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I work in cancer research and statistics and despite reading reams of journal articles on all the latest studies, this is the first I've seen of a "study" that shows underwire bras cause breast cancer. Seeing as how the underwire bra industry is not exactly considered a power player, I'm not clear why their interests are being protected by the FDA? If this does indeed cause a cancer that kills thousands of women annually, why are they still being allowed to market their product?

I tend to lean towards the viewpoint that hormones and in some cases genetics cause many breast cancers, but perhaps I've missed something. It would be nice if the study that was quoted could be named, or the authors supplied so we could all look it up and judge for ourselves.

One small note, massage of the breasts may not be a good idea for all women as it has actually been known to stimulate milk production in some women. An unexplained discharge may trigger a biopsy.

The substances known to contribute to breast cancer tend to reside in fat stores and not in the lymphatics. Cancer cells sometimes break free of tumors and lodge in the local lymph nodes. Vigorous massage could theoretically dislodge these and hasten spread to more distant areas. Before starting any breast massage program, go see your doctor, get a Mammogram and find out what is appropriate and what is not.

All of the doctors and medical personnel I work with want to help eradicate cancer and if a garment was "known" to cause a disease as devastating as breast cancer, I know they would be the first to demand it be pulled off the market. Please check your facts before posting, or supply enough information so we may do our own checking. Good sites to look up studies are the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, Medscape - Hematology/Oncology webpages, Medline, etc.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer are often very frightened. Telling them that a garment they wore trustingly for years brought this disease down on their heads seems kind of cruel. Tell us who the study authors are and give us real results so we know what to believe.

Learn more about this author, De Ette Stewart.
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