Does Putting Money In Your Bra Cause Breast Cancer

The Science Behind The Facts: Bra Underwires Do Not Cause Breast Cancer

There are two parts to the claims that went around. First, bra underwires cause toxins to build up in the breast. Second, our antiperspirants, or deodorants, block these toxins from properly disappearing.

Lets start with the second. Our antiperspirants are meant to lessen perspiration, or sweating. Deodorants, on the other hand, are meant to lessen the smell of sweat. Antiperspirants never completely block sweat glands, like deodorants never completely take away the smell of sweat. They are used to manage sweat. As a result, toxins will still be released through sweat.

Now, back to bra underwires. According to the National Center for Health Research, there tends to be no build up of fluids, toxic or otherwise, in the breast when pressure is applied. Instead, the natural channels within the breast carry toxins away to the underarms, where they are released through sweat. As we showed earlier, even antiperspirants cant fully block sweat.

The truth is, we know what increases the risk of breast cancer, but not what causes it . Biological gender is a big factor99% of those with breast cancer are women. Age, family history, and BMI are factors as well. These are all better indicators of risk than your bra underwire.

I Put Deodorant On Every Day Is That Dangerous

Truth: Putting on antiperspirant is another part of many peoples daily routines. However, rumors have persisted throughout the years that they increase the risk of breast cancer. The thought is that toxic ingredients from the deodorant can seep into the bloodstream and cause harm. Part of the issue, people believe, is that deodorant is applied on the armpits, giving the ingredients easier access to the breasts. The short answer is that this is a myth, according to the National Cancer Institute. Some research has specifically called out aluminum as a potentially toxic ingredient within deodorants, claiming it can get absorbed into the skin and impact hormones. However, a 2014 review did not find a link.

Persistent Myths About The Causes Of Breast Cancer

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Cosmetics

Understanding what causes a type of cancer is vital to prevent more cases in the future. But it can feel like were being told to avoid a new thing every day because it might cause cancer. A survey in the US found that agreement with the phrase: It seems like everything causes cancer is on the increase even though, thanks to research, we know more about what causes and prevents cancer than ever before.

As its Breast Cancer Awareness Month, weve examined some common myths around the causes of the disease. More than 1 in 4 cases of breast cancer could be prevented, meaning there are some definite avoidable causes out there . But you might be surprised by whats missing from the list.

Being sure about what causes cancer isnt easy. It takes years of research based on huge numbers of people to get a clear picture of what increases or decreases our risk. Most of the evidence tied to these myths isnt strong enough to suggest they actually cause cancer. And without a clear enough indication that these things could be a genuine issue, its not worth investing in more research when that time and money could be used for science that has a real impact.

Often, because of this lack of good evidence, its not possible to disprove any potential link entirely, but we can say the research available doesnt hold up to scrutiny. Essentially, its very hard to prove a negative has only ever classified one substance as probably not a cause of cancer in people).

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Why Might I Need A Breast Biopsy

Breast biopsies may be done:

• To check a lump or mass that can be felt in the breast

• To check a problem seen on a mammogram, such as small calcium deposits in breast tissue or a fluid-filled mass

• To evaluate nipple problems, such as a bloody discharge from the nipple

• To find out if a breast lump or mass is cancer or not cancer

A lump or other area of concern in the breast may be caused by cancer. Or it may be caused by another less serious problem.

There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend a breast biopsy.

Being Stressed Can Cause Breast Cancer

With the ever-present stresses of modern life, it is no surprise that people are concerned about how stress might impact health.

However, as Dr. Zeidman told us, There is absolutely no evidence to support a link between stress and breast cancer. In fact, there is evidence to support that stress does not increase breast cancer risk.

That is not to say that stress cannot impact health at all, however. He goes on: Part of being human is finding effective ways to deal with the stress we all will inevitably face. This can have profound health benefits both mentally and physically, but will do nothing to mitigate breast cancer risk.

While it is true that postmenopausal women who are overweight are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, there is nothing that a woman can do to eliminate breast cancer risk, explained Dr. Zeidman.

Even women who undergo bilateral mastectomy are still at risk of developing a new breast cancer.

However, he is not suggesting anyone starts smoking and eating fast food every day.

