Myths About Bras Arent Supported
Wearing a bra or keeping a mobile phone in your bra hasnt been shown to cause cancer. There hasnt been much research into this because theres no scientific way that suggests how bras and cancer might be linked. The only relevant study we found on the research database PubMed didnt find a link between wearing a bra and breast cancer so women dont need to worry about getting the support they need.
Although we cant know for sure the potential long-term impact of using mobile phones on other types of cancer, scientists believe a link is unlikely. This has been most closely studied in relation to brain tumours. And its something researchers will keep an eye on.
Your Bra Could Kill You And Other Breast Cancer Myths Busted
Rumours around the causes of breast cancer persist but the evidence for these claims doesnt always stack up
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be frightening, and many of the known risk factors genetics, ageing, being a woman are beyond our control. That is why myths are attractive. They sell us the idea that there is something simple we can do to protect ourselves from cancer. We look at three of the most common myths.
Wearing A Bra Doesnt Increase Your Risk For Breast Cancer
Well bust this myth right off the bat. Despite what you might have heard, Dr. Blake says wearing a bra doesnt increase your chances of getting breast cancer.
From a breast cancer standpoint, wearing a bra doesnt impact your risk of breast cancer. Ive been asked before if underwire bras can affect someones breast cancer risk and they do not. So, wearing a bra doesnt increase, nor does it decrease, your risk for breast cancer.
Recommended Reading: Is Turmeric Good For Breast Cancer
You May Like: Breast Cancer And Birth Control Pills
Myths And Facts Related To Breast Cancer
PintrestBusting the mythsMyth: Underwire bras cause breast cancerFact: Myth: Wearing a bra increases the risk of breast cancerFact:Myth: Black bra causes cancerFact:Myth: Only women get breast cancerFact:Myth: Silicone breast implants increase your chance of breast cancer.Fact:Breast care tipsRead Also
Is It Ok To Wear Underwire If Youre Breastfeeding
Got a milk vampire on your hands? Many lactation consultants say it’s best to skip the underwire.
“My recommendation is not to wear a bra with underwire as they can put significant pressure on the milk ducts and cause plugging, which can lead to mastitis,” says Mary Lou Judas, IBCLC, registered nurse and lactation consultant at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. “This in turn can decrease milk supply.”
Mastitis can also cause pain, swelling, flu-like symptoms and possibly an infection, according to La Leche League International.
“Breasts change a lot as milk comes in, so often the wires â or even tight elastic â can shift and be on the breast tissue itself instead of supporting from behind,” Judas says. “There are many supportive bras available without wires, and fit is actually the most important thing.”
So do a self-check on your rack pack: “Raise your arms up and move them around to see if the bra is comfortable,” says registered nurse and lactation consultant Andrea Tran, IBCLC, founder of Breastfeeding Confidential. “Make sure it does not ride up, shift or put pressure on the breast tissue.”
While we’re at it, BF parents should also steer clear of wearing super snug sports bras, aside from during workouts. “If a bra constantly compresses breast tissue where there are milk-producing glands, that can destroy the milk-producing cells and diminish supply,” Tran says.
Don’t Miss: Does Breast Cancer Stop Your Period
Do Underwire Bras Give You Cancer
For years, Camila has been a fan of underwire bras. In fact, it’s what she prefers to wear, choosing them over sports bras, push-ups and demi-cups. She likes the way the semi-circular wires sewn into the underside of the cups lift and separate her breasts. But this changed the day her mom forwarded an email that included an excerpt of the book “Dressed to Kill,” one that painted a dangerous picture of her beloved underwire bras.
Intrigued, Camila downloaded the book and read every word, only to discover the authors claimed that women who wore underwire bras for 12 or more hours a day were more at risk for developing breast cancer than women who didn’t bind their breasts at all. Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer, the husband and wife team of medical anthropologists who wrote the book, posit that underwire bras don’t allow lymphatic fluid to drain properly from breast tissue. And, with all this toxin-rich fluid trapped in breast tissue, they claim cancer can’t be far behind .
In fact, there aren’t any scientifically valid studies that link wearing a bra to an increase in breast cancer, reports studies performed by the American Cancer Society. One study looked at whether breast cancer was more common in women who wore bras, as opposed to women who didn’t wear bras. Both groups of women were found to have similar breast cancer risks.
There Are 3 Grades Of Invasive Breast Cancer:
- Grade 1 The cancer cells look mostly like normal cells and are usually slow-growing
- Grade 2 The cancer cells look less like normal cells and are growing faster
- Grade 3 The cancer cells look most changed and are usually fast-growing
- Swelling of all or parts of the breast
- Skin irritation or dimpling
- Pain in the nipple or nipple turns inwards
- Redness, flakiness , or thickening of the nipple skin or breast skin
- A nipple discharge thats not breast milk
- A lump in the underarm area
Don’t Miss: Can I Survive Stage 4 Breast Cancer
If In Doubt Check It Out
Though no link has been proven between wearing a bra and your risk of breast cancer, it does make sense to ensure that the bra you are wearing is comfortable. Breast pain and tenderness can often be associated with poorly fitting bras so if you are experiencing this it may be worth arranging a professional bra fitting. If you still have any concerns about your breasts during your routine breast self-exam, you may want to schedule a clinical breast exam by your doctor or a if youre over 40.
