Wow, can you believe it is Monday again? Funny how that keeps happening. As you know I try to share a health and wellness websites each Monday and I’m really excited about this week’s pick. I’ve been involved with the organization for a little over a year. I’m not an extremely active promoter, but I do what I can. I buy merchandise and make donations a few times a year, but I need to do more. I’m hoping that my post will make you curious enough to check out their website and donate or buy something. Hey, who doesn’t want to wear a shirt that says “Feel Your Boobies“? This was the perfect week for me to write about this organization since I registered for the Pittsburgh Komen Race For The Cure last week. This is the 2nd year I will be walking with my FYB friends and I’ve even recruited a few more.
Feel Your Boobies was founded by Leigh Hurst in 2004 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. She discovered her lump simply by feeling her boobies and not through a formal self-breast exam. Leigh was motivated to reach young woman who normally think “I’m too young for breast cancer” so she used unconventional methods by advocating breast awareness. You won’t find “boobies” brochures at your doctor’s office, but you might be lucky enough to pass the Boobies Bus on the freeway, or see a plane towing a Boobies banner at the beach or you might check out their facebook application site. These are the unexpected techniques FYB uses to reach the masses.
So girls I must ask “Are you doing it?” If not…why?
In support of breast cancer awareness I am going to donate $5 to FYB for every comment I receive with your breast cancer story or encounter. (up to $100 because I’m not independantly wealthy!) I will also send you a Feel Your Boobies car cling if you care to contact me with your home address. You can email your address to me at carrie.labowitz@gmail.com, but you must post a comment to get your free car cling.
For more information on FYB check out the website at www.feelyourboobies.com
For more information on breast cancer please visit with your doctor or visit any one of these websites:
http://www.breastcancer.org/
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
http://ww5.komen.org/
Last, if you care to sponsor me in the Komen Race For the Cure please check out my racecenter at:
http://race.pittsburghraceforthecure.org/site/TR/Race/General?px=1610044&pg=personal&fr_id=1100
From Fit to Fat and Back 
Jen said,
April 12, 2010 at 6:23 pm
yay! FYB is wonderful organization with a fantastic message for young women! if anyone wants to join the feel your boobies team for the race for the cure, please do: http://race.pittsburghraceforthecure.org/site/TR/Race/General?team_id=28311&pg=team&fr_id=1100
FYB will be posting NEW merchandise @ the end of this week as well, so please stop by and check it out! carrie…did you get your clings yet? i am going to place my race order soon. 🙂
fittofatandbackcarrie said,
April 12, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Jen,
I didn’t order the clings yet, but I have tatoos and stickers to hand out at the walk. I’ll order the clings this week. – Carrie
Jillaine Comardo said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:12 pm
THANK YOU for Sharing! 🙂
steve said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:15 pm
so i herd you were giving money to boobies if we commented.. 😉
Stacy said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Totally love FYB – I get a LOT of comments on my shirts!
Rebecca said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Love this article. I, too, was 33 when diagnosed (and 14 weeks pregnant). I found my own lump and IGNORED it for months because I didn’t think I could get it that young. Looking forward to reading this blog going forward as I focus on FIT (from fat) and healthy and having kicked cancer’s a$$. Need everyone to realize how important it is to FEEL YOUR BOOBIES! I always say, if you don’t, I WILL! 😉
Renee said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:17 pm
One of my friends mother had breast cancer as well as my aunt. Recently my aunt had surgery to remover her breasts and when she turned to our family, some of her sisters felt that what she was going through was not worth their time to listen to her fears. I just want to say to all those individuals out there that, this fight is not an easy one and everyone should take the time to listen and support those who are fighting breast cancer, well really any cancer. I have told my family that her fears are very valid and that in her time of need we should be there. I hope that others can see the lesson here, and learn from it before it can hurt someone else. We can beat breast cancer!
Valarie Smith said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:19 pm
As a nurse who has taken care of patients following full mastectomies, I cannot sing enough praise for FYB. If FYB helps even one person, it’s a success. I believe the FYB message is simple and effective.
