Breast cancer charities: Where to give — and where to avoid

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and with the recent announcement that Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been diagnosed with the disease, the issue is once again on the hearts and minds of many.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One way to help fight this devastating disease is to contribute to charities that focus on the research, prevention and treatment of breast cancer. But with the large number of organizations with similar names devoted to the cause, how do you know which ones are the best? The first thing you should do when considering donating is to check with charity watchdog groups that evaluate how well each organization spends the money it receives from contributors.

Two of the biggest charity watchdogs are Charity Watch and Charity Navigator. Both groups evaluate thousands of charities and non-profit organizations by looking at financial statements, tax reports, program expenses and fundraising costs. When giving to a charity it is important to consider three things, according to Charity Navigator CEO Michael Thatcher: Be clear on your motivation for giving and focus on where you want to make an impact, check the financial health and accountability of the organization, and check for signs of results. In terms of breast cancer, consider whether you want your money to go for research and finding a cure, support services for cancer patients, helping support families or education and public awareness, Thatcher said.

Charity Watch: Top breast cancer charities The American Institute of Philanthropy's Charity Watch cites 12 organizations as the top-rated cancer charities and of those there are three on the list that focus specifically on breast cancer prevention and research:

Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Mission: To prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world's most promising research. Rating: A+ Program percentage (percentage of its cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead): 90% Cost to raise $100 (How many dollars a charity spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions): $7

National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund Mission: To end breast cancer; has set a deadline to know how to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. Rating: A Program percentage: 83% Cost to raise $100: $13

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (formerly Breast Cancer Fund) Mission: Working to prevent breast cancer by eliminating exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease. Rating: A- Program percentage: 77% Cost to raise $100: $13

Charity Watch also gives top ratings to these broader cancer organizations on the list that are also involved in breast cancer research, treatment and education: Cancer Research Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Prevent Cancer Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Stand Up To Cancer.

Charity Navigator: Top breast cancer charities

Charity Navigator uses a star rating system when evaluating how efficiently a charity uses your donations. Of the three charities highly recommended by Charity Watch, the Breast Cancer Foundation received Charity Navigator's highest rating of four stars. The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund and the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners both received three stars. Other national charities devoted to breast cancer research and medical services that received four stars from Charity Navigator:

National Breast Cancer Foundation Mission: To help women now by providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services. Score (out of 100): 96.0 Program expenses (Percent of charity's total expenses spent on programs, services): 82.9%

Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Mission: To achieve a future without breast cancer and improve the lives of people impacted by it now through education and advocacy. Score: 92.0 Program expenses: 81.9%

Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation Mission: Funding life-changing breakthroughs in breast cancer. Score (out of 100): 90.9 Program expenses: 92.1%

Charity Navigator also gave four stars to these charities that provide breast cancer support services and education: Bay Area Cancer Connections, It's the Journey, Casting for Recovery, Sharsheret, BreastCancer.org, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer and American Italian Cancer Foundation.

Susan G. Komen

One of the largest and most well-known charities devoted to the cause is the Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization. The charity was founded in 1982 and was one of the first to devote itself to the cause of breast cancer research and has raised millions. The organization’s reputation was damaged slightly after a decision in 2012 to cut its grants that funded breast cancer screening and outreach programs at Planned Parenthood erupted into controversy. The group quickly reversed its decision. 

The organization also has received criticism for what some deemed excessive executive compensation and for "pinkwashing," cause marketing with pink ribbons that allow companies to exploit the disease for profit. The charity received mixed scores from the watchdogs.

Charity Navigator gives Susan G. Komen for the Cure a 3-star rating (out of four) and lists the percent of its expenses spent on programs and services at 81.6%.

Charity Watch gives the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation a C+ rating with program percentage of 62%-77% and the cost to raise $100 of $12-$27.

Don't give: Low-rated charities Charity Navigator also cites these organizations as being low-rated and states: “We caution you to look carefully before supporting one of these charities." A high concern advisory was issued for the defunct charities Breast Cancer Society and the Cancer Fund of America. The Federal Trade Commission ordered the organizations to be dissolved after alleging they were scam charities and bilked donors. Other organizations rate lower because they scored lower on financial support and are spending more on fundraising than devoting funds to the issues, Thatcher said. "The money is going to spending money to make money."

These organizations received zero or one star:
National Cancer Center
Walker Cancer Research Institute
American Breast Cancer Foundation

These organizations received two stars:
United Breast Cancer Foundation, The Avon Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Women Manage Lymphedema After Bouts With Breast Cancer

A vine of pink begonia blooms climb up Kate Collins' left arm in what looks like a full sleeve of tattoos. People around town regularly stop her and ask about them only to realize, with a closer look, that there is a seam creeping up her arm. The flowers are not tattoos; they're a printed pattern on a compression sleeve, a band of medical grade material that she wears every day to ward off the swelling from lymphedema, a condition related to the breast cancer diagnosis she received a dozen years ago. Lymphedema can occur after a patient has her under-arm lymph nodes removed to determine whether her cancer has spread. Besides causing swelling, the condition can be painful and increase the risk of skin infections.

Sleeves, like the one Collins wears to keep her lymphedema at bay, feel like tightly wrapped ace bandages. "It's uncomfortable, it's hot and I hate wearing it," says Collins, 64, who had both her breasts and the lymph nodes on her left side removed. "But I figure if you've got to wear it — you might as well make a fashion statement." Collins keeps a basket of sleeves in the living room in her home in Northampton. The one with a bluish gray snake that wraps around her arm she wears while gardening. Another sports a smiling sun. All of them keep her lymphatic fluid — waste that is normally filtered out of the body by the lymph nodes — from pooling in her arm. She's had to give up wearing some of her rings or bangle bracelets because of swelling in her fingers and wrists. Summer used to be her favorite season, but because the sleeve makes her feel hot, she now stays inside in the air conditioning or goes out only in the cool morning air.

"It is a chronic disease," she says of lymphedema. "As if you don't remember that you had breast cancer ... here is a reminder." Once a woman has had lymph nodes under her arm removed, she is at permanent risk of developing lymphedema. And, when she gets it, there is no way to get rid of it. The two ways to ease the symptoms are the compression bands and light massage. It's a breast cancer side effect that hasn't gotten enough attention, says Collins. "Nobody told me that I was going to get lymphedema, nobody warned me," she says. "Wouldn't you think that my surgeon or my oncologist would say, 'by the way, you lost all your lymph nodes, you are at risk of lymphedema." But no one did. When her lymph nodes were removed a dozen years ago, a medical assistant in the New York hospital where she was being treated left her with a few cryptic words, "Sometimes ladies' arms swell." The lymphatic system looks much like a root system directly under the skin that runs throughout the body.

At certain junctions, pea-sized pockets, the lymph nodes, are working to pump and filter the body's fluid waste. People generally have between 500 and 700 lymph nodes throughout the body with 15 to 30 under each arm. The waste they carry is mostly blood cells, but there can also be bacteria or even fat mixed in. Doctors typically remove the lymph nodes to check for the spread of cancer cells. "It's kind of our garbage picker-upper system," says Lisa McCutcheon, an occupational therapist, who works with breast cancer survivors at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. She teaches cancer survivors how to perform manual lymph drainage on their own bodies. It's a technique that is like an extremely light massage. "A manual lymphedema coach almost serves as a traffic cop," she says. "So, if there is swelling, I am going to teach them how to reroute it down a pathway that is a healthier pathway. It's almost like a highway system — if it gets backed up — nothing can move." People might have a feeling of fullness or achiness before they see any swelling. If they intervene quickly enough, there is hope they can prevent significant swelling, she says. "It's good to know what isn't normal, so you can catch any issues," she says.

