Cancer

Breast Cancer and Antiperspirants RUMOR

This hoax message states that:

• Antiperspirants block the body from disposing of built-up toxins. This results in a collection of toxins in the lymph nodes under the arms, which causes cellular mutations and the development of breast cancer.
• Underarm shaving allows cancer-causing substances in antiperspirants to be absorbed through razor nicks. These substances prevent underarm lymph nodes from removing cancer-causing toxins from the breasts.
• Most breast cancers develop in the upper outer quadrant of the breast because that is the area closest to the lymph nodes exposed to antiperspirants.
• Men have a lower risk of developing breast cancer because they do not shave their underarms, and their underarm hair prevents chemicals in antiperspirants from being absorbed

None of the claims in this hoax email are true.
There is absolutely no evidence that antiperspirants cause breast cancer.

The body does not eliminate toxins through sweating. Sweat is 99.9% water, and the remaining 0.1% consists of small concentrations urea, fatty substances, and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc. Sweating is the body’s way of regulating the internal temperature. Exercise increases the temperature, causing sweating. The evaporation of water from the skin results in cooling. Preventing or reducing perspiration under the arms (as in using antiperspirants) does not affect the body's ability to eliminate these wastes, as they can be eliminated through other areas of the body such as the soles of the feet and hands and most other body surfaces.

There is no evidence that aluminum (one of the ingredients in antiperspirant) or any of the other chemicals in antiperspirants are cause mutations or damage to DNA that can lead to cancer.

Skin infections may be more likely from underarm shaving, but not cancer. Applying antiperspirant may cause increased inflammation in an irritated shaving nick, but again, it does not cause cancer.

Lymph nodes do not release these toxins through sweating. Sweat glands are not connected to lymph nodes. Sweat glands are located in the skin not the lymph nodes. The liver and kidneys remove most cancer-causing substances and “toxins.”

More than 50% of breast cancers are in the upper outer quadrant. This quadrant is where most of the breast tissue is located. Breast quadrants are not of equal size and a large amount of breast tissue in the “tail” of the breast which extends toward the underarm. The number of breast cancers in the upper outer quadrant is proportional to the amount of tissue in that area.

Men are less likely to develop breast cancer because they have less breast tissue. Women have more breast tissue and are more likely to develop breast cancer. Exposure to estrogen is also an increased risk factor for women, and men who have increased levels of female hormone due to metabolic or genetic conditions.

There have been many studies to determine risk factors for breast cancer, and antiperspirant use has not, in any way, been linked to the risk of developing breast cancer.

Click here to learn more about the real risk factors associated with breast cancer.