Girls, Ladies, and even Gentlemen, please practice FYB. You should know your body better than anyone else! Your doctor only sees you once a year (or everyother year) for your checkup, and your doctor is not going to remember or recognize small changes. YOU must be your own feeler! It’s your body, it’s your health!
steve said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:20 pm
oh, you need a story: I met a friend in the police academy. He married a girl I went to k-12 with. couple years ago she got a very aggressive breast cancer that went to her lungs. double mast/shitton of treatments later, she’s so far so good.
Kristina said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I must say I have been fortunate to have not experienced breast cancer first-hand or second-hand with any member of my family (fingers crossed!), but that does not stop me from feeling my boobies and passing aloong the message to all the women in my life. I cannot afford to buy myself a feel your boobies t shirt (though I will find a way, soon!), I did get a free sticker from FYB which I sport on my school book tote. It is a great conversation starter, let me tell you. And though it is mainly giggled about during the discussion, I hope my passion for the cause rings in their minds enough to remind them to feel their own boobies when they get home. (Or to their car, or the bathroom, or anywhere they feel the urge!) FYB is such a great cause, a light-hearted way to spread the message that breat cancer is not only real, but can be detected early with a little persistence. So glad to see that you’re helping spread the word, too!
Kristina
Teresa said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Thank you for such a creative way to make donations and for getting the word out about FYB! I am planning to order a few tank tops for my training walks this summer — I have committed to doing the 3-Day Walk in the Twin Cities in August.
I’m walking because it is my friend’s five year anniversary of being cancer free. I’m also walking because my aunt is a two time survivor, my husband’s friend’s sister was just diagnosed, my friend’s aunt was just diagnosed, and my former co-worker fought hard but passed away years ago. It’s touched me in many ways. I was the first one to say “I don’t need a mammogram.” But that’s the way my friend’s was detected, and her life was saved because of the speedy reactions by everyone. I go every year now.
Thank you for your support and commitment to the cause!
Dawn said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:24 pm
My husband put the FYB sticker on his truck’s back window. Mind you, his truck is all lettered up for his painting business so we get lots of comments from people when they notice the sticker amongst the the business stuff. It’s a great conversation starter for FYB.
Heather Dumcum said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Well, my mother was diagnosed when she was 35 years old. It was not breast cancer that took her life 5 years later, but it was cancer. She was affected on both breasts, losing one. Since I heard about it, I have been active in the ACS Relay For Life – 10 years now! I support SGK with donations. I have been doing self-checks & annual mammos since I was 25 as part of the early detection process. I hope to stay active in the fight since I also have a daughter of my own to think of. Losing my mother at the age of 19 made me very aware of time and living life! Thanks for all you do to support the FYB foundation! Organizations like them and ACS and Susan G Komen are awesome and offer wonderful tools among other things.
Heather Dumcum
Karen S said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I too registered for race for the cure however doing snooze instead so I am able to support a cause that is near and dear to my heart, AND SLEEP IN my mom is a 30 yr survivor and all of my sisters and aunts have suffered this I am the only female so far to not have breast cancer and I hope to never endure it. I love what youa re doing!!
Jennifer M said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Big supporter of FYB. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer when I was in third grade. She had lost her husband, my grandfather, 8 years earlier to brain cancer and recalled the agony the family went through following his diagnosis. So the martyr she was, she hid her cancer from all of us until it was too late; too late for treatment, too late for a cure. Today I Relay in honor of them both, and encourage everyone to FYB!! Awareness and support are key.
Crystal Saffel said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:30 pm
What a fabulous way to make donations and bring awareness!! May have to steal that idea for my own blog soon! I am 34 and was told March 4 that I have breast cancer. I’m stage 3A, triple negative and gonna kick this cancer’s ass. http://crystalsaffel.blogspot.com/
Jan Cerda said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:34 pm
I want to thank you for using your site to support F.Y.B. I am a 56 yr old who discovered a lump in 1995, But the 48 hours following my discovery were the longest terrifying hours I have ever had in my life. I had no health insurance, and opted to see if the V.A. (I am a Veteran) would step up to bat for me. They did they did a needle biopsy which proved to be benign. This all was within 48 hours of my discovery. Normally I am a very cool confident person so finding myself helpless made me a basket-case. The only reason I found it was because I was doing my weekly check, the lump grew that fast. So by all means FEEL YOUR BOOBIES! Thank you for this chance to share, I welcome the forum.