More generally, he believes that it is of the utmost importance to take care of your body because you only get one. But even world class athletes have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Myth: Breast Cancer Only Happens To Middle

It is true that being female and growing older are the main risk factors for developing breast cancer. In 2017, about 4% of invasive breast cancers were diagnosed in women under age 40, while about 23% were diagnosed in women in their 50s and 27% in women ages 60 to 69. 6 While 4% might sound small, it isnt zero: This percentage means that one in every 25 invasive breast cancer cases occurred in women under 40.

Women of all ages need to pay attention to their breasts, perform self-exams, and report any unusual changes to their doctors and insist that breast cancer be ruled out if theres a concerning symptom. Even some doctors buy into the myth that women in their 20s and 30s dont get breast cancer. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, especially cancers diagnosed in relatives before age 40, may wish to start screenings sooner.

Breast cancer is even rarer in men, but it does happen. People often think that men cant get breast cancer because they dont have breasts but they do have breast tissue. Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. In 2019, about 2,670 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease. 7 Even though male breast cancer is rare, it tends to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage because breast changes and lumps typically dont lead men and their doctors to think breast cancer. Changes in male breasts need to be checked out, too.

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Heres to healthy bodies and healthy breasts!

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Do Underwire Bras Cause Breast Cancer

Underwire bras do not increase your risk of breast cancer.

There have been some concerns that the wires in the cup of underwire bras may restrict the flow of lymph fluid in the breast causing toxins to build up in the area. However, theres no reliable evidence to support this.

If your bra is too tight or too small, the wires can dig into your breasts and cause discomfort, pain or swelling. Find out more about wearing a well-fitting bra.

The Importance Of Study Design For Research On Abortion And Breast Cancer Risk

Some case-control studies have suggested abortion may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer . However, the design of case-control studies makes the accuracy of their results questionable.

Case-control studies rely on the reporting of past behavior. When it comes to a sensitive subject like abortion, this can have a big impact on the information gathered.

The cases in these studies may be more likely to give complete information about their abortion history than the controls . The controls may not be as comfortable sharing this personal information as the women diagnosed with breast cancer who are interested in whether personal health history is related to breast cancer. Such differences in reporting can bias study results.

Prospective cohort studies are much more likely to give accurate results on topics such as abortion. These studies gather sensitive information before women are diagnosed with breast cancer. This helps limit biased reporting.

Cohort studies show abortion isnt linked to breast cancer risk .

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Do Mobile Phones Cause Breast Cancer

Theres no evidence that radiation from mobile phones has any effect on your risk of developing breast cancer.

Some people worry that radio waves produced and received by mobile phones may be a health risk, especially if they keep their phone in their breast pocket.

However, theres currently no evidence that radio waves from mobile phones cause breast cancer or increase the risk of developing it.

Can Wearing An Underwire Bra Cause Breast Cancer

The claim that bra-wearing can put women at serious risk for breast cancer has been around for almost 20 years. Does this idea hold any truth? Dr. Laura Hutchins, a UAMS medical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer, says that there is not enough evidence to support this idea.

According to a Scientific American article this myth began with the publication of a book in the mid-90s, that claimed that women who wear tight-fitting bras with underwire have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who do not. The authors suggest that bras can compress the lymphatic system of the breast, causing toxins to become trapped in the breast tissue to cause cancer.

The overall consensus among doctors is that neither the type of bra worn nor the tightness of undergarments has any connection to the risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Hutchins also commented that the belief that physical trauma to the breast, such as being hit or kicked, can also cause cancer.

Patients sometimes report previous trauma in the area of the breast where cancer develops at a later date, she says. So far, as can be determined, these occurrences are coincidental.

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Wearing A Bra With Underwire Will Increase Cancer Risk

The going philosophy on bras and breast cancer is that the underwire blocks the lymph fluid from draining out to the rest of the body and being naturally expunged, thus allowing toxins to pool in the breast.

At this time, there is no reliable, scientific evidence that shows a link between wearing a bra and developing breast cancer, Flynn says.

Dr. David Warr, medical oncologist lead in the breast cancer program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, calls the evidence presented in the one study that found a causal link weak, and BreastCancer.org says there was no real difference in risk between women who wore a bra and those who didnt.

