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Kentrell Gigi

Do bras cause breast cancer?

Enter Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer. Singer has a BS in biology (1979) and a masters in cultural anthropology (he failed to complete the PhD program at two different colleges). Grismaijer has a bachelors in environmental studies and planning. The two are a husband-and-wife duo, and are self-proclaimed pioneers of applied medical anthropology.

In the 80s and 90s, the pair stayed very busy doing research on breast cancer, and in 1995 they published a book entitled Dressed to Kill. In this book, they purported that the reason bras increase the risk of breast cancer is due to the effect that bras have on the lymphatic system, particularly the circulation in lymph nodes. The constriction of a tight bra impedes the proper function of the lymphatic system, leading to a buildup of fluid within the breast tissue.

They claim that the problem with the lack of drainage is because this fluid is toxic. The carcinogenic substances that we take into our bodies via air, water, and food have all been polluted by petroleum and fossil fuels. Therefore, when these toxins cannot flow normally through the lymph nodes, these toxins get concentrated in the breast tissue, leading to a increased risk of breast cancer.

Specifically, their findings were:

  • 3 out of 4 women who wore their bras 24 hours per day developed breast cancer.

  • 1 out of 7 women who wore bras more than 12 hour per day but not to bed developed breast cancer.

  • 1 out of 152 women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day got breast cancer.

  • 1 out of 168 women who wore bras rarely or never acquired breast cancer.

They claimed that 70% of breast cancer cases were not explainable by the current (as of 1995) known breast cancer risks. They stated that breast cancer was a rare event in cultures that were bra-free.

Lastly, they blamed the green of the fashion and medical industries. The bra industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, and more billions of dollars are spent researching and treating the disease. Ironically, they note, ending breast cancer can cause financial hardship for many people.

Naturally, this book created quite a bit of discussion on the topic. Many medical and scientific bodies have studied and reviewed the authors’ claims over that decade or so. In general, all of the authors’ claims have been dismissed on the basis of poor methodology, lack of supporting evidence, and their failure to consider alternate explanations besides bra use for their findings.

Specifically, many researchers and scientists find the authors’ claims to be unfounded for the following reasons (not a exhaustive list):

  • Lack of controlled epidemiological data correlating bra-wearing with the risk for breast cancer

  • Lack of proof that the pressure exerted by a bra reduces the flow of lymph

  • Lack of proof that lymph contains carcinogens

  • Lack of proof that there are carcinogens in the human body that can induce breast cancer

  • Existence of published data correlating obesity with post-menopausal breast cancer

  • None of the authors' surveys attempted to account for any of the well-known epidemiological risk factors for breast cancer, such as number of full-term pregnancies, age at first pregnancy, obesity, Western pattern diet, or use of medications such as hormone replacement therapy

In addition, the authors’ theory about toxic fluid buildup in the lymphatic system was debunked by the National Institutes of Health. The NIH examined cancer rates among women who had their underarm lymph nodes removed as part of melanoma treatment:

"The surgery, which is known to block lymph drainage from breast tissue, did not detectably increase breast cancer rates, the study found, meaning that it is extremely unlikely that wearing a bra, which affects lymph flow minimally if at all, would do so."

The NIH, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and Breastcancer.org all deny the link between bras and breast cancer.

So do bras cause breast cancer? No. Is there a link between not wearing a bra and lower rates of breast cancer? Perhaps. The authors of an NIH-funded study posit that, because of the known link between weight/obesity and breast cancer, women who have larger breasts are more likely to wear a bra than women with smaller breasts, and that bra cup size is often a reflection of weight.

Dressed to Kill is the sole reason some people think/believe that there's a link between breast cancer and wearing bras.

Comments (2)

  1. John Staples

    There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that wearing a bra causes breast cancer. The idea that bras can cause breast cancer stems from a debunked 1997 book called "Dressed to Kill," which claimed that tight-fitting bras cut off lymphatic circulation and cause a buildup of toxins that can lead to cancer. However, this theory has been extensively studied and no credible scientific evidence has been found to support it.

    However, if you do get breast cancer, you should visit this website https://www.fenbendazole.org/fenbendazole-information/ where you can learn about a very effective cancer treatment called fenbendazole. It can definitely help you!

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  2. Fred Malley

    None of the surveys by the authors tried to take into account any of the well-known epidemiological risk factors for breast cancer, such as the number of full-term pregnancies, the age at first pregnancy, obesity, a Western-style diet, or the use of hormone replacement treatment or other medications. slope game

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