I would like to request that you please send your car cling? I found your site through Face Book and am glad to promote you.
2170 E.Northern Ave, Ste. B PMB 24, KINGMAN, AZ 86409
Thank you again, Jan Cerda
Shay Sharpe said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:35 pm
I commend you for your efforts and I say thank you on behalf of young breast cancer survivors everywhere. I was diagnosed with breast cancer @ the age of 26 and I just reached my 5yr milestone. I found my own lump by simply feeling my boobies, so this organization is near and dear to my heart.
Jessica said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:37 pm
This is a FANTASTIC organization! It will help save lives. Spread the word people! FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!
Blair said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Great blog and a great foundation! Keep it up!
atdsarah said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Thank you for supporting FYB – it is a message every woman (young and old) needs to hear! I have friends who are struggling with breast cancer now and am walking in the Atlanta Komen for the Cure walk later this year! It is an awesome organization! Many blessings!
Maggie L said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Thank you for your awesome way of making donations. My mother and aunt are both breast cancer survivors. I have had a lumpectomy and check myself, though before finding FYB not as close as I should have. I always feel my boobies now! I do also get annual mammograms, almost always more than one. What a great way to get the word out!!
Barbara said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I felt a lump shortly after my 34th birthday and I actually saw two doctors. Neither of them were alarmed and told me it’s probably a fatty tissue (since I had lost 100 over the prior two years) that I should not worry about it because I was too young to have cancer so, I ignored it. for the better part of the year I ignored it and got my first suspicion that it was something serious when I went on an archeological dig and was not about to perform like most everyone in my group. When I returned home I decided to get a 3rd opinion. The 3rd opinion pretty much said the same thing as the first two doctors but this time asked to have it removed. A few days after I had the lump removed the doctor called me back in a panic and asked that I return to the hospital. He sat me down and told me. “well, it’s 3rd stage cancer, I left some of the tissue in you so I have to go in right away to remove the rest.” Needless to say I did not have this doctor cut me open again. I went to Cancer Treatments of America who know how to treat people like humans and not a pay check.
Mary Simmons said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Thanks so much for supporting this awesome group! Best of luck with the walk – I find them to be so supportive and touching!
Lisa said,
April 12, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Leigh Hurst founder of FYB’s is my cousin and an inspiration for us all. She is a hero to many many people myself included. 🙂
fittofatandbackcarrie said,
April 12, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I am overwhelmed at the amount of support everyone has shown for this cause. I’ve reached my $100 donation cap, but I’m going to search for sponsors to match my contribution. I’m inspired by all of you!
Leslie Leonetti said,
April 12, 2010 at 8:05 pm
I love this organization and the women who run it. What I love the most is that through this awareness campaign lives have been saved…need we say more?
Beth Torrie said,
April 12, 2010 at 8:09 pm
i love fyb!!!
Jen said,
April 12, 2010 at 8:33 pm
I’ll match, Carrie!
anne said,
April 12, 2010 at 11:47 pm
thanks carrie for not only spreading the fyb message but for the donation.
the founder is my daughter 🙂
charlene tamayo said,
April 13, 2010 at 1:00 am
the women in my family haveeen blessed so far no one has had any cancer problems., but i did have a scare once my mamagram showed something so my DR had me go for a ultrasound and some other test i dont remember the name now but on the day of the test i showed up early and sat in my car listening to mellow music and thinking about my life and children and grandchildren (4 out of 5 are girls) i was so scared but i prayed and GOD heard me and i thank him for his blessing cause i came away with a clean bill of health!! I would love to have a boobie sticker for my car i will be proud to support what it stands for!!
Ama Baltimore said,
April 13, 2010 at 1:32 am
My mother died from breast cancer in 2005. What’s CRAZY is that I’ve had a prescription from my doctor for a mammogram in my car for almost a year now and haven’t gone to have one. This is my wake up call! I’m going to feel my boobies more often AND I’m going to get my mammogram. Thanks Carrie!
Ama
fittofatandbackcarrie said,
April 13, 2010 at 4:04 pm
You need to go get that mammogram lady! See you on Friday. Thanks for sharing your story.
Carrie said,
April 25, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Those of you that requested car clings…I’m mailing them out today. I still have a few left if anyone wants one just email me your mailing address.