Deoderant and Cancer?

87>I was told that anti-persperant deoderants can cause cancer. is this true?
Reply:Actually it's still in debate.





Feb. 28, 2006 -- Does regular use of antiperspirants increase a woman's risk for developing breast cancer? A researcher in the U.K. says the answer could very well be yes, but experts tell WebMD that there is still little evidence to back up the claim.


The antiperspirant-breast cancer claim has achieved something akin to urban legend status on the Internet and in the popular press, despite that fact that few clinical studies in humans have addressed the issue.





One of the strongest, published in 2002, found no link between antiperspirant or deodorant use and breast cancer risk. Researchers compared usage patterns among roughly 800 breast cancer patients and a similar number of women without the disease.





But cancer researcher Philippa Darbre, PhD, of the University of Reading in England, sees it differently. She says the evidence is mounting that the aluminum-based active ingredient in antiperspirants can mimic estrogen in the body.





"Lifetime exposure to estrogen is the risk factor which is tied most strongly to breast cancer," Darbre tells WebMD. "If the aluminum salts in antiperspirants enter the body and mimic estrogen it stands to reason that constant exposure over many years may pose a risk."
Reply:I heard the same thing several years ago, but I haven't heard anything since so I'm assuming it was a fluke. They haven't done any recalls or pulled any off the shelves so I would say it's nothing to worry about.
Reply:i know that when you are tested for cancer if you are being tested around where you have deoderant on it may send up a red flag to docters but i havent heard much about it causing cancer
Reply:There was an e-mail circulating linking using deodorant to breast cancer. Don't believe everything you read, this is a myth. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim.





Read this article called "Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk" from the American Cancer Society.





http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/conten...
Reply:Anti-perspirants have aluminum chlorohydrate in them which helps "keep you dry". Unfortunately, daily use of an anti-perspirant on the tender skin of the underarm can lead to skin rashes, peeling skin (painful in that area, too!) and the aluminum can be absorbed into the blood stream contributing to a weakening of the bones. There was also a link to Alzheimer's but I don't know if that has been proved or is still in the rumor stage.





DEODORANTS do NOT contain this nasty form of aluminum and although they do not claim to keep you "dry", they will help to reduce odor.





Read labels carefully--it's good that you are paying attention and asking questions





Hope this helps.
Reply:Try using a deodorant made by natural substances if you are concerned. Try out Tom's of Maine.
Reply:Research has said this, but the main thing that you should do is to shave your underarms at night because when you shave you are breaking the skin open and then putting on your deodorant. Not good. There are large amounts of aluminum in these products. Adidas makes a deodorant that does not have the aluminum in it. Later through the day you do get some BO but it is really not that bad, just carry it w/ you and reapply. Good luck. Just remember do NOT shave then apply deodorant w/ these chemicals in them. If you look at you deodorant it says DO NOT APPLY ON BROKEN SKIN!
Reply:The brands of antiperspirants have aluminum in them that has been linked to cancer and brain neurological diseases . I use Naturals brand with baking soda made by the Melaluca company
Reply:There has been a lot of research done in the past few years about weather deordant use leads to cancer. Research so far has come back undecided. Some medical field professionals will insist that there is no link to cancer from the use of deoradant while others will beg to differ. But also ask yourself this question. How many of the daily things do we use or wear cause cancer? Life is full of risk with whatever we do. Below is some research information regarding deordant and cancer. I hope you find this information useful. Best of luck to you and take care.





Breast cancer- deodorant link 'needs more evidence'





1/ 3/2006





MORE research is needed to examine whether there is a link between using antiperspirants and the risk of breast cancer, an expert said today.





Chemicals that mimic the body's natural hormone oestrogen are known to affect a woman's risk of breast cancer, according to the review in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.





Dr Philippa Darbre said evidence was mounting that an aluminium-based compound, which often makes up a quarter of the volume of some antiperspirant agents, can break through the skin and once in the body could mimic oestrogen.





The researcher, from the University of Reading, called for further study to evaluate whether this process could increase the risk of breast cancer.





The review said that in recent years scientists had found that many compounds in the environment interact with oestrogen.





These compounds are normally complex molecules and are found in many plants and are used in materials like detergents, pesticides and plastics.





But now scientists believe that a variety of simple metal ions, including aluminium and cadmium, can also bind with the body's oestrogen receptors and influence their action.





Dr Darbre, from the School of Biological Sciences, said: "Since oestrogen is known to be involved in the development and progression of human breast cancer, any components of the environment that have oestrogenic activity and which can enter the human breast could theoretically influence a woman's risk of breast cancer."





She said that aluminium salts in antiperspirants were a major source of human exposure to aluminium.





These products are often sprayed into the armpits - concentrating exposure near to the breast.





The review also noted that such products were also often applied immediately after shaving, when the skin was more likely to be damaged and less able to keep the aluminium out.





"It is reasonable to question whether this aluminium could then influence breast cancer," Dr Darbre said.





The researcher said there were also concerns about potential links between smoking and breast cancer.





The review said that tobacco introduced cadmium into the body, with research showing that it can collect in breast tissue.





Dr Darbre said that were indications that the accumulation of cadmium may also be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.





She added: "Each of these agents on their own may not have a powerful effect, but we need to see what happens when a number of them act together - it could be that this would have a significant effect on diseases like breast cancer."





Liz Carroll, head of clinical services at Breast Cancer Care, said: "As the extent to which lifestyle and environmental factors increase the risk of developing breast cancer is still uncertain, Breast Cancer Care always welcomes new research into this area, where much still needs to be learnt.





"Research studies to date have found no proven link between the use of deodorants and the risk of developing breast cancer.





"More extensive research in this area is needed to fully determine whether there is a link, and to enable people to make a more informed decision about deodorant use.





"We hear from people with breast cancer or breast health concerns daily through our helpline and website, and know how research into risk factors for breast cancer can cause anxiety.





"It is important however for all people to be aware that age remains the single biggest risk factor."





Dr Sarah Rawlings, head of policy and information at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "There is no reliable scientific evidence to suggest a link between deodorant or antiperspirant use - both on their own and in combination with shaving - and breast cancer.





"A large number of scientific studies have investigated breast cancer risk factors. However, there is no reliable evidence to suggest deodorant or antiperspirant use are two of them.





"This review does not provide any further proof.





"Breast cancer is a complex disease and its causes are unknown for the majority of the 41,000 women diagnosed each year in the UK.





"That's why Breakthrough Breast Cancer supports the Breakthrough Generations Study - the largest study of its kind in the UK to investigate the causes of breast cancer and to gain information on causes that might be preventable."