Sometimes I feel like my bra is killing me. Not literally, of course: Just poking or binding me or making itself known in ways that are extremely annoying. If I didn’t think it would alarm the UPS man or any other visitor to my front door (I work at home), I would go braless all the time. That would please one Ralph L. Reed, PhD, because he thinks that brassieres—particularly when they’re too tight—literally could be killing women by causing breast cancer.
Reed puts forth his theories for the Natural Health and Longevity Resource Center, but I had actually heard this before. Rumor has it that underwire bras can cause cancer, due to the way they allegedly compress the lymphatic system under the arms and breasts, supposedly causing a buildup of toxins. Two medical anthropologists, Soma Grismaijer and Sydney Ross Singer, wrote a book called Dressed to Kill on this subject that—more than a decade after its printing—is still generating spirited debate on Amazon.com!
The thing is, even though this rumor pops up again and again, the research just isn’t there to back up the bra/breast-cancer theory, according to the experts at the American Cancer Society. It’s true that women who are obese have a slightly higher risk of getting BC. And perhaps obese women with big boobs are more likely to wear bras than women with flat chests—voilà, an urban myth was born. “But wearing a regular or underwire bra during the day or night, or just wearing tight clothing, does not affect breast-cancer risk,” says Marisa C. Weiss, MD, director of breast radiation oncology at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa., and founder of Breastcancer.org. Her new book on breasts, Taking Care of Your Girls, comes out in September.
Some other breast-cancer rumors aren’t so easy to figure out—or are so emotionally charged that it’s difficult to dig out the facts. That’s true of the debate over whether abortion or miscarriage is linked to breast-cancer risk. The website of the National Cancer Institute, which has been looking at research on this sensitive subject for more than 50 years, says, “The newer studies consistently showed no association between induced and spontaneous abortions and breast-cancer risk.” And yet: We know that hormonal changes—which certainly do occur during pregnancy and the termination of a pregnancy—may have an impact on the development of breast cancer.
Research is ongoing, but current thinking is that “a miscarriage or abortion does not seem to make breast-cancer risk go up or down,” says Dr. Weiss. Meanwhile, some groups present the abortion/breast-cancer link as a frightening fact.
And then there’s that all-important question: Is my daily deodorant or antiperspirant bad for my boobs? The National Cancer Institute says there’s no conclusive link between the use of underarm antiperspirants and BC, but some research found that there may be a connection between underarm shaving, antiperspirants, and an earlier diagnosis of breast cancer, and I’ve even read an online post by a doc who won’t let his own children wear deodorant (except to parties)!
I turned to Helen Krontiras, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama and medical director of the university’s Interdisciplinary Breast Center, to help me sniff out this stinky situation. Dr. Krontiras does not believe that deodorant or antiperspirant—or bras, or abortions, for that matter—have anything to do with breast cancer. Some of the studies that support such claims are scientifically flawed, she says, but the woman on the street just hears the rumor or sees the headline.
“Women are looking for something they can change, something that they have control over that they can easily remove from their daily lives to reduce their risk of breast cancer. That’s why they’re looking at things like antiperspirant and bras,” she says. Instead, women should be asking themselves, “Am I overweight? Am I eating a low-fat diet? Am I exercising?” It’s more difficult to diet and exercise, but these are things proven to reduce breast-cancer risk, Dr. Krontiras says.
OK, I get the message. I’m putting my bra and deodorant back on (my family is cheering, the UPS man is breathing a sigh of relief). And right after I finish these chips, I’ll think about getting moving.
(PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES)
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Comments (27)
dr. felt a node ultra sound was clear and mammo was normal could this still be serious?
Shirley,
Annie, the boob blogger here.
Since we are journalists, we are not trained to answer your question. Please talk with your doctor about the concerns you have.
All the best,
Annie
I went to a Komen Event, Issue after Breast Cancer, and one seminar was de-bunking myths, like all the ones you mentioned. You did forget the bruise to the breast, many women after Title 9 who played sports in school were concerned about that myth.The conclusion was myths and legends, like Dr. Helen states, women looking for something to blame rather than the randomness of cancer reality. Those of us living with breast cancer, our collective skins crawl when we hear a woman tell us that our bra or deodorant or some other myth is the reason we got the cancer and they have not!
