Do deodorants cause breast cancer?

Many women have read an article on the internet linking deodorant and antiperspirant usage with breast cancer. ¹ There was a plethora of articles on the internet, ^{2 3} chain emails, and publications in magazines mentioning a particular health seminar in the United States where findings were presented not only linking breast cancer to antiperspirants but claiming that the use of antiperspirants seemed to be the leading cause of breast cancer. ³

The explanation behind this theory was very simple. Toxins are purged in the form of perspiration. Antiperspirants, as the name suggests, prevent perspiration, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from the axillary area. The toxins accumulate, and the body deposits them to the nearest place able to deal with their disposal-the axillary lymph nodes. Toxins in the area cause cell mutations, and, apparently because the breast is drained by this particular group of lymph nodes, this leads to cancer.

Utter nonsense, of course, but ignorance spread panic around the globe. Phones rang at breast cancer awareness offices, women ran to their general practitioners for advice, people worried without reason. I have tried to track the original authors of those chain emails; I have tried to find out what that health seminar in the United States was all about, but all in vain.

At last the furore seems to have abated, with articles in newspapers, magazines, and on the internet debunking this latest offering from cyberspace. ^{4 5} Concern was so widespread that cancer societies worldwide have been compelled to publish statements rebutting this nonsense and decrying the twisted mind which put this article out there for the masses to read. ^{6 7}

I do not want to fire an attack on the internet or on those who believed the story; not everyone has detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, or breast pathology. However, we all take possible health risks into consideration, especially when these articles are made to seem so real that even the most hardened cynic could be taken in. People should practise healthy scepticism and a lot more common sense. Anything of any scientific importance must carry the name of the authors with their credentials. It should also cite their place of work.

This latest scare compares to one a few years ago when a book called Dressed to Kill suggested that underwired bras can constrict the body's lymph node system, causing breast cancer. ⁸ The authors attributed the high rate of breast cancer in North America (compared with less industrialised countries) to the fact that most North American women wear bras.

This link between underwired bras and breast cancer is completely inaccurate for many reasons, the most worrying one being that the authors have failed to account for genetic and environmental factors, age, family history, high fat diets, obesity, etc.

All women should be breast cancer aware, as it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women. ⁹ Women should be made aware of the real risk factors and be spared the grief of this nonsense.

The aetiology of breast cancer is vast, and largely unexplored. Indeed, it is extremely ambitious to attempt to pursue it in such a short article. So just grab your roll on and relax; it was all a hoax.

Marianna Philippidou, second year medical student, Guy's, King's and St Thomas's School of Medicine and Dentistry
Email: Marianna.2.philippidou@kcl.ac.uk


studentBMJ 2001;09:1-42 February ISSN 0966-6494

1. Breast cancer bomb. www.balaams.ass.com/journal/theworld/breast.htm (accessed 21 Nov 2000).
2. Anti.perspirant is "a" cause of breast cancer? www.suite101. com/article.cfm/breast_cancer/21260 (accessed 21 Nov 2000).
3. Anti.perspirant causes breast cancer. hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBUrbanMyths.shtml#antiperspirant (accessed 21 Nov 2000).
4. St Jude Medical Center. Breast cancer myths and facts. www.stjudemc.com/breastcancer.mythsfacts.cfm (accessed 21 Nov 2000).
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6. Maurer Foundation. The top ten myths about breast cancer. www.maurer.foundation.org/BC/TOP10.HTM (accessed 21 Nov 2000).
7. National Cancer Institute. Antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer. www.meb.uni.bonn.de/cancernet/600366. html (accessed 21 Nov 2000).
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