Fact Or Fiction: Underwire Bras Cause Cancer
Is your bra killing you?
Sometimes they lift. Sometimes they separate. But do underwire bras cause cancer? Could it be that the very garment designed to offer women support is actually killing them? That’s the rumor that has been circulating for decades.
It all began in 1995 with a book called Dressed to Kill, in which Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer, a husband and wife medical anthropologist team, claimed that women who wore tight-fitting bras all day, every day, had a much higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who went au naturel. The authors claimed that by inhibiting lymphatic drainage, bras trapped toxins in the breast tissue, which caused cancer.
According to critics, however, the bra-caused breast cancer theory is not supported by sufficient evidence. Scientists say the research of Singer and Grismaijer failed to exclude confounding variables such as the presence in some women of known risk factors for breast cancer. Thus, the notion of a correlation between wearing a bra and breast cancer does not appear to hold up.
“It just really is not logical in terms of what would increase your risk of breast cancer,” says Louise Brinton, chief of the hormonal and reproductive epidemiology branch of the National Cancer Institute. Brinton, who has been doing research in the field for 30 years, says commonly accepted breast cancer risk factors are generally things that affect endogenous hormone levels.
Don’t Miss: What Happens After You Are Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Why Does The False Theory Of Bras Causing Breast Cancer Persist
Its not clear why a theory that bras cause breast cancer, a theory that has been thoroughly disproven, persists. Perhaps it comes from the frustration of not knowing what causes the disease, coupled with a desire that the disease should come from the outside, from something a woman can control.
In any case, lets stop worrying about breast cancer being caused by wearing a bra!
Sleeping In A Bra Or Wearing It For Too Long
Our mothers have been pushing us hard not to wear a bra while sleeping, especially the underwired bras. According to our mothers and the popular myth, sleeping with the bra on restricts the pores from breathing. This restriction results in accumulation of sweat and builds-up toxins that are believed to be the hidden culprits of causing breast cancer. The same thinking goes for wearing a tight bra for too long. However, leading breast surgeons and cancer organizations have termed these myths as dubious. Though, they advise not to wear a bra that is too tight, as besides being uncomfortable, it can make you feel suffocated, thus causing breathing problems.
You May Like: Stage Three Cancer
Don’t Miss: When Is Breast Cancer Awareness Week
Can Depression Wearing An Underwire Bra Eating Junk Food Cause Breast Cancer Medical Experts Answer All Your Questions
Can depression or wearing an underwire bra increase the risk of breast cancer? No, say medical experts.
Doctors at a leading New Delhi hospital, busting myths related to breast cancer, also underlined that stressful and erratic lifestyle, mothers not nursing babies adequately, smoking and pollution have put women at higher risk of the disease.
On Internet and various WhatsApp groups, many people are circulating unsubstantiated information on causes of breast cancer. And, a lot of that is sheer myth.
A popular one is that wearing of an underwire bra increases the risk of the disease. But claims that such bras compress the lymphatic system of the breast, causing toxins to accumulate, and lead to breast cancer have been widely debunked as unscientific, says Dr Seema Sud.
Sud, Consultant in the Department of CT Scan and MRI at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, women, old or young should not get swayed by such myths.
Then some people think depression or plastic surgery can increase the risk, but again these are all myths and people would do well to be cautious, she said.
The hospital on Saturday hosted a breast cancer awareness programme on its campus, where Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi urged the media to create greater awareness on it and said, her ministry is contemplating making a campaign film with a celebrity.
Health experts warn the situation has already reached an alarming level in the country.
Follow @htlifeandstyle for more
Can Working Night Shifts Cause Breast Cancer
Although it was previously thought working night shifts may increase breast cancer risk, the latest research has found people who work night shifts are at no greater risk of breast cancer than those who dont.
This is the case regardless of the type of work and the age someone starts night shifts.
We offer free talks to workplaces and community groups by trained staff and volunteers. The talks cover topics such as the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, as well as dispelling common myths and misconceptions.
Recommended Reading: Chris Tia Donaldson Breast Cancer
Underwire Tight Or Badly Fitting Bras And Breast Cancer
It is a popular myth that metal underwires , tight or badly fitting bras cause compression in the chest area. This is claimed to cause breast cancer by preventing the lymph system from clearing toxins. Common scientific theory of breast cancer cause, however, is that geneA sequence in the DNA which can be passed down from parent to child. Genes helps determine physical and functional traits for the body. mutations lead to cells dividing suddenly and rapidly . This is not believed to have anything to do with the lymph system. Experts agree that the clothing you choose to wear should have no impact at all on your risk of developing breast cancer.
Also Check: How Does Estrogen Cause Breast Cancer
Whats The Link Between Breasts Bras And Lymph
So, lets segway back to the link between underwire bras and breast cancer and equip ourselves with some information.
Ive written aboutthe lymphatic system and its well worth a read before you dive in here as once you know the function of the lymph you begin to understand its role in this story.
