# Ohhhhhhhhhhhh CRAP

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 18, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459 "2007-01-18T15:45:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/1 "2007-01-18T15:45:48Z")

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So here’s me not smoking, avoiding excess fats, exercising, staying away from alcohol, planning not to use hormone therapy, and generally trying to keep the girls safe. Now [this](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003529989_breast18.html) . :eek:

I now feel like the guy in the (well, movie) torture chamber watching the axe swinging as it drops ever closer…

_Sob_.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/2 "2007-01-18T16:05:26Z")

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Judging how buoyant I am when submerged in water, I’m guessing I’m “not dense.” 😃

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**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/3 "2007-01-18T18:53:19Z")

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My tissue is very dense. And I have two female relatives who’ve had breast cancer (mother and maternal grandmother). So I get checked annually, and since it IS dense, I always end up having a sonogram as well as a mammogram. Well, that and I have cysts as well.

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**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/4 "2007-01-18T18:59:41Z")

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Apparently I’m at lower risk because I spawned so early (22). Hooray for unplanned pregnancies! :dubious:

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**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/5 "2007-01-18T21:37:38Z")

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Well, since they removed 10 lbs (thaaaaaat’s right. TEN POUNDS) from my breasts when I had my reductions, I hope I’ve… er… removed about the only risk factor I have. Lots (obviously) of breast tissue removed and no more milk ducts for me! (Well, mostly.)

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**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/6 "2007-01-18T22:10:02Z")

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I’m dense, but there has been absolutely _no_ breast cancer in my family except for one distant cousin (my father’s first cousin). So I refuse to get worked up about something else I can do nothing about.

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**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/7 "2007-01-18T23:07:07Z")

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I’m also dense. Apparently, having “innie” nipples is another risk factor. At least it is according to the last 5 doctors I’ve seen.

I’ve also had lumps in my boobs since I was 12.

But, there is no history of breast cancer at all (paternal or maternal sides). Then again, everyone else in my family has tiny, non-dense boobs with normal nipples. If anyone in my family will ever get cancer, it will probably be me (assuming the scientists are right)

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**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/8 "2007-01-20T02:45:01Z")

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[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster]  
So here’s me not smoking, avoiding excess fats, exercising, staying away from alcohol, planning not to use hormone therapy, and generally trying to keep the girls safe. Now [this](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003529989_breast18.html) . :eek:

I now feel like the guy in the (well, movie) torture chamber watching the axe swinging as it drops ever closer…

_Sob_.  
[/QUOTE]

I’d take up drinking, smoking and eating cream cakes if I were you. 😃 Yep, it’s worrisome.

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**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/9 "2007-01-20T02:53:45Z")

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Huh, I just had a biopsy done for a suspicious mammogram and the gazillion gross little plugs of flesh were pretty much solid fibrous tissue. They said I have almost no fat. I thought that was a good thing (less to sag) but now it sounds worriesome. Bleh. (BTW, the biopsy was was totally fine (results-wise, the procedure totally sucked), I just have to follow it up next month.)

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**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/10 "2007-01-20T03:34:35Z")

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Good heavens, **niblet** , I had a reduction eight years ago, and only lost a couple of pounds. You must have been huuuuge.

That being said, what’s left, which is a nice B cup, is pretty dense. I must have gotten it from **Maternal Feline** (she’s my mom). But I too refuse to worry about it.

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/11 "2007-01-20T05:56:32Z")

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You are what you are. What happens, happens.

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**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/12 "2007-01-20T08:33:21Z")

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[QUOTE=GuanoLad]  
You are what you are. What happens, happens.  
[/QUOTE]

I’ve had the opportunity to watch people die of cancer. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not. My mom, after all, did.

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**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/13 "2007-01-20T08:54:49Z")

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[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster]  
I’ve had the opportunity to watch people die of cancer. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not. My mom, after all, did.  
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but I bet not smoking, avoiding excess fats, exercising, staying away from alcohol, planning not to use hormone therapy, and generally trying to keep the girls safe more than makes up for the risk factors. And being dense means that anything that does develop is more likely to be caught early.

I’m a man, so I have no business replying to this thread, but I hate to see people I like getting upset over something unnecessarily. And I’ve found you to be an enjoyable poster with a cool user name, so I like you.

