Deodorant, antiperspirant - and breast cancer?
“It seems essential, rather than alarm[ing] women with groundless assumptions, to heighten their awareness of the importance of prevention and the value of screening…”[1]
What’s the myth?
It has been alleged that use of deodorant and antiperspirant products increases the risk of breast cancer. Or, more specifically, that aluminium-containing compounds and parabens in these products increase the risk of breast cancer.
A related theory suggests that underarm shaving increases the risk of deodorant- or antiperspirant-induced breast cancer.
Myth #1: Aluminium-containing compounds in deodorants and antiperspirants increase the risk of breast cancer.
Aluminium-based compounds are the active ingredient in antiperspirants, and work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts to prevent the flow of sweat to the skin's surface.
It has been suggested that, by preventing perspiration, antiperspirants prevent the body from sweating out toxins.
It has also been suggested that aluminium-containing compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause oestrogen-like (hormone-mimicking) effects in the body.
FACT: Aluminium-containing compounds do not prevent removal of toxic substances from our bodies
Toxic compounds are primarily removed from the body by excretion with other waste products, via urine or faeces. The liver and kidneys play the primary role in filtering wastes prior to excretion. In healthy people, the kidneys eliminate the vast majority of aluminium from the body.
Other mechanisms, such as sweating, crying, coughing and exhaling, are only minor routes to detoxification in comparison.
Additionally, antiperspirants reduce the amount of sweat, they do not completely prevent sweating.
FACT: Humans have widespread exposure to aluminium
Humans are exposed to aluminium from various sources, including food, packaging, cooking utensils, water, medicines and the atmosphere. Food additives are the main source of aluminium intake. Exposure from deodorants and antiperspirants is a minor source of aluminium in comparison.
Myth #2: Parabens in underarm deodorants and antiperspirants increase the risk of breast cancer.
This myth appears to have stemmed from one study conducted in 2004,[2] in which parabens were found in breast cancer tissue from close to the armpit. The authors coupled this finding with the fact that parabens have been shown to weakly mimic the hormone oestrogen, which is considered to play a role in breast cancer development.
FACT: The presence of a substance in the body doesn’t mean it causes harm.
The 2004 study did not demonstrate a link between parabens and breast cancer; indeed, serious flaws in this study[3] have led to its widespread criticism from other researchers in the field.
In fact, no study has established a link between parabens in underarm products and breast cancer.
It has also since been demonstrated that parabens can be present in breast tumour tissue even when underarm deodorant or antiperspirant is not used.[4]
FACT: There is no evidence linking the use of deodorants or antiperspirants to breast cancer
A 2002 study of over 1600 women, half with breast cancer and half without, found no overall difference in the use of underarm products and shaving practices between the two groups.[5]
In 2010 the Cancer Council published the Fact Sheet ‘Cancer Myths: Deodorants and breast cancer’[6], debunking the myth.
Breast cancer organisation ‘Breakthrough’ (breakthrough.org.uk) says there is “currently no good scientific evidence linking deodorants or antiperspirants to an increase in breast cancer risk”.
Consumer organisation CHOICE states that “many extremely thorough epidemiological studies have failed to find that using antiperspirant is even a risk factor for developing breast cancer, let alone the leading cause of it”[7].
The US FDA has dismissed the concern that antiperspirants can cause breast cancer as a “myth.”
In 2003 the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced that “there is no proof that the use of antiperspirants or deodorants causes breast cancer, contrary to widespread rumor”[8]. The ACS reiterated this position in 2006.
A 2008 review by a group of clinical experts in oncology (the study and treatment of cancer) on the question of whether there is evidence for a link between use of deodorants and antiperspirants concluded that “it can be said that this question does not constitute a public health problem and that it therefore appears unnecessary to continue research on the subject”.[1]
The bottom line? You can continue to use underarm deodorants and antiperspirants with confidence. There is no evidence to suggest that these products increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
For more information, click on the following links:
NCI Fact Sheet: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo
ACS: www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk
Sources:
[1] Namer, M., Luporsi, E., Gligorov, J. Lokiek, F. and Spielmann, M. 2008, “The use of deodorants/antiperspirants does not constitute a risk factor for breast cancer”, in Bulletin du Cancer, 95(9):871-80. See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18829420, or for English translation see www.thefactsabout.co.uk/files/3102008113158review_study.pdf
[2] Darbre, P. D., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G., Sauer, M. J. and Pope, G. S. 2004, Concentrations of parabens in human breast tissue, Journal of Applied Toxicology 24, pp 5-13.
[3] Only 20 breast tumour samples were analysed (parabens were found in 18); no comparison to healthy tissue was made; the source of the Parabens in the tissue was not identified.
[4] Barr, L. et al 2012, “Measurement of parabens concentrations in human breast tissue at serial locations across the breast from axilla to sternum”, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology 32, 219-232
[5] Mirick, D. K., Davis, S. and Thomas, D.B. 2002, Antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 94(20), pp 1578-80.
