Do Bras Really Cause Breast Cancer?

                Women have used a variety of garments/devices to cover, restrain or modify the appearance of their breasts over time. They include corsets, camisoles and brassieres.

Brassieres popularly known as “Bras” replaced Corsets in the 19^th Century and since then much attention has been paid to the fashion aspect of bras. Several corporations are now into the multimillion dollar industry of brassiere manufacturing leading to the evolution of bras with many types of bras available depending on the individual and the need. These include sport bras, nursing bras, strapless/halter neck bras, wireless/full band/partial band, molded/padded/unpadded.

However, over time and even more recently, there have been some suggestions and speculations that wearing bras could be linked to breast cancer.

This has created much buzz on the internet, even with the introduction of the “No Bra Day” which holds on July 9^th and October 13^th.

                The explanation by people in support of this idea is that these bras especially underwire bras block the drainage of lymphatic fluid from the bottom of the breast so that it cannot drain back into the body and that it therefore leads to accumulation of toxins that results in breast cancer.

An author also suggested that the use of bras explains the high rate of breast cancer in Western countries and lower rates in developing world where women are less likely to wear bras.

So what can we make of these suggestions?

Presently, the renowned Cancer Research organizations in the world like CancerResearch UK and the American Cancer Society believe there is no scientific link between use of bras and breast cancer.

CancerResearch UK states that you would need to wear a bra that is painfully and unbearably tight for it to have any effect on your lymphatic system.

Some patients that had treatment which involved removal of lymph nodes which help in draining lymph were also followed up at the National Cancer Institute were also followed up over time and they were found not to have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Also, constriction or application of pressure to a particular area of the body has not been shown to make normal cells cancerous unlike identified “carcinogens” such as some chemicals, radiation and some viruses

We also know that there are many other differences between lifestyle in Western and developing world other than the use of bras that contribute to breast cancer risk.

Presently, the cause(s) of Breast Cancer is/are not known. A breast cancer surgeon once stated that this “bra myth” actually comes from the frustration of not knowing what actually causes the disease.

Known risk factors for Breast Cancer however include

•          Sex: It is more common in females, although it could occur in males, but it is rare
•          Age: The risk increases with increasing age
•     Having a strong family history of the disease
•          Use of Oral contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy
•      Late age at first childbirth or not having children at all
•      Early age at first menstruation
•      Late age at menopause
•      Alcohol intake

It is important to note that presence of these risk factors does not mean an individual would develop breast cancer, it just denotes that such individuals should take breast screening more seriously and should alert their healthcare providers once they notice any change in their breasts

In conclusion, currently, there is no scientific link between the use of bras and breast cancer. However this is not to totally throw the suggestions into the waste bin. We hope ongoing research sheds more light on the cause of Breast Cancer in the nearest future.

'Tunde Kukoyi
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