"We are trying to give a lot of education around prevention and awareness, so if there is an issue people can act on it quickly." At the time of her cancer diagnosis, Collins was living in Long Island, New York working as a school district administrator, and the trauma of having both her breasts removed foremost on her mind. Those few words from the medical assistant about possible swelling didn't seem significant. "Did I process that? Of course I didn't. I was getting ready to get cut open and maybe die," she says. Doctors today are more conscious of making patients aware of the risk of lymphedema, says Michelle Helms, a general surgeon at Cooley Dickinson who treats women with breast cancer. Over the last 15 years there also has been a national movement to reduce the number of lymph nodes that are removed. Surgeons in the past might have stripped the armpits of them, leaving patients at high risk of developing lymphedema, but today surgeons are more careful to take only those that must go says Dr. Holly Michaelson, chief of surgery at Cooley Dickinson.

"Significant lymphedema is life altering and I think surgeons have done everything we can to make sure that fewer people get lymphedema," she says. These days, most breast cancer patients have just one or two lymph nodes removed. As a result, the condition is less common. Women who have fewer than four lymph nodes removed have a less than 4 percent chance of developing lymphedema. Women with more advanced breast cancer and have all of the lymph nodes removed, face a risk of up to 20 percent, Helms says. With the accompanying pain and swelling, this can significantly diminish a patient's quality of life. "You are kind of dragging a big old water balloon in the arm," she says. "This can be really tough." The stretched skin also becomes weak and can result in ulcers, which can easily lead to infections. By intervening quickly and being educated about the condition, women can lower their chances of developing severe infections, says McCutcheon. Melissa Ross of Florence caught her lymphedema early. A little more than a year after her surgery to remove both of her breasts, she noticed some slight swelling.

Her doctors at Cooley Dickinson had warned her about lymphedema, so she was looking for it. "I knew what it was right away," she says. She started learning about manual lymph drainage. "I sort of jumped on it. I didn't wait till it was really bad." Sometimes over a multi-week period she goes to see McCutcheon twice a week, but lately she's found ways to manage her symptoms at home. A dip in her backyard pool, she's found, eases the swelling. "Being submerged in water puts pressure on your lymphatic system, so it pushes the fluids out," she says. Other days, she jumps on a mini trampoline in her bedroom. The force of gravity can also works wonders, she says. ?????? Lymphedema never caused her significant pain; she still works part-time as a hairdresser, and rarely does she wear her compression sleeve. Sometimes her skin around her right elbow gets taut, but she knows how to manage it and she credits her mild condition with catching it early. Now retired, Collins wishes that someone had told her to seek treatment sooner. In the three years between her breast surgery and her lymphedema diagnosis, any small cut or scrap could leave her with a severe infection, and she had no idea why. "It is important to keep the skin healthy because the skin is a barrier," says McCutcheon. "If the lymphatic system is already slowed down — you can have an infection pretty seriously." This is what happen to Collins.

One night she woke up in a pool of sweat to find that her left arm had tripled in size and turned a dark shade of red. She rushed to the emergency room in pain and with a fever. Doctors diagnosed an infection that stemmed from a bug bite, but didn't mention lymphedema. The swelling still hadn't gone done six months later when she went to Cooley Dickinson for physical therapy for some herniated discs in her back. Her therapist, who was also certified lymphedema therapist, made the diagnosis. Since then Collins has learned to manage her lymphedema. She bought the collection of compression sleeves and the therapist taught her how to gently massage her arm to ease the swelling. "I don't have to go to work because I'm retired, so I manage my lymph fluid in the morning," she says. "Or I do it when I am putting lotion on my arm."

10 things breast cancer doctors wish you knew

1. I have breast cancer. Am I going to die? According to several doctors participating in Pink Power TODAY, this is a common question women ask immediately after being diagnosed. "Breast cancer is not a death sentence," Dr. Deepa Halaharvi, a board-certified general surgeon specializing in breast surgery, told TODAY via email. "Most people do really well and 5-year survival for all stages of breast cancer is 91 percent. We really need to be catching this at an early stage."

