to this simple fact:

Turkey must be one helluva aphrodisiac.

No, really. How else do you explain all of these Thanksgiving conception dates? Turkey has been very, very good to me. I actually don’t mind that I have two children with the same birthday month. I make sure we celebrate them separately, and that they are recognized on their special day. I try my hardest not to lump them together.

Head over to our BabyCenter Community because they are talking about same-month babies.

Do you have children born in the same month? How do you handle birthday celebrations?

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
Ten maternity basics you should buy - and why!
No sex, no marriage, just kids
Would you rent maternity clothes?
I can't keep my kids' names straight!
Ten ways to beat the Winter blues

Source: Flickr User Eduardo Pavon

Grillades and Grits: Get Your Brunch on!

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:00:06 PST

Grillades and grits are a trademark dish in New Orleans. If you can't make the trip to Nola, Food Orleans shows you how to recreate the experience in your own home.

If you've never had or heard of grillades and grits, then I apologize for not mentioning them earlier. They're one of the two most wonderful things to eat for brunch in New Orleans (shrimp and grits being the other). I've never been to anyplace in town for brunch that didn't offer one or both of these goodies. Grillades (gree'-awds) are made of beef, veal, or pork; I haven't encountered a rabbit version yet, but I won't be surprised when I do. The beef is a thin, flat cut of top round or chuck - something that can withstand a long, slow cooking. It simmers in a pot with the trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper), garlic, and a little jalapeno - not traditional, but I really like it - until the rich broth thickens and intensifies, so what you get is a powerfully flavored beef "stew" that is perfect over creamy cheese grits. This is a great Louisiana recipe to try if you're hankering for some thick, rich goodness but you don't feel up to stirring a roux, because you don't have to. The small amount of flour used in the browning of the beef will produce all the roux you need.

Read ahead for the grillades and grits recipe.

What to Do With Your Year-End Bonus

LearnVest — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:15:06 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’ve just been informed by your supervisor that you have a tidy bonus coming to you soon for all of your hard work this year. (And, of course, you totally deserve it.)

But whenever a large sum of money falls in your lap, you need to have a plan for it, so you don’t wake up a month or two later and realize that it’s all gone.

That’s no way to reward yourself for a job well done.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Rack up credit card debt in advance of your bonus expecting to pay it off.
Use it to treat your family and friends to oversized Christmas gifts.
Count your chickens before they hatch. Even if you’ve been told how much your bonus is, it will be taxed like regular income. Because of all the factors that play into it, don’t assume you know exactly how much will land in your account.
Plan your finances around the same bonus showing up next year.

Read on for more.

A Girl's Guide to Breast Tissue

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:45:41 PST

Last Summer, health researchers recommended that women no longer need to perform self-breast exams, but that hasn't stopped me. A few women I know discovered breast cancer early through self-examinations and received early treatment, which saved their lives.

Breast tissue tends to be lumpy, so when you examine your girls each month, you want to look , or rather feel, for changes in consistency, size, or tenderness. If you happen to feel something different from the surrounding tissue, you may instantly think breast cancer. Here's a guide from Health magazine to help you figure out what to do based on what you feel.

What you feel	Cause and what it means	What to do
Soft lump: it's smooth and round (like a grape), and it moves a little when you press on it. This lump may be painful to the touch, and it can range in size from small to large.	Caused by hormonal changes in your menstrual cycle, it could be a cyst or sacs filled with natural fluid.	Get an ultrasound. If it is a cyst, your doctor may recommend that you go on the pill to lower your chance of developing cysts.

If you felt something different

There's a Better Way to Get Rid of Your Christmas Tree This Year

Business Insider — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:20:33 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Before you toss that scraggly lump of limbs that used to be your Christmas tree on the side of the road, think about recycling it instead.

Plenty of state sanitation departments have guides for consumers on how to discard unwanted trees for recycling, but environmental site Earth911 has created a search-friendly database to help others track down recycling centers in their areas.

