Breast cancer can be caused by underarm antiperspirants-Disputed!

Breast Cancer can be Caused by Underarm Antiperspirants-Disputed!

Summary of eRumor:
An email claims that the use of antiperspirants is the leading cause of breast cancer. The theory is that toxins are released by sweat, especially under the arms, and antiperspirants are blocking the release of the toxins, allowing them to build up, and the result is cancer. It also claims that nearly all breast cancers are in the upper, outside quadrant of the breast, near the armpits.

The Truth:
According to the American Cancer Society and several other respected medical authorities, the use of antiperspirant does not cause cancer. Additionally, sweating is not the prime way the body gets rid of toxins, so even if the pores under the arms were clogged, that would not doom the body to an accumulation of cancer-threatening build-ups. According to the American Cancer Society, the upper, outside quadrant is not the site of "nearly all" of breast cancers, but about half that.

Although most

For more information:

The American Cancer Society (Do a keyword search using "antiperspirant.")

Link established by Unilever, a UK antiperspirant manufacturer

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

Have any of you heard this before?? It makes a lot of sense, but if true I wonder why it's not more known.

Please forward it to everyone you care about and even those you don't. Ladies - some awareness! Gentleman - pass on to the ladies in your life! Please read this... very important...

Some time ago, I attended a Breast Cancer Awareness seminar put on by Terry Birk with support from Dan Sullivan. During the Q&A period, I asked why the most common area for Breast Cancer was near the arm pit. My question could not be answered at that time. This email was just sent to me, and I find it interesting that my question has been answered. I challenge you all to re-think your everyday use of a product that could ultimately lead to a terminal illness. As of today, I will change my use. A friend forwarded this to me. I showed it to a friend going through chemotherapy and she said she learned this fact in a support group recently.

I wish I had known it 14 years ago. I just got information from a health seminar that I would like to share.

The leading cause of breast cancer is the use of anti-perspirant. What? A concentration of toxins and leads to cell mutations: a.k.a. CANCER. Yes, ANTI-PERSPIRANT. Most of the products out there are an anti-perspirant/deodorant combination, so go home and check. Deodorant is fine, anti-perspirant is not.

Here's why: The human body has a few areas that it uses to purge toxins; behind the knees, behind the ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged in the form of perspiration. Anti-perspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from below the armpits. These toxins do not just magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. Nearly all breast cancer tumors occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area. This is precisely where the lymph nodes are located. Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by anti-perspirant usage because most of the anti-perspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied to the skin. Women who apply anti-perspirant right after shaving increase the risk further because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area.

PLEASE pass this along to anyone you care about. Breast cancer is becoming frighteningly common. This wareness may save lives. If you are skeptical about these findings, I urge you to do some research for yourself. You will arrive at the same conclusions, I assure you.

Thank you,

Katrina Scott Asst. Director of Sports Marketing University of Maryland P.O. Box 295 Cole Field House/Campus Drive College Park, MD 20741-0295