2. I don't have a family history of breast cancer. Why did I get it? "Most commonly, breast cancer is sporadic and most people (85 percent to 90 percent of breast cancer patients) don’t have a family history of breast cancer," said Halaharvi. "It’s a common misconception that it’s inherited through a family history. So regular screenings are very important, regardless of what your family history may be. At OhioHealth, we recommend average-risk women begin screening mammograms at age 40." According to the American Cancer Society, women ages 40 to 44 should start having annual mammograms if they want. Women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year, and women 55 and older should switch to every two years, or can continue yearly screenings.

3. What are the most important risk factors for breast cancer? "A previous history of breast cancer, a significant family history of the disease (particularly when a genetic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are present), and specific conditions such as atypical hyperplasia and LCIS that are only detected when breast tissue is biopsied and examined microscopically," explained Dr. Freya Schnabel, the director of breast surgery at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone. Schnabel noted that these risk factors have different magnitudes, and you should try to discuss with your doctor what makes a family history significant (close relatives, diagnosed at young ages, multiple generations).

4. I am a BRCA carrier. What do I need to know? "BRCA carriers are the highest risk group for breast cancer," stated Schnabel. "BRCA1 carriers are at risk for breast and ovarian cancer — their lifetime risk for breast cancer may be as high as 50 to 85 percent. BRCA2 carriers have a 40- to 60-percent lifetime risk for breast cancer, and are at an increased risk for ovarian cancer, and are also at increased risk for pancreatic cancer." According to Schnabel, BRCA carriers have three options to manage their breast cancer risk: intensive surveillance (to maximize the opportunity for early detection of disease should it occur) chemo-prevention (the use of drugs like tamoxifen to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer) risk-reducing surgery (bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction to lower the risk of breast cancer to as low as we can make it)

5. What can you tell me about the alcohol and breast cancer link? While countless studies support that wine is good for your heart health, you have to weigh these benefits against its link to cancer. "There is good evidence that alcohol increases the risk for breast cancer," Schnabel explained. "Specifically, women who drink at the rate of seven drinks per week have about a 20-percent increase in their risk for breast cancer."

6. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 45, when should I start getting mammograms? "If you have a family history of breast cancer, you should start screening mammograms 10 years prior to your family member getting diagnosed," Halaharvi explained. "So in this case, you’d start at age 35. Again, make sure to talk with your physician and discuss your family history."

7. How quickly do I need to start treatment for my breast cancer? When you're first diagnosed, it may feel like there is pressure on you to decide on a treatment plan right away. But Dr. Lisa Newman, a breast cancer surgery specialist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, advises clients to take a beat to process everything and make the right decision for you. "You should not feel that you are 'racing the clock' — the cancer is not spreading or becoming more advanced in your breast or your body by the day," Newman said. "You have the time to make sure that you are properly informed about your cancer diagnosis and treatment options before jumping into something irreversible."

8. Should I get a second opinion? For many women, taking the time to weigh their options means getting more than one medical opinion, or looking into clinical trials or research studies, Newman said. "There is no magic deadline," she stressed. "But a general rule of thumb is that we don’t like to see patients delaying the start of their treatment more than four to six weeks after the diagnosis has been made. The stage and type of breast cancer can influence how quickly the treatment should be initiated."

9. There are so many conflicting reports about breast self-exams, should I be doing them? The American Cancer Society no longer recommends frequent breast self-exams because research has found they don't provide a clear benefit or save women's lives. However, it does stress that women should have self-breast awareness — "be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a health care provider right away." "Women should be aware of changes to their breasts such as a palpable mass, skin changes, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, nipple inversion and mass underneath the arms such as enlarged lymph nodes," Halaharvi stressed. "You don’t necessarily need to have a mass to have breast cancer such as inflammatory breast cancer (redness, an orange peel appearance) are seen."

