Breast News Magazine

I just received an interesting press release for a new program for breast implant patients where the patient can actually “test drive” different breast implant sizes before making their final decision to buy the right size and get the implant procedure done.  I wondered how this could be, since it seems that two separate breast augmentation surgeries would be needed if someone were to test drive, then go through with the surgery, right?  Well read on for more information on this new breast implant option….

It’s called the Purlz Breast Sizing System, and the press release is from a company out of Minnesota, who I assume is the maker of the product.  Unlike what I had thought, it is not anything like surgery, rather it’s a soft and comfortable insert that can be worn undetected under clothing for the woman to find out what she looks like in clothing, how they feel in a bra and how they look in clothes, and what that sort of weight feels like on their chest. 

Because they say that over 30% of women who get breast implant revision surgeries have the reason that they want a different size (usually larger I’m told), this is probably going to be a pretty popular system in my estimation.  They said that until now, women who wanted to test drive various sizes of breast implants had to wear bags of rice or bags filled with someone somewhat heavy to figure out how they would look i various cup sizes or implants filled with various CC’s of saline (or silicone since that’s back on the market).

The filling is made with a comfortable and flexible material that is supposed to be comparable to the size and volume of a real breast implant, making it a realistic comparison to real breast implants and how they would feel both in and out of clothing.  The Purlz breast sizing system can be read about more at the company’s website which is Lwgatz.com.

I received notice that MTV is looking for young women who feel their breasts are too small and have gone about different ways to enlarge their breasts naturally.  Below you will find more of an explanation of what they are looking for, and you may be a perfect fit!

Opportunity for MTV documentary!
 
MTV’s award-winning documentary series “True Life” is interested in exploring the challenges of women seeking to enlarge their breast size through non-surgical methods.  The episode will examine the physical, emotional and financial effects of women struggling with their small breasts.  If your story is worth sharing and you appear to be between the ages of 17-26, please email us at: BodyImage@mtvn.com.  Give us your name, location, phone number and a photo, if possible. 

Explain your situation in detail… the more you share, the better we will understand your story.  For example: What size are your breasts, and how do you currently feel about them?  How does having small breasts affect your life and self-esteem, in general?  What types of Natural Breast Enhancements have you: (1) tried in the past, (2) are currently trying, and (3) are considering trying in the future?  Please be specific.  How successful have these products and/or methods been thus far?  How would your life change if your breasts did indeed grow bigger?  Is surgery even an option?  Or are you considering therapy to help you accept your small breasts?

I just had my yearly pap test done and overall female health checkup at the same time, which means yeah I was laying on a table with a speculum and that goopy gel they have to put on ya.  Not the most comfortable of appointments of course, I don’t know many women who actually look forward to them, but nonetheless they are important to maintaining female health as well as catching potential problems early such as cervical cancer and ovarian cancer. 

During the yearly female exam, the ovaries are examined to see if they are swollen or there are any problems with them.  Also, you usually have to fill out a fairly comprehensive questionnaire that asks you about your family history on both your mother’s and father’s side, your sexual orientation, whether you are sexually active or not, your allergies, and other medical questions that help them to do the best exam they can. 

Make sure you let them know if you are allergic to latex since latex gloves are used during the exam to get a scraping from your cervix to test for HPV and other abnormalities in your pap smear.  And by the way, did you know that the body can naturally clear itself of certain strains of HPV?  I did not know this until my doctor told me.  Besides the checkups on the inside, they also should be doing a short breast exam.

This is done by you putting your arm over your head (you are in a face forward laying down position), and they feel around the nipple and the surrounding breast tissue as well as the underarms, since often times the lymph nodes in that area become swollen if there is any cancer in the breast or other problems that involve inflammation or infection. 

Your doctor should be asking important questions like whether your mother has had breast examinations, whether she has ever had breast cancer, and whether your are doing your breast self exams or not, even though some question whether self exams lead to more alarm than good since sometimes they lead people to worry when there is no cause for worry.  I say they’re still good though because there are women who have caught lumps themselves and ow their lives to the breast self exam, so it never can hurt. 

Got this reader question, here it is!  Names withheld for privacy reasons.

Question : I am a young looking 4X years old and very fit. I always have looked about ten years younger than I am and my mother is the same way. I also eat well and exercise quite abit. I am 5′X and 1XX pounds, and I am a small 34 C bra size. I am round and firm, but I would like to be fuller and larger.

Also, maybe other women are not bothered by this, but I would like to have larger nipples or somehow make them more sensitive and full. When I was younger they were very sensitive and I could not wear little seamless bras under thin tops or my nipples would poke through if I got cold or excited. Now that does not happen as much. My doctor said he does not feel it is hormonal. I actually feel less sexy and that bothers me as well.
I am wondering if the massaging and use of the good creams or massage and the good pills, might not only add some size to my breasts, but also perhaps I could do something massage wise or the pills or cream might help the nipple problem also? Do you have any experience with that or suggestions? I had one child at age XX and breast fed until he was ten months old.