I have fibrosystic breasts and my doctor advised me not to wear underwire bras. I have suffered from large painful lumps especially under my arms. Even though a non-underwire bra is hard to find these days, it has helped to lessen the painful lumps.
If the bra is too tight and u sometimes feel a burning sensation after u take it off, can that lead to any health risks?
MY MOM WEARED ALL HER LIFE THIS KIND OF HUGE BRAS…SHE WENT UNDER BREAST CANCER SURGERY LAST MARCH…08..AND STILL WITH CHIMIOTHERAPIE….I RELLY BELIEVE, SOME CAUSES ARE RELATIVE WITH THOSE MIDDLE AGE BRAS….I REMEMBER HER ,WHEN I WAS A KID COMPLAINING WITH THE PAIN GENERATED BY THE METALIC SUPPORT…I HAVE MY SELF A SMALL CYSTE UNDER MT LEFT BREAST…I HAD IT TEST …NEGATIVE…BUT I DEFINITLY QUIT WITH THE UNDERWIRE BRAS….
Dear Annie,
I don’t think your article debunks anything. Who says the “experts” you refer to are more knowledgeable than the “experts” who claim that these things do contribute to breast cancer? We can all find experts and studies to support just about everything. I think we all need to rely a little bit more on our own common sense and less on the experts when it comes to our health. For example, wearing bras that are compressing the tissue around our breasts, for most of the day, everyday, just can’t be good for them. It isn’t natural, and it hurts. I think what you just did is what many Americans are doing- finding an expert to support what they want to believe. Especially when in our hearts and brains, we know what we are doing isn’t good for us. That is the American way, and why we are in the awful shape we are in-literally!
there was a slight pain under my left breast.i dont have any breathing problem.i feel when i touch it and while i sleep upside down.am,i pregnant?i am getting this pain from past two days.i think i am conceive.i want to know the reason why am i getting this pain.please send me the response as soon as u can.thank u
The issue I heard was that women that wore bras over so many hours a day were more like to have breast cancer…Here’s my take on that… women that wear bras 12-18 hours a day are “Western” civilization women with low activity level (heck, we’re working all the time, who has time to exercise!!!) & a fat/processed carb-heavy diet. Little or no fiber…
there have been previous links to fat intake & BC…
so, to me, it’s only a connected coincidence that wearing a bra & getting BC are related…
P.S. about exercise & finding the motivation… don’t wait…I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes August 07… I was sure that I would have to exercise 60-90 minutes a day according to many articles about losing weight…WRONG!! the dietician set me straight and it worked… PLEASE, Walk 10 minutes after each meal (or at least, 2x daily)…with portion control (plate method) and 20-30 minutes of exercise, I was able to lose 25lbs in about 2.5 months. I actually increased my exercise naturally (because 10 mins felt good, 15 felt better)..
Bras may not cause breast cancer, but an underwire bra that is too small can rub against breast tissue and cause lumps. I work in a lingerie shop and more women are being referred to the bra shop by their gynecologists after being diagnosed with benign breast lumps.
I have been wearing an underwire bra since my late teens at my doctors advise, (I worked in retail and constlantly brusied my breast on the ends of racks), because my breast are large I feel more support with an underwire bra. If the bra you wear is to tight or uncomfortable try to find a bra shop with a specialist in fit and comfort. For me going without a bra is not going to happen I even sleep in a soft sleep bra, I don’t want to wake up and find my breast hanging to my knees, I wear a size 38 DD and need the support to keep the back pain under control.
I want to tell my story of breast cancer. Four years ago I decided to do something about the increasing pain in my neck due to arthritic changes. I have always had large breast and they just kept getting bigger over the years. I wore a 38 DDD bra and still had pain every day. Finally I saw plastic surgeon and he measured the weight of my breasts. My insurance company covered a breast reduction for breasts over a certain size. I had already had a mammogram done earlier that year so I had the reduction done right away - not a big deal. One week later the plastic surgeon called to say the pathologist found I had a tiny cancer in each breast. These would not have shown up on mammograms for years. If you are having pain from large breasts, please consult your physician and consider a reduction if your breasts are very large. I have never met a woman who had a reduction who regretted it and it could just save your life.
