It's almost time to Feel Your Boobies!

The only time it’s appropriate to talk about your boobs at work is during the month of October. I am about to broach a sensitive (pun totally intended) subject and know that it’s perfectly okay for my work environment.

Most of the time, feeling yourself up is not something that the average Jill encourages you to do, however, for the week of October 9th through the 16th, thanks to breast cancer awareness month, I am encouraging all of my fellow Health Activists to do just that Feel Your Boobies!

Some breast cancer facts for you from the American Cancer Society:
• 186,467 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2005
• An estimated 192,370 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2009
• 1,764 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009
• Among those women, 41,116 and among the men, 375 died from breast cancer
• After melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women
• In 2009, about 62,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed
• 40,000 women are estimated to die this year alone from breast cancer
• There are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the US right now

Clearly, breast cancer, no matter how many times I remind you to Feel Your Boobies is no laughing matter, though, and I ask you each of you to spread the word about breast cancer awareness this month (and every month, really). Tell your fellow community members – men and women alike – to feel their boobies!

Don’t know how to feel your boobies? Use the pads of your fingers, press firmly and remember to check your collarbone and armpit area

Don’t know what to look for? Lumps, thickening, puckering, inflammation or discharge from your nipple.

Don’t know when to feel your boobies? How about in the shower, while getting dressed, or while sitting on your couch while watching Survivor. I would not, however, recommend feeling your boobies while you’re on the train to work – even during October that might lead to an awkward situation.

For those health bloggers who want to join in with me, submit your rack to Boobiethon by the end of the week to help raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness.

Want a chance to win an Amazon gift certificate? Check out my friend Heather’s blog – Singing With My Heart and see how she’s helping spread the word about breast cancer with her Comments for a Cause entry.

Feel like joining a lively discussion about boobs? Visit A Southern Fairytale to see her boobtastic blog and join her in Blogging for Boobs!

Need a giggle? Watch the Touch a Tit, Save a Tit video and let me know what you think! Does making breast cancer “funny” add or detract to the true seriousness of the disease?

Well? Are you doing it? Have you felt your boobies today? Will you join me in reminding the loved one in our lives to feel their boobies next week?