"Nearly" Sizes!

So, right after the holidays this year, I went bra shopping. My experience was quite depressing. For the first time, Victoria's Secret let me down. I did not find ONE bra there that fit me correctly (partly because things had been picked over during their post-holidy sale). I branched out into the rest of the mall, and I started counting how many I tried on; I got up to 27 before I found one I was willing to buy. TWENTY-SEVEN! In the process, I came across a size I had never seen before: a "nearly b" (or an "almost b"). This is marked as "NB" or "AB" on the tag. The funny thing is, I believe I was in Sears when I found this (was getting desperate!). I didn't actually end up buying a NB bra, but I was still impressed to find that this size exists. No one told me!

I looked into it, and there are actually several "in-between" sizes out there (Nearly A, nearly B, nearly C). They're harder to find (the internet proves helpful, but I personally hestitate to buy a bra without trying it on). From my experience at the mall, some of the cheaper department store brands carry those off sizes. I have never seen an in-between size at a Victoria's Secret store, and, after checking their website, it seems they don't carry them at all. One thing Vickie's does do is provide a complimentary sizing to customers. It might be helpful, as many women are not wearing the correct bra size.

Playtex pioneered these in-between sizes with their "Thank Goodness it Fits" line. They can be found online at many department stores.

Do not despair! It may take some time to find, but your size is out there somewhere!

Dispelling a Myth

Hey all,

Sorry this post is late; I was out of town this weekend!

I'd like to talk a little about the myth that people with small breasts are less likely to get breast cancer. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE and should never influence whether or not you get a lump checked or whether you do monthly self-exams. In fact, men can and do get breast cancer too.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having small breasts when it comes to breast cancer detection. An advantage is that it is much easier to self-detect; lumps are VERY easy to feel. A disadvantage is that there is not as much tissue to compress for a mammogram (which is uncomfortable). Doctors claim that people with breasts of any size can get mammograms. One thing about small breasts that makes mammograms harder is that less of the breast tissue is fat. It is easier to find abnormalities behind fat than it is behind denser breast tissue. For this reason, self-exams are crucial! Check out this FAQ site called Imaginis... they have a section specifically answering questions about small breasts and mammograms: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/mammography_small_breasts.asp.

My mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor. She had to have chemotherapy, radiation, and ultimately two mastectomies. As her daughter, I am automatically put in a high-risk class for getting cancer myself. I found a lump the summer of 2008 using self-detection(immediately freaked out and thought I was going to die). I went to my doctor, she found what was concering me, told me what she thought it was (a fibraednoma... hard tissue build-up, NOT malignant). I went to the Breast Care Center at UVA hospital and had it removed (just wanted the damn thing out of me). I now have a huge scar on my right breast as a daily reminder of the whole experience, and as a reminder to keep checking myself. I thought the scar was ugly and awful at first, but now I've gotten used to it and see it as unique. It's such a small scar compared to my mother's many.

I would like to stress that women OF ALL AGES should be checking themselves on a montly basis. It's not hard; you can find directions and pamphlets in any doctor's office or online: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp?gclid=CK6Uheur-p8CFRIeDQodcgH8Vw.

Also, if you have a history of breast cancer in your family like I do, be sure to get your gyno or other doctor to perform a thorough exam on you once a year. It's not fun, but it's so worth the peace-of-mind.

Hello there all you "Almost B's!"

Hello, I'm Ryan (FEMALE Ryan! My name always throws people off!) and I'm somewhere between an A and a B-cup depending on the day and the brand of bra I'm wearing. My small "rack" has been the source of some self-image issues for me and has also been a royal pain in the ass when it comes to bra, bathing suit, and clothes shopping. This blog is for all the women out there who have dealt with these issues too.

Because so many people base their self-image on the looks of celebrities and models, I wanted to list some famous, small-breasted women. Kate Hudson is one (see pic). I think most people would agree that she is gorgeous, and that her small breasts do not detract from her beauty in any way. Others are Debra Messing (from "Will and Grace"), Alexis Bledel ("Gilmore Girls" and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"), Kniera Knightly ("Pirates of the Caribbean"), Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's), and Juliette Binoche ("Chocolat"). It's so refreshing that these women haven't felt the need get plastic surgery in spite of the fact that they spend their lives in front of other people. Obviously, not everyone thinks that small boobs are bad or ugly. I've also noticed that a lot of models are small-breasted (perhaps because they have nary an ounce of fat on them, but still).

Hopefully that helps you feel a little more confident in your Almost-B's, or A's, or whatever you happen to have. I will be writing weekly on a new topic centering on small boobs.