If your bra hurts, then it is probably not the best thing for your body. If cancer doctors warn against using certain types of deodorant, then there is probably a reason behind them doing so. Use common sense - lymph nodes are real and certainly binding clothing would prevent them from doing their full job. So walking, not wearing a bra, and steering clear of deodorant when not necessary are probably good ideas. Just keep in mind that these are probably not the only causes of breast cancer, so while you can go deodorant and bra free, that may not render you cancer free for life.
Fod for thought: How many hours a day do you spend driving in you vehicle? The shoulder harnesses in our vehicle I believe have a strong coalation with causing harm to the lymphatic system in which maybe the rising cause of breast cancer & other diseases related. The constant strap movement, pressure & micro abrassions of the harnesses is a direct continously irritation to the the lymphatic system as weel as to the carotoid arteries.
Dr. A
Sometimes, after I take my underwire bra off, the sides of my chest hurt. They dort of burn. But, only once and a while. Is that bad?
why is there breast cancer???
what causes it??
i have these lumps in my breast and every time i take my bra off they hurt…
i wear a 36D,underwire…
are they suppossed to hurt???
thanks..
i know this sounds weird but the past 2 days i have been having a upset stomache. I havent been vomiting but feel “nauses”.I recently got a puppy and it had worms can that be the cause of my stomache ache, WORMS???????
I have difficulty evening FINDING a bra that doesn’t have underwire! HELP! Anybody know of a major retailer that has one?
I’m 20 months post bc. had a 2nd scare with surgical removal of lump NO BC! Have had hard time finding a bra with good support and comfort due to lymph node removal. Purchased a Rhonda Shear of HSN stretch bra, no hooks, no wires, just step into it like a pair of panties. I have been well pleased. I like to wear it in the daytime, at night I like to wear a tank bra from Wal-mart(cotton/spandex). Check out HSN.com. I’ve shopped from HSN for years, no problems, don’t fit send it back. size 40-42 is a large. Good Luck!
I have had burning and pains in my stomach
I have had burning and pain in my stomach what can I do for it
I subscribe, because i looked to your web page for insightful info. It seems quick quips and jokes are your answer to some very important questions. I have a Sis and Mom with breast cancer, being treated at Duke Univ. Hosp. One of the leading hospitals in the country on Cancer research and treatment, and the answesr to those questions are a resounding yes. My Sis and Mom have had to give up under wire bras and antiperspirants. They’ve also had to give up stress, fast food, meats loaded with hormones and antibiotics, vegetables loaded with pesticides and all those white bleached products like rice , flour and sugar. Replacing them with brown rice, wheat flour and stevia. Women
need to get the real info not quips.
What if “they’re” right? Call me crazy but I would rather err on the side of caution. It seems like so many of us (me included sometimes) want to hold on to those “expert opinions” that say it is OK for us to do something (or not do something) because we just don’t want to change. I stopped wearing anti-perspirant because of the aluminum and other chemicals. Wearing just a deodorant 99% of the time. No big deal. As the Serenity Prayer says, we need to accept the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things we can, because WHAT IF THEY’RE RIGHT?
what is that hard rock like thing inside the breast?
Robin - yes, so called “experts” disagree. But not all supposed “experts” are equal. The ones whose views count are those who conduct and publish peer-reviewed studies in legitimate scientific or medical journals. Remember that the couple who came up with the bra/cancer theory are NOT scientists or physicians but medical anthropologists who based their argument on a survey of self-selected women and then published it in a kind of self-help book. No clinical study, no peer review, no legitimate publication. So the bottom line is: they’re not really experts! Just advocates.
Had a lumpectomy and 3 lymph nodes removed 2-weeks ago. Can anyone tell me how long my armpit and upper arm will be sore for? What can be done to ease the pain?