"Earth911 is thrilled to see the momentum building behind treecycling. Not only are we supporting local jobs for Americans, but also the reclamation of a valuable resource," said Earth911 CEO Barry Monheit.

So-called "treecyclers" have gotten a leg up with help from big box retailers like Walmart. The store agreed to work exclusively with growers who pledge to attach a tag with local recycling information on each of the 8 million trees they're estimated to sell this year.

"By partnering with Earth911 and tree growers in support of the Treecycle program, we are able to make a smart and sustainable decision for our business" said Amy Bates, manager of Walmart operations support.

So what happens to all those old trees anyway?

They can be repurposed for a host of uses, from wood chippings used in mulch for community gardens to protective erosion barriers for river deltas and wildlife habitats, according to Earth911.

Some cities rely on treecycling to prep parks and gardens for Spring.

For years, thousands of New Yorkers have taken part in MulchFest, a city government-sponsored event that collected and mulched nearly 17,000 trees last year.

Participants are free to take home chippings for their own homes and the rest of the mulch is used to nourish city gardens, according to New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Check out these smart stories on Business Insider:

Jimmy Kimmel Gives America's Tots the "Worst Christmas Ever"!

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:42:26 PST

Is there anything worse than a lump of coal in your stocking? If you're one of the kids whose parents took part in Jimmy Kimmel's latest challenge, the answer might be yes! On the heels of the late night host's hilarious dare to trick tykes into believing their parents ate all of their Halloween candy, he's back with what may be the meanest bluff of all. Check out how these tots reacted when their parents gave them early - but terrible - Christmas presents. It looks like the Grinch may be alive and well!

Catch Up on All of Our Holiday Coverage

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:00:02 PST

During this busy season, you may have missed some of our holiday posts covering everything from manageable DIY crafts to decorating ideas, gift guides, and more. If so, not to worry! I've pulled together a recap of our favorite holiday coverage for easy browsing. Happy holidays!

Gift Guides

Desk Accents For Favorite Girlfriends
Chic Spa Accents For Pampered Pals
Gifts For the Hostess
Little Luxuries For Your Blue Blood Buddy
Fascinating Living Gifts For Modern Plant Lovers
Literary-Inspired Gifts For Book Lovers
Practical and Pretty Gifts For New Homeowners
Winter-Inspired Aromatics
Thoughtful Holiday Gifts For 2012 Brides
Extravagant Homewares
Gifts Under $100 For Studio Apartment Dwellers

To Give and to Receive

Top Gift Choices From Eskayel's Shanan Campanaro
Top Gift Choices From Hammocks and High Tea's Karen Young
Top Gift Choices From Danny Seo
Top Gift Choices From Iomoi's Matthew Grenby and Irene Chen
Top Gift Choices From Table Tonic's Louise Bell

Keep reading after the jump for holiday DIY projects, decorating ideas, and inspiration

What you feel	Cause and what it means	What to do
Hard lump: this will feel like a clearly defined smooth, hard, rubbery, round lump. It could be small like a pea, or up to five inches wide. If you can move it around under your skin and it doesn't hurt, then it sounds like it's a fibroadenoma, which is a noncancerous tumor.	They're not as common as cysts, but not uncommon for women in their 20s and 30s since they're caused by hormonal changes.	Make an appointment with your doctor just to be sure.
Fluid leaking from both nipples.	It could be caused by a thyroid or pituitary problem. Some women also experience discharge from this area when pregnant, taking birth control pills, or from stimulation.	Talk to your doctor. If it is a gland issue, medication should clear it right up.
Soft mass: it's soft, lumpy, and about one to four inches wide. It may be tender right before your period.	It's most likely caused by fluctuations in your hormones, which thickens breast tissue.	This isn't anything a little acetaminophen or ibuprofen (or chocolate) can't take care of. Wearing a more supportive bra may offer relief as well.
Hard mass: you feel a solid, irregular-shaped mass with jagged edges that won't move when you push on it.	Nobody knows for sure. Age, family history, and alcohol intake could be factors.	This is something to have checked out by your doctor immediately, as it could be cancerous.