Back then my breasts became huge and I think I wore a 36D, and my nipples also became much larger, darker, and were very large and erect all the time. As the months went by after I quit nursing, things “went down” and over time have gone down more. I am lucky to have stayed firm however and also about the same size.

I will do anything that sounds reasonable and safe to look better to myself first and others secondly. I work alot of hours with a job and also volunteer work, and I have friends who pay alot of money at spas and even to doctors to look better at my age and younger.

I just would prefer to go the more natural route if possible. In advance, thank you so much for you nice web site and the service you provide to many women all over the world I am sure.
Sincerely,

XXXXXXX

Answer :

Your questions are not silly at all, in fact I’ve had the same question about nipples before from other readers.  Unfortunately I do not know a specific method to get the results in your nipples you are looking for, but some people who have tried the Bountiful Breast product have said that it has changed their nipples somewhat. 

Of course, with each individual there is no guarantee that with the enlargement of the breasts you would also experience larger or more sensitive nipples, but it is possible.  Take a look at here at a review and forum of the Bountiful Breast product, and then you can go to their site from there and see how other people’s experiences were with the product.  There is no massage technique I am aware of that will make you nipples larger or more sensitive unfortunately.  Good luck, and I’m sure you look fantastic as you are

A few weeks ago, I started to sort of do one of those half hazard breast self exams on myself as I was lying awake in bed and thinking about how my mom had told me she had a mammogram and was fine, and of my Aunt who died much too young from breast cancer.  I was just kind of feeling around the center of my breasts when two oddly hard things were sticking out a little, enough to be noticed, and I started to work myself up, thinking either they were the top of my rib cage and one just stuck out a little more than the other, or that this could be something to possibly be alarmed about.

I kept feeling and kept feeling around there until the area became a bit sore, and I even had my boyfriend feel around the area to get his opinion.  He said that I just needed to get it checked out, and he thought it was probably nothing, but better safe than sorry especially since I have breast cancer running in the female side of my family.  So that day, we happened to have family in town.  As I had just discovered what I thought could be alarming lumps or something potentially totally inconsequential, I was in a rotten, anxious mood. 

We were en route to the airport to drop one of our visitors off, and my boyfriend was making conversation, but to me I thought he was questioning me, and since I was upset to begin with, I snapped at him (in front of our guests, yes I’m now embarrassed), and we had a hard time pretending like there wasn’t tension as we ate our Quizno’s subs, me almost choking on tears that I wouldn’t let surface, and him equally as emotional because he knew how upset I was but also he was angry with me and hurt that I had snapped.

It was truly one of the most awkward situations I have ever been in.  It seemed my hormones were on full blast, and I couldn’t control my own emotions because I was so fearful that these “lumps” could be something to worry about.  After we dropped her off, I was able to somewhat control myself, and told myself that I would try not to worry until I could get in to the doctor for her to hopefully tell me that it was nothing, it was indeed just a slightly irregular rib that was sticking out and that was it.

Thanking God after I left the doctor’s office, she had agreed with me that it was nothing, but nonetheless wanted me to keep an eye on it for any changes, increase in size, soreness, etc.  I did and am happy to report that it was just my overactive imagination at work, perhaps combined with some stress and anxiety I’ve been having in my personal life lately that added to the convincing there was something wrong.

My doctor nonetheless said that I was smart to come in, after I admitted I was  bit embarrassed for being overly concerned over what happened to be nothing.  She said that is how you catch things and that I should never hestitate again if I’m concerned, especially since I have breast cancer in my mom’s side of the family.  So ladies, even if you might be a little embarrassed and fear your doc thinks you’re a hypochondriac, go anyways. 

This actually sounds a bit like something from a science fiction novel, but it’s really sounding like a promising way to detect early breast cancer highly effectively so far, so that much we know it exciting.  With all the attention focused on breast cancer research, it’s nice to see that about a few times a month we see new developments in early detection - which is one of the single highest variables in beating breast cancer since the  more advanced it becomes the harder it is to treat and the more likely it can be fatal.

The newest method of high tech breast cancer and breast tumor detection is called molecular breast imaging, and it uses radioactivity to search out and “light up” breast cancer cells, clusters of breast cancer cells, or tumors that are growing within the tissue of breasts that are particularly dense.  Dense breasts are breasts that are often misdiagnosed or are missed for breast cancer detection because the tissue is simply so dense that traditional detection methods may not work.  This is very promising for women who have denser breast tissue naturally and women who are younger since their breasts tend to be firmer and more dense, and lose density naturally with age.

The cool thing about molecular breast imaging is that it is already in advanced stages of clinical testing, and it is thought that this method may be cheaper to perform (less out of your pocket if you have one) than traditional MRI’s which are often ordered for women who’s breast tissue is too dense for anything to be found through a traditional mammogram.

