BGs...I came across this information and felt it was too important NOT to share.

If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

Mastectomy Bill in Congress

It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important...please take the time and do it really quick!

Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.

Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. Please take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your suppor t. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_ma...omy_pledge.html

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS :)

Thanks for posting this, bc gal. This is a very good forum for it. This is a very personal issue to me and it only takes seconds to do. I have signed this petition about 100 times in the past year, and you all can too.

:boobies :boobies :boobies :D

I signed. Thanks so much for posting!

Ok ive signed also,
Like HF this is a personal issue to me also, although I was in Hosp only about 36 hours but hell an outpaitent procedure I dont think so.What if something goes wrong? Atleast I had the choice to stay in hosp for 2 to 3 days but chose to come home after a day and a half because there were no complications.
Cheers Chris. :boobies :boobies :boobies

Chris, hope everything is going well in your recovery.
HF, Abzug...thanks for your input...

Another call out to remind all BGs to faithfully perform monthly breast examinations and yearly mammograms;especially if you're over 40.
But, remember...
Breast Cancer is not age sensitive; it will strike at any age. Personally, I lost a dear friend years back from this deadly disease. She was 27.

Here is another fundraising effort going on now...



To all BGs who love M&Ms candy....


New Pink &White M&M's

The maker of M&M candies has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise funds through the sale of their new "pink &white" M&M candies.

For each 8-ounce bag of the special candies sold, the makers of M&M (Masterfoods) will donate 50 cents to the foundation. The next time you want a treat, please pick up a bag (now sold in stores nationwide) - you will be donating to a great cause and satisfying your sweet tooth. Just think...If each of us buy one bag or two.... how much will be donated. Buy a bag for a friend...........

Please pass on to all your family and friends. -- Thanks :)

As I told silverballnz, I was diagnosed 3 days prior to my 40th birthday with my first mammogram. Despite urging my doctor to order one at 35 with a family history of cancer (non-breast), she insisted on waiting until I was 40. Huge mistake!!

According to my surgeon, I was probably about 6 months away from needing a mastectomy. I'm healthy now, but monthly self-exams and mammograms are essential!

Save those :boobies :D

HI there BCgirl and HF,
We are luckey here in New Zealand to have a breast screening programme free to all women between the ages of I believe 45 to about 65 the only reason im not sure is that the Govt has just extened the age group on this.
If it had not been for this programme I doubt I would be here today,
There is no history of cancer in my family so the thought of a Mammo would never have crossed my mind.
I was dx with a serial Mammo in the Breast Screen Programme in may of 2003and was one of the luckey ones to be caught in the very early stages.
I chose to have a matectomy I said lets just get rid of this sucker!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the right decision for me.
So all I can say is Yay for the NZ govt and the screening programme we have here.
Cheers Chris. :boobies :boobies :boobies

Hey, Silverballnz...
Thanks for sharing that news. It's encouraging to hear some countries are taking a proactive stance against serious health issues.

On a personal note...
I had my first mammogram at age 25 due to a bike accident. I was lucky the scan just found (benign) cysts. Now that I'm over 40... I faithfully schedule a mammogram and pap smear.

NOTE: BGs....go get that pap smear, too! :)

Outpatient mastectomy, and drive-thru births. Do you see a pattern here? Lifetime has done such a wonderful job to get these issues out to the public. Please get out there and sign that petition ladies!

On a personal note, I had my first mammogram this past November a week after my 40th. I have no family history, but you have to do it! Early detection is key!

Thanks bc gal.

Hi bc gal, Can non US residents also sign in?

Hey, badgirlnuts... :)
I checked the Lifetimetv petition sign-up sheets and they do require each signee to include their NAME and ZIP CODE. In the USA, zip codes are five digit numbers designating which section of the country you live in. Your codes may be somewhat different. Of course, you are welcome to try...

BGN, thank you for your interest....
I hope this spurs you to check on your country's stance towards womens health issues.
Voicing your opinion can only help...

Thanx bc gal, just as I thought, the 5 digit American zip code is different from Canada's 6 (alphabet and digit combination), so the computer might reject it.
Here's something :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aam38sQEEi8&mode=related&search=

BGN....
From one North American to another...Hey, neighbor! :)
I checked out your link...Singapore Cancer Society
...what a twist!

liked the reply to this commercial...

