Question

20] (5 points) There are many misconceptions about breast cancer and its causes. In the late 1990s, there were rumors that antiperspirants cause breast cancer. There are still retail sources that offer alternative underarm hygiene products that claim to reduce the risk of breast cancer. One viral email claimed that by blocking perspiration, antiperspirants prevent the body from purging toxins, instead forcing the body to store toxins in the underarm area near breast tissue. The email stated that men were less likely to develop breast cancer from antiperspirants because their underarm hair trapped most of the product way from direct contact with skin. And as men are less likely to shave their underarms, they are less likely to have shaving nicks through which antiperspirants can enter the body

Answer 1

There is no systematic epidemiologic study to support this myth that anti perspirant causes breast cancer. This claim was only based on self believed thoughts that does not have any research backup.

According to one of the epidemiologic study which was published in 2002, confirmed that there is no link between breast cancer and antiperspirant/deodorant/underarm shaving. This study compared 813 women with breast cancer to 713 women without breast cancer as controls confirming that there is no link between breast cancer and antiperispirant.

Following are the reasons that why the link between breast cancer and antiperspirant is considered as a Myth:

* Razor nicks are not likely to be a major source of carcinogens to enter the body and reach the breast cells.

* It was said that antiperspirants have parabens which leads to cancer. It is true that parabens have weak estrogen (a female harmone which can cause breast cells divide and grow) like properties. But parabens are used as food additives which are also found in many makeup and skin care products which makes it unclear which product is responsible for the absorpthion of paraben through skin. Also paraben does not have strong estrogen like properies but they have weak estrogen like properties. Infact, a women's body makes estrogen hundreds to thousands of times stronger than present in any product. Hence natural estrogens are most likely responsible for developing breast cancer.

* Similarly Aluminium in antiperspirants is considered to play a role in causing breast cancer by blocking sweat glands for reaching sweat to the skin's surface. But the amount of aluminium absorption through the skin is not clear to know its role in causing breast cancer.

* Most Cancer causing substances are not removed by sweating but by the kidneys and by the liver which proves this has nothing to do with antiperspiration or sweating.

* The reason why women get affected by breast cancer than the men, is siply due to the role of harmones.

These are some reasons which states why antiperspirants and deodrants cannot cause cancer and it is nothing but just a myth. however this might be a marketing strategy to benefit financially.