Researchers say that even the testing for this method has been very compelling because the screenings with the new imaging revealed images that would have been otherwise missed or possibly overlooked in women with dense breasts if they had undergone a traditional mammography screening. 

They say that this was the most compelling evidence that this test may run laps around the mammogram.  The only thing I don’t like about it is that it uses radioactivity as a means of detection, but I guess at times it is necessary to save lives, and the exposure is minimal so I guess it’s not all that bad. 

We’ve all been there, right?  As a matter of fact, here I sit now writing this, with PMS (premenstrual syndrome) in full force, feeling darn near ready to explode into tears over the tiniest thing, and ready to go off on anyone who dare crosses me, with cramps and feeling tired, and of course with that other female fun side effect of having your period that many of us get - sore breasts.

Having tender breasts during or before your period, or for some us, both times, is a very normal occurrence that happens to many women while they have their period and around the time it starts because of hormonal fluctuations, much like the breasts get sore when a woman becomes impregnated, due to the same thing - a surge in hormones that aren’t always as active when there isn’t some sort of event going on in the body. 

Some women complain their breasts get so tender during and before their periods that they can’t even have their boyfriends or husbands touch them because they are so sensitive.  Yep, I’ve also been in the boat too.  So, is there relief for the breast soreness around PMS time too, like there is somewhat moderate relief offered for other things like bloating and water retention, moodiness and cramping?

There is a product called Femalite that I was reading about the other day that is supposed to help with many PMS symptoms, including the swelling and pain in the breasts that occurs many times due to hormonal surges.  It is also supposed to ease cramping and water bloat as well, which often goes hand in hand with our periods. 

It sounds like it’s an all natural product, and one of the ingredients is one I know well because it is supposed to help not only with PMS but I believe also with menopause, because it is supposed to help regulate the female hormone estrogen, and helps to alleviate things like water retention and moodiness by helping to shift the hormones back into place where they should be. 

You’re supposed to start taking it a few days before your period to see results and a smoother transition into the actual time of your period.

Christina Applegate, at the young age of 36, was diagnosed with breast cancer in it’s very early stages (of course, a good thing, and usually treatable when not advanced), and has recently disclosed some more information about her cancer treatment.  She has undergone a double mastectomy, which means she has had both of her breasts removed in order that she does not have to worry about the breast cancer returning.

Christina’s mother had breast cancer and went through a few years of several surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, and so she was tested for the gene that causes or at least greatly adds to the likelihood that you will get breast cancer in your life if you are a woman, and tested positive for it, which added to her final decision to have both of her breasts removed through mastectomy.  She is scheduled to undergo reconstructive surgery though, which means she will still have two beautiful breasts she says.

The actress seems to be taking the news fairly in stride and also seems to have a good head on her shoulders, which is helping her get through this ordeal, although she admits, like any other human, she has had her moments of fear, doubt and pain and breaking down.  Her doctor says he expects her to make a full recovery since the cancer was caught so early through an MRI scan.

There was no mention whether Christina detected the lump with her own hands or whether the MRI was just routine and came up with it, since she has a history of breast cancer in her female side of the family. She said she has been very on point with going to get mammograms since the age of 30 since she had the family history, and she feels this is what has probably saved her life. 

I have a new favorite line of bras and underwear, and if you try one on, your breasts will thank you for the most comfortable bra (that I know of so far at least), you’ve ever put on your chest.  I’m also a new fan of their underwear line as well, which is practically seemless for those of you that are worried about lines showing through your pants.  The bras are also pretty good, because it’s hard to see them through thinner shirts, but they are not seemless just so you know.

I purchased a criss cross Barely There bra this past weekend (white in color), which is made of a silky material, double lined but not padded, and has no underwire on it.  Just the fact that a bra has no underwire makes it comfortable of course, but the fact is it takes a lot more than that to also make it comfortable for all day wear, and the Barely There bra seems to have that. 

The only problem with the bras that are not padded is that if (like me), you tend to have your nipples show through a lot, you may want to opt for something with a little more padding, but if not, and you’re planning on wearing it underneath thicker shirts or sweaters, like me, then it is the perfect, comfy winter time bra to wear under those big bulky sweaters since it’s nice and loose and not too snug, but also provides support and doesn’t make you feel like you’re letting it all hang out.

The criss cross shape in the front reminds me of a triangle top on a bikini a bit, except it overlaps a bit, making for a flattering look as well, so it’s not a bra that I love but the boyfriend thinks looks like an “old lady bra” either.  Since it pleases both of us, this is the perfect option for a lazing around on the weekends bra, and a fall and winter bra, or even one that can be worn under tank tops on hot days since the issue with hard nipples wouldn’t be too bad if it’s hot outside (I myself only have that issue if it’s cold, but it doesn’t take much cold for it to happen unfortunately).