10. How and when should I tell my children? This is one of those answers that is tricky, depending on the ages of your children, but Newman offered this advice: "In general it is best to be as honest with them as possible, because they are likely to sense and/or see that something major is happening, and it is important to provide them with reassurance that you are taking care of yourself," she said. "Very young children may need to also be reassured that cancer is not contagious like the flu, and older children may actually feel empowered if they are allowed to help out and provide support during your treatment. All children need to understand that the cancer diagnosis was not anyone’s fault."

Healthy Baking Substitutions Nutrition Pros Swear By

It’s officially fall, and that means the baking season has begun. To me, there’s nothing better on a brisk day than fresh-from-the-oven apple cakes, cranberry spice muffins or pumpkin scones with a hot cup of tea. I love baked goods, but can’t afford all of their calories, sugar and fat, so I make smart substitutions to lighten them up. Here are five healthy baking substitutions to try:

Fruit Purees Instead for Butter or Oil

You can create deliciously rich and moist baked goods while cutting calories and saturated fat by using a fruit puree instead of butter or oil in many recipes. Fruit purees provide fiber, antioxidants and other essential nutrients. Banana or prune purees have 15 and 45 calories, respectively, per tablespoon and are fat-free and potassium-rich. In comparison, a tablespoon of oil packs in 120 calories and 13.5 grams of fat.

How to use: Replace every 1cup of oil with ¾ cup fruit puree. Best for: Prune puree works perfectly to make rich brownies and chocolate cakes. Pureed bananas are a great option for coffee cakes, quick breads, spice cakes and most cookies. If you’re looking to make a guilt-free brownie, try this recipe. 

Vanilla Extract for Sugar According to national data, Americans consume about 20 teaspoons (equal to 320 calories!) every day. A cup of sugar has about 775 calories, so it’s a good idea to cut down on the sweet stuff. While most baked goods require some sugar, you can cut back the amount you use by replacing some of the sugar with vanilla extract.

How to use: Replace ¼ cup sugar with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. You can replace up to a quarter of the sugar your recipe calls for with vanilla. Best for: Scones, muffins, and chocolate dessert recipes. Stevia Blends for Sugar Another easy way to slash calories and added sugar is to use the natural sweetener stevia in lieu of some of the sugar in your recipes. Stevia is made from the extract of leaves of the stevia plant, which is native to South America. Baked goods do require some real sugar to get the right taste and texture, so you need to use a combination of stevia with sugar. An easy way to do this is with Truvia Cane Sugar Blend, which combines Truvia Natural Sweetener with regular sugar. It has 75 percent fewer calories per serving than table sugar.

How to use: Use ½ cup of Truvia Cane Sugar Blend for every 1 cup of table sugar in your recipe. Best for: Any type of baking including pie, cookies, cake and quick breads.

Cocoa Nibs for Chocolate Chips

Whether you’re baking chocolate chip cookies or a fiber-rich breakfast cookie, you can lighten your recipe by swapping cocoa (or cacao) nibs for chocolate chips. A cup of regular semi-sweet chocolate chips packs in about 850 calories and 25 teaspoons of sugar. A cup of cacao nibs, on the other hand, have about 700 calories and no sugar. Minimally processed cacao nibs are referred to as nature’s chocolate and they provide antioxidants, fiber, magnesium and iron.

How to use: Cocoa nibs can be used as a 1:1 replacement for all of the chocolate chips in any baked good. Best for: Cookies, cakes, quick breads, or muffins. Try this delicious Dark Chocolate Banana Bread.

Oat Bran for White Flour Making bread or muffins? Boost the nutrition, taste and texture of your baked goods by swapping out some regular flour for oat bran. Oat bran is rich in fiber (nearly 4 grams per quarter-cup) and protein (four grams per quarter-cup). The protein and fiber will help you feel more satisfied and can lower harmful total and LDL cholesterol levels.

