3 Breast Cancer Myths You Should Stop Believing In

Myth # 1. Bras cause cancer

The myth that bras cause breast cancer has been around since 1995. Then the book "Clothes that Kills" was published, the authors of which wrote that there was a connection. This myth constantly pops up in various articles and books, only they are not written by cancer researchers or even doctors.

All these reviews and compilations are not reviewed by experts in any way, are not published in medical journals, and have no scientific value. The research is based on surveys of women, which seem to show that women who do not wear a bra are less likely to experience breast cancer than those who wear it 24 hours a day.

Such results are usually explained by the fact that the straps and bones impede the circulation of blood and lymph, which is why "slags" accumulate in the mammary gland (I must say that representatives of pseudoscience are talking about slags more). In fact, this is unlikely. The bones do not inhibit the flow of lymph, because it generally flows in a different direction. … On the contrary, a properly fitted bra protects the ligaments from stretching. … In addition, the authors of the book about killer clothes have been criticized for not considering other factors that lead to an increased risk of cancer, such as obesity.

In 2014, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle (a respected organization around the world) studied the effect of bras on cancer. No connection was found. The same is confirmed by the British Breast Cancer Now Center, the Center for Cancer Research in the UK, the American Cancer Society, the American National Institutes of Health and several other research organizations. …

American obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Jennifer Gunter believes that the myth about the dangers of bras is terrible. because women who have breast cancer begin to blame themselves for the disease - after all, they wore a bra.

But if you do not like your underwear for some reason, then you should not think about where to treat cancer, but go and pick up a comfortable set.

Myth # 2. Cancer is caused by antiperspirants

Deodorants are said to cause cancer because they block the very waste products that should come out with sweat, but also because aluminum salts, which block sweat glands, penetrate the skin into the bloodstream and trigger the growth of tumors. This information wanders all over the Internet and causes panic: how is it, is it really necessary to choose between hygiene and health?

Most of the harmful substances are excreted from our body through the liver and kidneys (which is why we want to drink with a hangover), and not through the armpits with sweat. Almost all of the studies that talk about the dangers of antiperspirants are from one laboratory and one researcher, Dr. Philippa Darbre. One study, for example, shows that breast tissue contains aluminum. At first glance, everything looks convincing. But if you look closely, it turns out that the results are unreliable: there is no comparison of the tissue affected by the tumor with the healthy one. … Now, if there was much more aluminum in a malignant formation than in a healthy gland, then the dependence would be visible.

In 2002, the journal of the National Cancer Institute published a study in which 1,606 women participated. There was no link between antiperspirants and cancer. … Another 2006 study compared healthy and sick women. It turned out that 82% of healthy people used an antiperspirant. Among patients - only 52%. That is, the theory of the connection between antiperspirant and cancer has not been confirmed again. …

Myth # 3. Mammography provokes cancer due to radiation and metastases due to tumor shrinkage

The sooner cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery. Therefore, the myth about the dangers of mammography is dangerous.

The benefits of research outweigh any risk. An annual 20-minute examination gives the minimum dose of radiation, it is even less than with a chest X-ray. And it certainly isn't enough to trigger the development of cancer. …

The process of metastasis, when cancer cells spread throughout the body, is biologically very complex and does not begin due to the mechanical effect on the tumor. …

Mammography is feared because it can detect cancer. We remind you once again: the earlier the tumor is found, the more effective the treatment. And only thanks to these tests, 8 out of 10 women recover, although earlier breast cancer was fatal.

If you are afraid of cancer, then remember that there are several ways to protect against it: it is a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups, which should be done more often with age.