The link between Bras and Breast Cancer

http://chetday.com/breastcancerandbras.htm

If you didn't burn yours in the 'Sixties, you might want to put it away now. "Bras cause breast cancer. It's open and shut," says medical researcher Syd Singer.

The Singers became breast cancer sleuths in 1991. On the day Soma discovered a lump in her breast, the husband-wife team was studying the effects of Western medicine on Fijians. In the shower, Syd noticed that Soma's shoulders and breasts were outlined by dark red grooves. He remembered a puzzled Fijian woman asking his wife about her brassiere: "Doesn't it feel tight?" [more]

Maybe you girls should reconsider wearing them!!

First, the study (there's only one, highly flawed, never published in a peer reviewed journal) looked at women who wore their bras 24/7. Most women don't do that. And, while I don't wear bras because I'm small, there are women who would get bad chaffing and soreness if they didn't wear them.

The study didn't account for key variables, such as age and weight--women who are overweight are more likely to have larger breasts/wear bras more, but they're also more likely to have breast cancer because of being overweight. They also informed their participants of their hypothesis before giving them the survey, which is a scientific no-no as it biases your respondants.

Also, they've looked at data from women who have had entire lymph nodes removed from under their arms due to melanoma (forget lymph node drainage issues--these women had them taken out completely) and there was no increase in breast cancer rates.

Actual lymph node blockage is called lymphedema, and you would know it if you had it--it causes swelling and soreness. If this is happening to your breasts, of course you should stop wearing a bra for a while, and you should also look into a better fitting bra if you think that's what's causing it. But lymphedema can happen anywhere in the body, for lots of different reasons.

Interesting theory, but I'm afraid it doesn't hold up. I'm not saying women should wear bras or shouldn't wear them, it's a personal choice. I'm just saying this "study" doesn't prove anything.

Originally Posted by Strawberry_Fields_Fo

First, the study (there's only one, highly flawed, never published in a peer reviewed journal) looked at women who wore their bras 24/7. Most women don't do that. And, while I don't wear bras because I'm small, there are women who would get bad chaffing and soreness if they didn't wear them.

The study didn't account for key variables, such as age and weight--women who are overweight are more likely to have larger breasts/wear bras more, but they're also more likely to have breast cancer because of being overweight. They also informed their participants of their hypothesis before giving them the survey, which is a scientific no-no as it biases your respondants.

Also, they've looked at data from women who have had entire lymph nodes removed from under their arms due to melanoma (forget lymph node drainage issues--these women had them taken out completely) and there was no increase in breast cancer rates.

Actual lymph node blockage is called lymphedema, and you would know it if you had it--it causes swelling and soreness. If this is happening to your breasts, of course you should stop wearing a bra for a while, and you should also look into a better fitting bra if you think that's what's causing it. But lymphedema can happen anywhere in the body, for lots of different reasons.

Interesting theory, but I'm afraid it doesn't hold up. I'm not saying women should wear bras or shouldn't wear them, it's a personal choice. I'm just saying this "study" doesn't prove anything.

It doesn't prove anything, but it gives good reason to suspect a link.

Just because lymph passages are not totally blocked does not mean that things are moving more slowly and causing more damage.

I wouldn't expect an increase in cancer with patients who have already had cancer, and have likely been pumped full of chemicals in it's treatment. Or maybe they should have looked for the bra connection to removal of lymph nodes, maybe there's a link there.

You state of imply several things that are considerably more vague and bias sounding than what they say. So stop saying you're not saying anything for or against bras.

One shitty study is 1991, one book in 1995 and this bullshit has been circulating ever since.
Strawberry is right. It's got more to do with the size of the booby than the bra itself.

Originally Posted by RooRshack

It doesn't prove anything, but it gives good reason to suspect a link.

Just because lymph passages are not totally blocked does not mean that things are moving more slowly and causing more damage.

I wouldn't expect an increase in cancer with patients who have already had cancer, and have likely been pumped full of chemicals in it's treatment. Or maybe they should have looked for the bra connection to removal of lymph nodes, maybe there's a link there.

You state of imply several things that are considerably more vague and bias sounding than what they say. So stop saying you're not saying anything for or against bras.

One shitty, biased study done 20 years ago does nothing to suspect a link. You wouldn't expect an increase in cancer in people who've already had cancer? Um, how do you think cancer spreads? There's a reason we call people who've survived cancer "in remission" instead of cured. You obviously know very little about medicine.

And as I said, I DON'T have anything for or against bras, unlike the OP who seems convinced that one study is proof that no one should wear them. I don't personally wear them, but I know plenty of people who do, and that's ok. How is that biased? And what "vague" things am I implying? You seem to be pretty "vague" in that accusation.

I read once that half a grapefruit a day increases the risk of breast cancer. I don't take things like this very seriously.

if you wear a bra backward does it give you back cancer?

That link is hilarious, and I read the book 20 plus years ago.
In brief: if you need a bra daily, get ones that really fit. No marks on shoudlers, no ultra tight bands.
Exercise to move lymph through your system daily.
Don't sleep in a bra if you can avoid it, wear a different style to avoid the same pressure.

Now, I have saved you money.

Originally Posted by orison319

if you wear a bra backward does it give you back cancer?

Likely if your bra is backward the back fat is the issue!