How to use: Oat bran can replace up to a quarter of the all-purpose flour. For example, if a recipe has 3 cups all-purpose flour, use ¾ cup oat bran and 2¼ cups all-purpose flour. Best for: Muffins, carrot cake, scones and bread.

7 Seemingly Unhealthy Behaviors That Are Actually Good for You

1. Having a glass (or two) of wine with dinner
When it comes to losing weight, you've likely heard that it's best to avoid the liquid calories found in alcohol. But a recent review of studies on the impact of alcohol on weight gain published in Current Obesity Reports found that frequent light to moderate alcohol intake — meaning at most two drinks a day for men and one for women — does not seem to be associated with obesity risk. However, binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks on an occasion) and heavy drinking (more than four drinks in a day for men, or more than three for women) were linked to an increased risk of obesity and a growing waistline. So go ahead and enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner — just don't overdo it. Drinking too much may lower your inhibition and cause you to polish off that pint of chocolate chip cookie dough.

2. Indulging in your favorite comfort foods
Whether you're trying to lose weight or not, you already know you shouldn't indulge in mac and cheese and bacon double cheeseburgers every day. However, "it's ok to enjoy comfort foods from time to time," says Rachel Beller, RDN, a nutritionist based in Los Angeles. In fact, if you deprive yourself of the foods you love, your efforts could backfire and lead to binge-eating down the road. The key to indulging your cravings, says Beller, is selecting comfort foods that yield a return on your health — think mashed potatoes made with clean ingredients or pizza made with whole grain crust. In other words, don't reach for a bag of Cheetos, which offers no nutritional value. "That would be counterproductive no matter what," notes Beller. If you do indulge in a meal that's not nutritionally stellar (hello, margaritas and nachos!), don't beat yourself up and slide into a junk food-filled abyss. Just pick up where you left off and make the next meal a healthy one.

3. Taking a break from your exercise routine
When you're trying to reach a health goal, it can be all too easy to fall into a must-work-out-every-day mindset. But the truth is, it's not a good idea to hit the gym on a daily basis. Many people don't realize that recovery is just as important as exercise, says certified personal trainer Kelvin Gary, owner of Body Space Fitness in New York City. "When you work out, your body breaks down muscle tissue," he explains. "You then need to allow your body time to recover so it can re-build the muscle tissue and make it even stronger." Not allowing your body time to recover can lead to problems such as decreased performance, fatigue and injuries. The amount of recovery time your body needs varies (depending on your age and fitness goals), but Gary recommends, at the very least, one day of rest each week. "That means not exercising at all or doing something restorative like yoga or easy stretching," he says.

4. Nibbling on chocolate
It's ok to indulge your sweet tooth once in awhile. "Chocolate's main ingredient cacao contains a wealth of polyphenols — a powerful anti-inflammatory agent," says Beller. "In fact, it has twice the amount found in red wine, three times that of green tea, and four times more than black tea." According to Beller, cacao has a host of health benefits including lowering blood pressure, reducing bad cholesterol, staving off diabetes (by reducing insulin resistance), and sharpening your mental function by promoting neuronal growth and blood flow to the brain. To enjoy chocolate the healthy way, try nibbling on a few squares of 70% or higher dark chocolate paired with strawberries or melted onto bananas, mix 2 tablespoons unsweetened pure cocoa powder into your coffee or a cup of warm milk or sprinkle cacao nibs on oatmeal or a smoothie bowl, suggests Beller.

5. Stressing out
Believe it or not, stress isn't always a bad thing. "Stress itself is not the enemy," says Leslie Connor, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist based in Wilmington, DE. "It can be an important signal or ally to us, as long as we know how to cope with it." In fact, moderate stress levels can improve performance, a phenomenon you may have experienced while working under a tight deadline. "Too little stress equals low performance — basically we aren't getting activated enough to put forward our best," says Connor. "But too much stress can also lead to low performance because it may cause you to freeze up. What leads to maximum performance then is moderate stress." In other words, you want to feel worked up enough to perform well, but not so crazed that you freeze up or panic.