Lymph is a vital component of our immune function. It doesnt have a pump, like the heart, so it requires manual muscle movement to pump it through the body. This means that when lymph is restricted from moving, it cant do its job of cleaning and clearing bacteria, debris and toxicity from the cells, which can then cause a build-up of toxicity.
The reason Im talking about lymph is that it has such a crucial function in processing of toxic waste out of the body, cleaning and feeding the cells. And what studies have found is that tight-fitting underwired bras negatively impact that lymphatic flow around the breast area a crucial area right next to the armpit lymph nodes.
In a major study, Sydney Singer and Soma Grismaijer interviewed 4,700 women in five major U.S. cities over two years. Half the women had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In summary they found:
-
75% of women who slept in their bras developed breast cancer
-
1 in 7 who wore their bras 12+ hours per day developed breast cancer
-
1 in 168 who did not wear a bra developed breast cancer
-
Within one month of ditching their bras, women with cysts, breast pain, or tenderness found their symptoms disappeared.
Recommended Reading: Sign Of Male Breast Cancer
Can Nipple Piercing Cause Breast Cancer
Nipple piercings have become a popular trend. But theres currently no evidence that having pierced nipples increases the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
However, the area pierced is at risk of infection, at the time of the piercing and as long as you wear the jewellery, possibly even longer.
Does Not Wearing A Bra Cause Sagging
Not wearing a bra for weeks or months can only mean that your breasts have since booked a trip to Sag Harbor, right?
Wrong.
Dr. Blake says wearing a bra doesnt prevent your breasts from sagging and not wearing one doesnt cause your breasts to sag.
Wearing a bra doesnt affect the risk of breast sagging, or what is called breast ptosis. It also wont impact the shape of your breasts. However, if you are a larger cup size, you may feel more comfortable wearing a bra because it might help alleviate or prevent back pain, which is often due to the weight of your breasts. Wearing a sports bra could be helpful in that matter, says Dr. Blake.
You May Like: How Can You Tell If You Have Breast Cancer Male
Can Bras Affect Breast Growth
If you wear a bra thats either a little bit big or a little too small, will it cause your chest to not grow?Gilly*
No. A girls bra wont affect the growth of her breasts. Thats because genes and hormones control breast growth, not what a girl wears.
Bras dont make breasts grow or stop growing, but wearing the right-size bra may help you feel more comfortable. Bras that are too small may cause breast pain because of how sensitive some girls breasts can be as they grow. And bras that are too big wont offer enough support, which could also lead to discomfort if your breasts move or bounce around too much. Find a bra thats the right size for you and comfortable to wear.
Want your breasts to develop the way nature intended? Eat a variety of healthy foods and exercise regularly. And dont worry if you dont develop at the same rate as your friends. Some girls develop earlier, others later. A girls breasts can keep growing and changing into her late teens.
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Left Chest Lymphatics. Source: Annals of Surgical Oncology.
The lymphatic system helps to detoxify the body by removing unwanted toxins and waste products. With over 100,000 miles of lymph vessels, it is an intricate and delicate system.
While we rely on the lymph system to collect and remove toxins and waste products from breast tissue, we can hinder its effectiveness.
Two Ways Bras Affect Our Breast Health
Photo by Womanizer Toys on Unsplash
Although it may come as a surprise to many women, underwire bras may increase the risk of developing breast cancer. While bras can hinder optimal breast health , we can easily manage the risk with a few simple tips. While you may already understand the risk and tips, many of your family members, friends, and colleagues may not. Please share this information with women you care about.
You May Like: How To Know If You Have Breast Cancer Male
Does Stress Cause Cancer
Theres no conclusive evidence that stress increases your risk of breast cancer.
A number of studies have looked at the links between stress and breast cancer, but there isnt enough evidence to show a clear association.
Stress can be linked to a rise in other lifestyle behaviours, such as being less active or drinking alcohol, which could increase your risk of breast cancer.
Do Bras Cause Breast Cancer
A friend insists that wearing a bra can lead to breast cancer. This seems crazy to me, but could it be true? Where could an idea like this come from?
Andrew Weil, M.D. |October 21, 2014
The notion that wearing a bra causes breast cancer has been floating around the Internet for years, causing unwarranted alarm among women. It is simply not true. There isnt any proof that wearing bras increases risk of breast cancer. As a matter of fact, a new study found no evidence demonstrating an association between wearing a bra and breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
The investigators, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, interviewed 454 women with invasive ductal carcinoma and 590 women with invasive lobular carcinoma, the two most common subtypes of the disease. They also interviewed 469 women who did not have breast cancer and who served as controls.
The researchers asked the women about the age at which they began wearing a bra, whether they wore bras with underwires, their bra cup and band size, the number of hours a day and days per week that they wore bras and whether their bra-wearing patterns had changed at different times during their lives.
Bottom line: women do not have to worry that wearing a bra can lead to breast cancer. It doesnt.
Andrew Weil, M.D.
C.C. Hsieh, D. Trichopoulos.Breast size, handedness and breast cancer risk. European Journal of Cancer. 1991 27:131-5.
You May Like: Is Breast Cancer Caused By Smoking