Genetics Doesnt Play As Much Of A Role As You May Think

For some people with a really strong family history of breast cancer the risk tied to inherited faulty genes is important. The most famous of these are the BRCA genes. But the total number of breast cancer cases caused by inherited faulty genes is smaller than you might believe based on the media attention they often receive. Its actually fewer than 3 in 100 cases of breast cancer that are caused by inherited faulty genes.

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Find Out Your Family History

Women with a strong family history of cancer can take special steps to protect themselves, so its important for women to know their family history. You may be at high risk of breast cancer if you have a mother or sister who developed breast or ovarian cancer or if you have multiplefamily members who developed breast, ovarian or prostate cancer. A doctor or genetic counselor can help you understand your family history of the disease.

When I Was First Diagnosed I Searched Long And Hard For Resources Specifically Made For Young Women Battling Breast Cancer Andguess What Not Many Existed

After countless conversations with both my doctors and friends, it became clear to me that most people are completely unaware that this can happen to anyone, regardless of their age. The sobering reality is that more and more young women are being diagnosed, but because less than 5% of diagnosed women in the U.S. are below the age of 40, most available resources are not made for us.

For that reason, I quickly developed a mission to raise awareness among young women. I created a network of support for my peers near and far who are going through the same thing. I started Whittys Titty Committee, where I blog, share details about my experience, and pass along resources I find on the way. I hope that my openness not only helps other women fighting breast cancer, but also encourages young women to be aware of their bodies and conduct self-exams regularly.

You can follow my fight at whittystittycommittee.com, on my Instagram, , and via the hashtag #WhittysTittyCommittee.

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Myth: Breast Cancer Always Causes A Lump You Can Feel

People are sometimes under the impression that breast cancer always causes a lump that can be felt during a self-exam. They might use this as a reason to skip mammograms, thinking theyll be able to feel any change that might indicate a problem. However, breast cancer doesnt always cause a lump. By the time it does, the cancer might have already moved beyond the breast into the lymph nodes. Although performing breast self-exams is certainly a good idea, it isnt a substitute for regular screening with mammography.

There are some other myths about what types of breast lumps are less worrisome, such as: If the lump is painful, it isnt breast cancer, and If you can feel a lump that is smooth, and/or that moves around freely under the skin, its not breast cancer. Any lump or unusual mass that can be felt through the skin needs to be checked out by a healthcare professional. Although most lumps are benign , there is always the possibility of breast cancer.

As Community member Simone RC says, that you only need to worry if your lump is hard, not movable, and not smooth. Every single doctor who felt my always-lumpy breasts said they never would have thought what I felt was suspicious. I noticed the new lump on one of my best old lumps. Smooth, movable, soft, like a grape cut in half lengthwise. Thank goodness my gynecologist took me seriously despite having my annual 3D mammogram completely clear a few months before.

Limited Attention To The Issue

Unfortunately, not many people seem to be aware of the health risks of cell phones, and a woman with a cell phone sticking out of her bra or bra strap is a normaland frequentoccurence.

Efforts, though, have been made to inform the public of the correlation between breast cancer and cell phone contact. Popular television personalities, including medical doctor Dr. Oz have even gone so far as to devote entire segments entitled, Why You Should Keep Your cell phone out of Your Bra. Local news segments also aired when the research first came out.

Nonetheless, the general public seems to be largely ignorant of the potential danger or have forgotten the research results, if they were ever informed. A Google search on the keywords breast cancer and cell phones yields very few results, most outdated by a year.

Surprisingly, even on the Susan G. Komen website, cell phones are listed as one of the factors that do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Perhaps this is because there has been limited study and experts provide confusing information.

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Myth: Carrying Your Cell Phone In Your Bra Can Cause Breast Cancer

Media reports have raised concerns that carrying a cell phone in your bra might increase breast cancer risk. There have been some cases of younger women developing breast cancer after habitually carrying their cell phones in their bras. In 2013, the Dr. Oz Show further fueled these concerns by warning women never to carry their cell phones in their bras.

The research simply isnt there to support this claim, though. To date, most studies have focused on whether the radiofrequency radiation given off by cell phones can increase the risk of brain tumors. This research hasnt found a link, but the issue is still being studied.

Still, cell phone manufacturers often do recommend keeping your device away from your body as much as possible. Although there is no proven breast cancer link, you may wish to avoid wearing your cellphone in your bra or chest pocket until more research is available.