6. Procrastinating (er, pondering)
"Never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time," Charles Dickens once said. It's a wise sentiment that's often easier said than done. Indeed, 20 percent of people are chronic procrastinators, says Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., professor of psychology at DePaul University and author of the book Still Procrastinating: The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done. But while everybody procrastinates, not everyone is a procrastinator, he notes. What does that mean? First, it's important to understand the definition of procrastinating. "Procrastination means actively putting something off," says Ferrari. "That's different from pausing or pondering, in which you're actively collecting information so you can move forward." So it's ok to not do a task immediately, as long as you're actually taking actions to prepare for it. The bottom line? Strive toward pondering, not procrastination.

7. Netflix and chilling
It turns out cozying up on the couch with your partner can actually improve your relationship. A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that sharing media — like TV shows, books and movies — with your partner can help you feel closer, especially if you're not part of the same social world. Previous research has shown that couples tend to feel more satisfied and committed to their relationship when both partners are part of the same social circle. So, if you're not hanging with the same friends on the regular, sharing "media experiences" can have a similar effect, says researchers. Our advice? Grab the remote and start snuggling.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has breast cancer

Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced she has breast cancer in a post on her official Twitter account. "1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I'm the one," Louis-Dreyfus wrote. The 56-year-old actress went on to say "The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union." "The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let's fight all cancers and make universal healthcare a reality," she concluded.

The news comes on the heels of what has been a triumphant year for Louis-Dreyfus. She broke the record for the most Emmys won by a performer for a single role earlier this month, after snagging her sixth consecutive win for lead actress in a comedy for her work on HBO's "Veep." It was her seventh statue in that category overall as she had previously won in 2006 for "The New Adventures of Old Christine." HBO told CNN that Louis-Dreyfus received her diagnosis the day after her historic Emmy win.

Her health did not factor into the decision to end "Veep" with Season 7, which writers are currently working on. HBO added the show's production schedule will be adjusted if needed to accommodate its star. "Our love and support go out to Julia and her family at this time," HBO said in a statement. "We have every confidence she will get through this with her usual tenacity and undaunted spirit, and look forward to her return to health and to HBO for the final season of 'Veep.'" (HBO and CNN share parent company Time Warner.) Louis-Dreyfus has advocated for cancer research in the past by teaming up with the Livestrong Foundation, according to Web MD.

"I was asked, and it was a no-brainer," she told the site. The former "Seinfeld" star is also a long-time advocate of environmental causes and green living, leading to a Mediaplanet feature on her work. "My actions have an impact on humanity and generations to come," she told the publication.

This singer with alopecia inspired a young fan to embrace her alopecia too

“There is life without hair.” That statement may seem obvious to most, but it’s not the easiest concept for everyone to comprehend. Especially those with a common autoimmune skin disease like alopecia areata. Singer and makeup artist Keya “Gifted Keys” Trammell is one of the approximately 6.8 million people in the U.S. affected by this disease. And that’s the message she wants to send to people everywhere — “There is beauty without hair, standard without hair, knowledge without hair, character without hair, love without hair, passion without hair, success without hair, confidence without hair!” Her message reached one young girl with alopecia in August, and its impact was as meaningful to Trammell as it was to the little girl. Trammell shared the experience on Instagram. Trammell was performing in Kankakee, Ill., when she noticed a little girl in the crowd. “I’d seen Zion before the band and I had even begun our set.

