Exercise

So the other day I went to the local clinic for an appointment and while I waited and waited for the doctor to come in the room I picked up a magazine. In this magazine (sorry I can't remember the name, it was living something) I found an article titled "Exercise and Breast Cancer, more good news" and it said the following:
"Numerous studies have shown that physical activity may help protect against the development of breast cancer and its progression. Now a new, large-scale study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Carolina, has found that women who have high fitness levels are less likely to die from breast cancer. "Some of the biological effects of physical activity that may play a role are the regulation of hormones, lower rates of obesity, and less inflammation," says Steven Blair, a coauthor of the study and a professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health. The study followed more than 14,000 women from 1973 to 2003. It found that those with the lowest fitness levels (as measured by treadmill tests) were nearly three times more likely to die from breast cancer than those with high fitness levels. Women don't have to run marathons to gain this protective effect. Blair recommends a commonsence weekly exercise routine: five hours of moderate activity, such as walking, or two and a half hours of vigorous activity, such as jogging."
Isn't that great news! I have recently made it a new goal of mine to work out daily, wether its my favorite tv work out, Turbo Jam, or a jog on the treadmill, listening to jammin' music. I try to make exercise a part of my daily routine. I am currently taking 21 credits in college and I can promise you if I can find time to work out anyone can!! Which brings me to my next point sorry to those who are regular readers of my blog, I haven't had a lot of time to blog, but I will try to do better. I just get really busy with all my homework! Thanks to those who read my blog I really hope to inspire people to exercise, or get a mammogram, or donate to a breast cancer foundation. Exercise doesn't only help protect against breast cancer it gives you more energy and makes you feel better about yourself! What person doesn't want that? So make it a goal to exercise!

A Womans Heart

This is a story written by a dear friend of mine. A dear friend who is a survivor of breast cancer. An inspiring, beautiful, strong woman who is always willing to share her story so that others might be inspired to get checked and do self exams. Its important to catch it early, she caught it early and I could not be more grateful to have her in my life! This amazing woman's name is Bobbi Abplanalp. Take care of yourself because there will always be people who will be grateful that you are living, get a mammogram and always be aware of changes its important because your important!

"Imagine a woman’s heart. It must be as vast as the universe to hold the deepest and most cherished moments that only a woman can experience. Imagine her heart beat supporting not only herself but that of an unborn child. Imagine her heart shattering upon the loss of her youth to a man that simply stole it....imagine her putting her heart back together, just to be broken again.There are some holes from the missing pieces, but it helps her inner light shine through. Imagine that heart being torn from her chest and beaten down and cut with it’s own shards. She finds the pieces and gathers what little she has left. Imagine that this woman’s heart will only be stronger and fight harder for her. The fight has just begun, this woman’s heart with all it’s scars and holes will pump the poison thru her veins that will save her life. She told me they don’t tell you that you have cancer, they ask you this question, “Do you have someone here with you?” Yes, yes i do... she is with me...yes i know...yes i have breast cancer. She calls my husband. She holds me. A piece of her woman’s heart fits perfectly into mine. Always. I am diagnosed. I’m feeling guilty, scared and pissed off. I am numb, until they do the biopsy..ouch. I am scared, until my husband gets there. I cry. I do what needs to be done. I laugh. I work. I cry in the tub. I swear. I swear again. I pray. I am cut, I am sliced and I’m stitched. I wake up. I am happy that I woke up, now I can fight. I am alive, I go home. I let my husband play doctor. I can’t look. He sees me. I look at whats left. I see love in my husbands eyes. I heal. I am poisoned. I am tired. I am grateful. I am embarrassed that my hair doesn’t fall out. I am grateful my hair doesn’t fall out. My son brushes my hair...now i know why my hair doesn’t fall out. I am tired. I sleep. I love. I heal. I am radiated. I listen to music. I walk fast. I take my kids to the park. I am going to be a grandmother. I burn. I feel strong. I really burn. I see my red skin. I see my skin peel off. I keep walking fast. I heal. I am reconstructed. I am disappointed. I am getting stronger. I let my husband play doctor. I look at whats left. I see love in his eyes. I love. I heal. I am recovering. I get mad. I get sad. I get glad. I feel blessed. I cry. I love. I see love reflected. I love some more. I live. I feel. I heal."

This Woman's Work

Hey Everyone! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I don't know about you, but I am a huge So You Think You Can Dance fan. Last season Tyce Diorio, one of the awesome choreographers on the show, created this dance in behalf of a friend of his who struggled with breast cancer. Ade, the man in the dance, represented a friend or support throughout the struggle. I had the opportunity to see this dance live at the SYTYCD tour just this month. It is a very inspiring and touching dance. This dance shows the struggle many women go through each year in their battle against breast cancer. The need for help, the frustration, and the pain all wrapped up in a beautiful and strong woman. Enjoy!

Breast Self Exams

My sister learned something new that I want to share. She went in for her yearly check-up at the doctor and during the breast exam she asked what she should be looking for. His response was... "nothing." The point of a self exam is for you to become familiar with your own breasts. You should be watching for lumps, bumps, or any change. If you think about it, doctors feel thousands of breasts all the time and they probably won't remember if yours change! Do your self exams. If you have any questions, go to the Susan G Komen website. There is a great video there to show you exactly how to do it. Click HERE to go straight to the site.

Survival Rates

Over the past 30 years, survivor rates have improved. If detected early there is a 98% survival rate for breast cancer. I cannot stress enough the importance of self exams and mammograms. If not for yourself, please do it for your loved ones.

Studio 5

On Studio 5 yesterday, they said Utah is the second to lowest state for people that get mammograms!!! That is terrible. We need to improve those odds. Have you made your appointment yet? Have you done a self breast exam lately? Take the precautions necessary to save your life. Don't think that just because your family doesn't have a history of breast cancer that it won't happen to you. It can be cured, but it needs to be detected early! So make that appointment.

Passionately Pink Party

If you downloaded the calendar i sent you, October 11 had a great idea. Go to PassionatelyPink.org and register to have a party to raise money for breast cancer awareness. You can totally dress in pink crazy outfits, honor a survivor, and have a great time. Go check out the website, it could be so much fun!