You’ve taken care of everything you can take care of. Some things are beyond your control, but that’s true of everyone. So don’t worry about what _might_ happen, just because there is one factor (of many) you can’t do anything about. Just enjoy the great life that you have, and be proud of the fact that you take good care of yourself.

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/14 "2007-01-20T11:48:00Z")

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[QUOTE=Alan Smithee]  
I’m a man, so I have no business replying to this thread,  
[/QUOTE]

[Men can get breast cancer too](http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Breast/General/Breastcancerinmen), you know.

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**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/15 "2007-01-20T12:57:58Z")

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Very true. Nevertheless, I can’t claim that the thought of it has the same emotional impact on me that it likely has for **Quiddity** , and I thought it right to acknowledge as much. But thanks for pointing out the facts. I’m sure it’s extremely devastating and embarrassing for the men who contract it.

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**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/16 "2007-01-20T15:19:49Z")

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[QUOTE=whiterabbit]  
Good heavens, **niblet** , I had a reduction eight years ago, and only lost a couple of pounds. You must have been huuuuge.

That being said, what’s left, which is a nice B cup, is pretty dense. I must have gotten it from **Maternal Feline** (she’s my mom). But I too refuse to worry about it.  
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I went from a 38DDD to a 38D the first time. Then redid it a year later, and am now a C.

My surgeon thought it was remarkable enough that at my first post-op appointment, he showed me the paperwork and said, “Look! We took off almost another THREE POUNDS!!”

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**Author:** ![illoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@illoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/illoe)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/17 "2007-01-20T18:39:19Z")

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[QUOTE=Alan Smithee]  
And being dense means that anything that does develop is more likely to be caught early.  
[/QUOTE]

The link in the OP actually says that tumors (which are dense) are _more_ difficult to see in mammograms of dense breast tissue. So it’s a double whammy: dense breasts are both more likely to develop tumors and more difficult to diagnose as tumorous.

But perhaps you meant that **Quiddity Glomfuster** is likely to catch anything that does occur early, now that she knows she is in a high-risk population. Early detection can, indeed, make all the difference, as she and I both know too well.

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**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/18 "2007-01-20T19:56:43Z")

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[QUOTE=Alan Smithee]  
Yeah, but I bet not smoking, avoiding excess fats, exercising, staying away from alcohol, planning not to use hormone therapy, and generally trying to keep the girls safe more than makes up for the risk factors.  
[/quote]

Must. Increase. Fruit. Intake. Other than that I’m hoping I’m doing enough things to mitigate.

> [@](#):
>
> I’m a man, so I have no business replying to this thread, but I hate to see people I like getting upset over something unnecessarily. And I’ve found you to be an enjoyable poster with a cool user name, so I like you.

(_Shucks_) Thanks kindly!

> [@](#):
>
> You’ve taken care of everything you can take care of. Some things are beyond your control, but that’s true of everyone. So don’t worry about what _might_ happen, just because there is one factor (of many) you can’t do anything about. Just enjoy the great life that you have, and be proud of the fact that you take good care of yourself.

Thanks for that. One of my general philosophies of life is ‘Don’t worry about something until there’s something to worry about’. Just got to operationalize that in this instance.

[QUOTE=illoe]  
Quiddity Glomfuster is likely to catch anything that does occur early, now that she knows she is in a high-risk population.  
[/quote]

Exactly. I had a breast ultrasound when I lived in Cowgary. I believe I’ll look for a doctor here who thinks that they’re a good idea for the likes of me.

Now if I could just figure out whether soy is helpful or harmful, I’d be more comforted. The theory now is either that the phytoestrogens can foster the growth of estrogen-dependent cancers or that they inhibit it. It’s still being studied. I hope they figure it out soon!

_(It will all be for nothing when The Big One hits the left coast and I end up in the sea anyhoo, I guess 😃 )._

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/19 "2007-01-20T23:25:57Z")

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[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster]  
I’ve had the opportunity to watch people die of cancer. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not. My mom, after all, did.  
[/QUOTE]

If you think not doing (or being) whatever medical science says is bad for you this week is going to make a damn bit of difference, you’re crazy. If you get cancer, it will be inevitable and unavoidable. It’s not necessarily predetermined, but it’s pretty much a crapshoot no matter what.

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**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhhhhhhhhhh-crap/388459/20 "2007-01-20T23:32:34Z")

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**Quiddity** is a woman??

StG

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