I thought to myself, ‘I wonder if she has alopecia, or cancer?’” Trammell tells Yahoo Style. “About 10 minutes into the show, I saw Zion and her family walk up. She initially had a hat on and was just vibing out. Then I began to sing a song I wrote about two and a half years ago, ‘Next to Blow.’ I [also spoke] to the crowd about my life; about how I was bullied when I younger, how I dealt with self-esteem issues and lacked confidence because of my alopecia.” It was then that Trammell noticed Zion’s mother crying. “I knew right then and there that Zion also had alopecia,” she said. “When I glanced back at Zion, I saw her without her hat.

She was so beautiful to me! I just waved at her and smiled. She waved backed, stared wide-eyed at me and smiled. Afterward, Zion’s grandmother came to me and asked if her granddaughter and I could meet because she had alopecia. I’m like, YESSSSSSSSSSS!” The photo shows both ladies without hats, wigs, or hair. Trammell is crying, and Zion is beaming. “Zion’s mother thanked me for not wearing wigs,” Trammell wrote in the photo’s caption. “I was a role model for her baby girl and the way that felt.. Reaffirmed me of my destiny.” “When she walked up to me, I just began to cry. Like ugly cry,” Trammell says of Zion. “I told her over and over that she was beautiful. I also just hugged her mother so tight, and we cried. I also asked for a picture with Zion. Me being 25 and her being 4, I figured I would get on my knees so we could be level-headed and I just cried even more. She told me not to cry. I could not help myself and told her that I was happy.

My tears were happy tears. Her mother said that Zion could not stop staring at me. That did something to me. Like I understood even more why I existed on this earth.” Trammell lost all her hair at the age of 2 due to alopecia universalis. “My hair grew back fully at around 6 but has always grown in patches,” she said. So she’s been wearing weaves and wigs since she was in the first grade. “I now just shave off the hair that does grow on my head. Sometimes I let it grow so my spots can truly be seen, but it’s easier to just shave.” She now has alopecia areata, which causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes on other areas of the body, and has a lifetime risk of 2.1 percent. The hair follicles remain alive, and hair can regrow at any time, which is why it sometimes grows back in patches. Because of this, Trammell has spent much of her life dealing with bullying and self-esteem issues. “I truly used to struggle to even look in the mirror and tell myself I was beautiful. My mother would force me to do it even when I didn’t want to.” One day as a senior in high school, things changed. “I was in class, and a classmate made a joke. I laughed [moving my head up and down], and my wig fell off. Everyone laughed.

My teacher even laughed. I went to the restroom and just cried,” she recalls. “A classmate ran into the bathroom after me to see if I was OK and asked to actually see my hair. I let her see, and she just hugged me. She helped make me feel comfortable.” It was after that Trammell found the courage to shave off her hair. “I remember waking up one morning and shaving all of the hair that I did have off. I still ended up putting a wig on to go to school, but that day when I went to school I felt like I had a secret — that I’d finally accepted myself. I wasn’t ready to share that with world; I’d shared it with myself,” she said. “I was 18 when that happened. I am now 25. Just now able to fully go day by day with my crown exposed to the world.” “I’d been battling myself for some time on if I would continue to wear wigs off and on or just go bald on an everyday basis,” Trammell tells Yahoo Style. “I truly wanted to make a concerted effort to see how I would feel just being myself every day.” So she did. And she says it’s been “the most liberating experience” of her life. “I noticed that going bald every day helped me like myself more. I wouldn’t get headaches from tight wigs or burn marks from glue adhesive. I noticed people treat me different when I am bald. I notice people love me more for being confident and just being myself,” she says. “That feeling began to be something that I needed.

The feeling of beginning to feel more beautiful without wigs when I looked in the mirror began to help me want to help others feel good about themselves. To be beautiful on the inside and out. To be beautiful with a PURPOSE. I learned that having alopecia was a gift.” Sure, she might put a wig on sometime in the future, but “a wig is just another option for me,” she tells us. “Depending on if I want to go in formation like Beyoncé, J.Lo, or Jill Scott for the day. I know I have that option. But the most important option is being able to wake up in the morning and just be me.”