"If only women examined their breasts as much as men."

How true! Men can be such klutzes. Thanks for sharing.: :lol1

B C the state that I live in here in Queensland in Australia also has a free breast screening program in place for all women over the age of 50 .

After you have your first one done they send you a reminder letter every 2 years to have your next check up done .

Now if you don't respond to that letter by making an appointment they send another letter and chase you up till you do respond .

When it comes to pap smears if you are on the pap smear registry and if you have not had your regular 2 year yearly pap smear done they will notify your Dr you have not had it done then the Dr get's in touch with you and calls you in for one .

Dear, Ningi...
Thanks for sharing this info. :)

It's great to hear more pro-active news...
Wish more countries realized the value of preventive medicine.


btw...can't help smiling at your avatar.
It reminds me of how I feel getting up at 4:30 a.m.! :D

Hey BC gal ... here in Manitoba, Canada the same situation as Ningi in Australia. On your 50th BD free breast screening letter in mail and you are to attend. Then every 2 yrs they send out a letter for repeat visit. The same goes with pap smears.

It amazes me how many women do not have breast exams done by Dr or by self exam and pap smears !!! I can't even begin to comment. Women seem to take care of everyone else except themselves. We really need to educate our female population!

Hey, BGs... :)

October is Breast Cancer Detection Month!

.Just a reminder for everyone to perform a monthly exam and schedule that mammogram if you've not done so this year.

Many communities are sponsoring "Walk For The Cure" 5K walks to help raise money for Breast Cancer Research. Our community just had their fundraiser this past Sunday. Over 2,000 participants walked 3 miles to raise funds.
It was a great day!

Please consider participating or contributing; let's help in whatever way we can to beat this killer.

:hug2

BGs,
Breast Awareness Month is about over, so....


GO GET YOUR MAMMIES GRAMMED!



This is hysterical! Make sure you read the whole thing.
There is a serious message at the end, but you get to laugh on the way there.



For years and years they told me,
Be careful of your breasts.
Don't ever squeeze or bruise them.
And give them monthly tests.

So I heeded all their warnings,
And protected them by law.
Guarded them very carefully,
And I always wore my bra.

After 30 years of astute care,
My gyno, Dr Pruitt,
Said I should get a Mammogram
"OK," I said, "let's do it."

"Stand up here real close" she said,
(She got my boob in line),
"And ! tell me when it hurts," she said,
"Ah yes! Right there, that's fine."

She stepped upon a pedal,
I could not believe my eyes!
A plastic plate came slamming down,
My hooters in a vise!

My skin was stretched and mangled,
>From underneath my chin.
My poor boob was being squashed,
To Swedish Pancake thin.

Excruciating pain I felt,
Within it's viselike grip.
A prisoner in this vicious thing,
My poor defenseless tit!

"Take a deep breath," she said to me,
Who does she think she's kidding?!?
My chest is mashed in her machine,
And woozy I am getting.

"There, that's good," I heard her say,
(The room was slowly swaying.)
"Now, let's have a go at the other one."
Have mercy, I was praying.

It squeezed me from both up and down,
It squeezed me from both sides.
I'll bet SHE'S never had this done,
To HER tender little hide.

Next time that they make me do this,
I will request a blindfold
I have no wish to see again,
My knockers getting steam rolled.

If I had no problem when I came in,
I surely have one now.
If there had been a cyst in there,
It would have gone "ker-pow!"

This machine was created by a man,
Of this, I have no doubt.
I'd like to stick their "you know what's" in there,
And see how they come out!!





LOL !!!!!!



OK gals, now that you have had your laugh, remember...


Breast Cancer Awareness...

Go have those boobs checked out and stay healthy!

Pass the message on to your mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, friends, --- and even your enemies.



Because the WORST enemy is Breast Cancer !

To all USA BGs....

Tuesday, Nov.7th...Election Day has arrived!

If you have not already done so, please exercise your right to vote!
There are several important issues and amendments on many state ballots.
We must let our voices be heard...