Is Wearing a Bra Increasing Your Chance of Breast Cancer?

Research Shows That Bra Usage May Trigger Breast Cancer.

Considering the staggering rates of breast cancer these days, it would be foolish to dismiss any information that may reveal a link between common fashionable practices that go unquestioned, and a trigger for this disease. It would have never occurred to me that there may be a link between bra usage and breast cancer until I read the first chapter in Killer Clothes. The information revealed by the doctor-authors of this book is too important to not be shared with other women. Here is an informative quote to start off;

“Breast cancer specialists are in general agreement that about 85 percent of the two-hundred thousand women in the United States who are diagnosed with the disease each year have no inherited genetic predisposition, which means that unhealthful lifestyle choices and the absorption of environmental pollutants account for the vast majority of breast cancer cases” (p. 24)

That’s interesting and seems to oppose the narrative we toss around about cancer being a disease that runs in the family. But these authors are alternative medical researchers not pushing mainstream stories. I think it’s important to address alternative medical perspectives because, let’s face it, our society is riddled with cancer, and our mainstream government health care system doesn’t seem to be alleviating the issue.

According to the quote above, most breast cancer is caused by things we are consuming, wearing and living in. So here’s how the connection between bras and ill-health starts to make sense; do you ever notice dark red lines on your body left by your bra after it is removed? There is speculation that bras constrict the lymphatic system which is supposed to flush toxins from the breasts and other body parts. This is very concerning because when toxins are present in the body, they get stored in fat, and breasts are mostly fat tissue.

The chapter goes on to explain how our skin is highly permeable, and that common chemicals absorbed by the skin come from ingredients in personal care products and cosmetics as well as chemicals from the synthetic fabric of our clothing. The problem with this is that when toxins enter the skin, they do not get passed on to the liver, where detoxification occurs (as opposed to when toxins enter the body through the mouth, they get directed by the blood to the liver). I suppose this means that toxins absorbed by the skin just kind of linger around.

Here are, for example, some chemicals found in generic makeup and personal care products that are absorbed through the skin and are probable causes of breast cancer;
– Parabens: A synthetic preservative, used in cosmetics and deodorant. Scientific studies show there are high concentrations of parabens in breast tumors.
– Triclosan; Another preservative which has been show to induce hormone disrupting effects that could trigger breast cancer. It is found in antibacterial soaps, deodorants and synthetic clothing.
– Detergents: There are all kinds of them with very technical sounding names such as, nonoxynols, 4-NP, 1,4 dioxane, ethoxylates, myreth and oleth (there are many that have “eth” in their names). These are contaminants that are basically known as producers of breast cancer, according to medical journals. Detergents are used in cleansers and mainstream shampoos.

As if that isn’t bad enough, here’s another piece of information to shake up your world; a study done by Canadian scientists demonstrates a great association between breast cancer and exposure to nylon and acrylic fibers, which is basically, a lot of our clothing.

So, to put the whole picture together, the combination of toxins absorbed by synthetic clothing, makeup, and personal care products, get stored in fat cells, which breasts are mostly made of. The restrictive nature of bras impede the lymph node flow meant to flush out those toxins. This process likely triggers breast cancer.

The book also references a study conducted on thousands of women whose results show that the participants with cancer wore bras more frequently than those who didn’t, and then another study that shows women who live in cultures that do not wear bras experience the lowest incidences of breast cancer.

What the authors are emphasizing is that, as much as possible, we should not be wearing bras. They should be used sparingly and only for situations where support is necessary such as rigorous physical activities (going to the gym, jogging, etc). At the very least, we should choose bras that are not so restrictive, and made with healthier materials.

On that note, Victoria’s Secret definitely does not meet that criteria, whose bras are manufactured with nylon and made in China (a country that has low standards for exposure to health threatening chemicals in garment factories). You may have also heard that Victoria’s Secret bras release formaldehyde, and 600 women filed a lawsuit against the company because they developed serious skin rashes and scars from wearing them.

If you would like a more comprehensive understanding of these issues, I highly recommend reading Killer Clothes. It really is an eye opener, and that’s only the first chapter. The rest of the book reveals more information on chemicals in clothes and the health effects of coming into contact with those synthetics. The information is life changing and could potentially help you avoid health problems in the future.

Further reading recommendations on the bra-cancer link;

Boycott of Komen Foundation and American Cancer Sociey 

Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer