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Can wearing a bra all the time cause cancer?
I've worn a sports bra all the time (most) for about 2 or 3 years. There isn't a reason, I just feel more comfortable that way. However, I came across something that said that wearing a bra all the time can cause cancer. I won't wear it all the time anymore now, but I'm scared that I could have breast cancer or that I will. Advice please!
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There have been several rumours about bras and breast cancer that have been going around as well as breast cancer myths. Wearing a sports bra, an underwire bra, a tight bra, or even sleeping with a bra on does not cause breast cancer. Wearing a tight bra or wearing a bra to bed might cause some discomfort but that’s all.
It’s always good to get acquainted with your breasts to know how your breasts normally look and feel. That way you can spot any changes quickly and report them to your doctor. Get to know what is normal for you and make sure you look at your breasts in the mirror and feel your breast to see if there is any change. It’s also good to know what changes to look for. This website gives you the changes that you should look out for: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
A trusted website that tells you the facts about breast cancer is breastcancer.org: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location) it tell you everything you need to know including breast cancer risk factors and the five steps of breast exam.
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There is a lot of what are called "old wives tales" out there on many different subjects. These tales have no bases in fact. This tale you came across appears to be just another one of these "old wives tales."
The exact cause(s) of Breast Cancer is not known. What is known is it is more prevalent in women whose family has a history of Breast Cancer. Breast cancer occurs more frequently in white women than in black, Hispanic, or Asian women. But black women are more likely to get breast cancer at a younger age and are also more likely to die of breast cancer.
Late or no childbearing. Women who had their first child after the age of 30 have a greater chance of developing breast cancer than women who had their children at a younger age. Women who never had children have an increased risk for developing breast cancer.
Hormones. Female hormones play a part in some types of breast cancer. The use of estrogen-progestin hormone therapy after menopause for several years or more increases your risk of developing breast cancer. But within 5 years after you stop using combined therapy, your risk returns to normal. Long-term use of estrogen alone may increase your risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
Beginning menstruation before age 12 and beginning menopause later than age 55 increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. The years when you have a menstrual cycle are your high-estrogen years. Experts think that the longer you have higher estrogen, the more risk you have for breast cancer.
Having extra body fat and drinking alcohol both lead to higher levels of estrogen in the body. Especially after menopause, when your estrogen levels are naturally low, this raises your breast cancer risk.
The most positive or proactive thing you can for yourself is to learn the signs of early detection through self-examination. If you do not know how to examine your breast ask your doctor. Have regular checkups by your doctor. If something feels wrong let a doctor check it out.
Never, never assume it's nothing; my wife almost made that mistake when she found a small lump on her breast. It just so happened that when she found the lump she had an appointment with our family doctor and mentioned it to her. The lump turned out to be cancer and she had a mastectomy where upon examination in the lab a second tumor too small to be see in any other manner was found to be forming. My wife is now 5 years plus cancer free and considered a cancer survivor all because she had a scheduled doctor’s appointment and made mention to her doctor.
Learn to self-examine and if anything unusual is felt get to a doctor.
The information supplied above is from WEBMD [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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I've read explanations of this theory before; the idea has to do with metal in the underwire transmitting electromagnetic energy, so sports bras don't even fall under the type of bra that the followers think would cause cancer. It's a fringe theory, however, that isn't widely accepted by scientists or supported by good data or published in any reputable journals. Regardless, create a regular breast healt routine; look up how to do a monthly breast self-exam to check for lumps or changes in the breast tissue. If you find anything you're suspicious of, ask your doctor to evaluative your breasts.
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