For many moms, the reminders to do self breast exams go in one ear and out the other. Breast cancer survivor Leigh Hurst decided there must be a better way to encourage women to take the time.
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For many moms, the reminders to do self breast exams go in one ear and out the other. We're busy. We forget. We don't really know if we're doing it right.

Breast cancer survivor Leigh Hurst decided there must be a better way to encourage women to take the time. She says detecting breast cancer is really about getting to know your breasts and what is normal for your body so that if there is a change, you can notify your doctor.

"I was diagnosed at age 33 with breast cancer after finding my own lump just by simply "feeling my boobies." I had noticed the lump for two years prior to my diagnosis, but the doctors didn't feel the lump during my annual exams until I brought it to their attention," says Hurst, who eventually learned she had Stage I cancer four years ago.

During chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she started thinking about how she could remind her close circle of friends to be more mindful of their breasts. She started making funny t-shirts to encourage them to "feel their boobies," which eventually inspired other friends to create a cute logo for her slogan, "Feel Your Boobies," plus a website to sell the shirts.

Shortly after, a fortuitous plug by Katie Couric on the Today Show turned Hurst's project into a full-time job and has evolved into the national Feel Your Boobies campaign. October 10-17th marks the 2nd annual Feel Your Boobies Week. My weekly ezine, The Well Mom, interviewed Hurst about her mission, her passion and how you can get involved.

TWM: Moms have very little time for themselves. How long does it really take to "Feel Your Boobies?"

LH: "Feeling Your Boobies" is as simple as taking a few extra minutes in the shower when you're soaping up or when putting on your bra when getting dressed. The more familiar you are with your breasts the easier it is to recognize a change. The key is not to think of it like an additional thing you need to do - you really are already doing it.

TWM: Why is making the time to get to know your breasts so important for women under 40?

LH: Women under 40 generally do not get mammograms so for women between the ages of 20 and 40, getting to know your breasts by "feeling your boobies" is even more important because formal screening hasn't begun. In addition, as in my case, sometimes doctors are unable to feel a lump and since you know your body better than anyone it's important to not rely on your annual exam to find a lump. In order for the doctors to feel my lump, I had to call it to their attention. If I hadn't been in touch with what was normal for me, the lump would have gone undetected even longer.

TWM: Why did you launch this campaign? How has it changed your life?

LH: Upon being diagnosed I realized that I wasn't doing a traditional self-breast exam, I was just in touch with my own body through the course of my daily routine of showering and getting dressed. I also realized that the breast cancer messages that were out there really were not reaching my friends and I - we never talked or thought about breast cancer at all.

My life is completely different than it was prior to my diagnosis and every day I feel like breast cancer has given me the gift of clarity and purpose in my life. There is nothing better than getting an email from someone who's been touched by the Feel Your Boobies campaign and whose early breast diagnosis is a result of our efforts.

TWM: How can women get involved?

LH: There are many ways you can get involved with our "Are You Doing It?"® Reminder Campaign to help us spread our message. All of the information is posted on our website at www.feelyourboobies.com.

• Talk about Boobies: Tell your friends about us and remind them to "feel their boobies"

• Donate to Boobies: Donations help fund our "Are You Doing It?" ® campaign. This year our campaign included a Boobies @ the Beach promotion and the Boobies Bus®.

• Buy Boobies Stuff: Our message spreading gear is not only a great reminder to you and those who see it, but it also helps fund our campaign - oh, and it's pretty darn hip too!

• Join our Online Communities: Sign up to receive our e-newsletter from the home page of our website, and join our MySpace and Facebook pages too!

• Download Boobies Icons: Share Boobies with your friends by downloading our free badges, wallpapers, icons & avatars for your computer.

TWM: Do you have advice for moms battling breast cancer while trying to juggle family responsibilities? Advice for those around them?

LH: The advice I have for anyone going through breast cancer is to be open about what you need. Allow yourself to lean on those who want to help and don't be afraid to feel sad and down sometimes. I think women are often the caretakers in relationships so this can be hard for us, but in order to be able to take care of those around you it's important to take care of yourself first, especially when dealing with something as physically and emotionally draining as a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Many women, like myself, find it helpful to find a counselor or therapist you can talk to while going through it so you have an objective ear to share your thoughts with throughout the process and even afterwards if need be. Getting back to your "normal" life after breast cancer can be just as hard as treatment and having a support system in place to help you through it is very important.

For more stories and tips on motherhood and the pursuit of wellness, please sign up for The Well Mom weekly email and tell your friends. This month, TWM will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for every new person who registers. Thanks for your support!

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