[6] www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/deodorants-breast-myth/
[7] Choice – Australian Consumers’ Association 2004, Personal care products: myths, rumours and facts
[8] Personal Care Products Council, “Antiperspirants & Deodorants “. http://cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/14/
What’s the myth?
It has been alleged that use of deodorant and antiperspirant products increases the risk of breast cancer. Or, more specifically, that aluminium-containing compounds and parabens in these products increase the risk of breast cancer.
A related theory suggests that underarm shaving increases the risk of deodorant- or antiperspirant-induced breast cancer.
Myth #1: Aluminium-containing compounds in deodorants and antiperspirants increase the risk of breast cancer.
Aluminium-based compounds are the active ingredient in antiperspirants, and work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts to prevent the flow of sweat to the skin's surface.
It has been suggested that, by preventing perspiration, antiperspirants prevent the body from sweating out toxins.
It has also been suggested that aluminium-containing compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause oestrogen-like (hormone-mimicking) effects in the body.
FACT: Aluminium-containing compounds do not prevent removal of toxic substances from our bodies
Toxic compounds are primarily removed from the body by excretion with other waste products, via urine or faeces. The liver and kidneys play the primary role in filtering wastes prior to excretion. In healthy people, the kidneys eliminate the vast majority of aluminium from the body.
Other mechanisms, such as sweating, crying, coughing and exhaling, are only minor routes to detoxification in comparison.
Additionally, antiperspirants reduce the amount of sweat, they do not completely prevent sweating.
FACT: Humans have widespread exposure to aluminium
Humans are exposed to aluminium from various sources, including food, packaging, cooking utensils, water, medicines and the atmosphere. Food additives are the main source of aluminium intake. Exposure from deodorants and antiperspirants is a minor source of aluminium in comparison.
Myth #2: Parabens in underarm deodorants and antiperspirants increase the risk of breast cancer.
This myth appears to have stemmed from one study conducted in 2004,[2] in which parabens were found in breast cancer tissue from close to the armpit. The authors coupled this finding with the fact that parabens have been shown to weakly mimic the hormone oestrogen, which is considered to play a role in breast cancer development.
FACT: The presence of a substance in the body doesn’t mean it causes harm.
The 2004 study did not demonstrate a link between parabens and breast cancer; indeed, serious flaws in this study[3] have led to its widespread criticism from other researchers in the field.
In fact, no study has established a link between parabens in underarm products and breast cancer.
It has also since been demonstrated that parabens can be present in breast tumour tissue even when underarm deodorant or antiperspirant is not used.[4]
FACT: There is no evidence linking the use of deodorants or antiperspirants to breast cancer
A 2002 study of over 1600 women, half with breast cancer and half without, found no overall difference in the use of underarm products and shaving practices between the two groups.[5]
In 2010 the Cancer Council published the Fact Sheet ‘Cancer Myths: Deodorants and breast cancer’[6], debunking the myth.
Breast cancer organisation ‘Breakthrough’ (breakthrough.org.uk) says there is “currently no good scientific evidence linking deodorants or antiperspirants to an increase in breast cancer risk”.
Consumer organisation CHOICE states that “many extremely thorough epidemiological studies have failed to find that using antiperspirant is even a risk factor for developing breast cancer, let alone the leading cause of it”[7].
The US FDA has dismissed the concern that antiperspirants can cause breast cancer as a “myth.”
In 2003 the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced that “there is no proof that the use of antiperspirants or deodorants causes breast cancer, contrary to widespread rumor”[8]. The ACS reiterated this position in 2006.
A 2008 review by a group of clinical experts in oncology (the study and treatment of cancer) on the question of whether there is evidence for a link between use of deodorants and antiperspirants concluded that “it can be said that this question does not constitute a public health problem and that it therefore appears unnecessary to continue research on the subject”.[1]
The bottom line? You can continue to use underarm deodorants and antiperspirants with confidence. There is no evidence to suggest that these products increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
For more information, click on the following links:
NCI Fact Sheet: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo
ACS: www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk
Sources:
[1] Namer, M., Luporsi, E., Gligorov, J. Lokiek, F. and Spielmann, M. 2008, “The use of deodorants/antiperspirants does not constitute a risk factor for breast cancer”, in Bulletin du Cancer, 95(9):871-80. See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18829420, or for English translation see www.thefactsabout.co.uk/files/3102008113158review_study.pdf
[2] Darbre, P. D., Aljarrah, A., Miller, W. R., Coldham, N. G., Sauer, M. J. and Pope, G. S. 2004, Concentrations of parabens in human breast tissue, Journal of Applied Toxicology 24, pp 5-13.
[3] Only 20 breast tumour samples were analysed (parabens were found in 18); no comparison to healthy tissue was made; the source of the Parabens in the tissue was not identified.
[4] Barr, L. et al 2012, “Measurement of parabens concentrations in human breast tissue at serial locations across the breast from axilla to sternum”, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology 32, 219-232
[5] Mirick, D. K., Davis, S. and Thomas, D.B. 2002, Antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 94(20), pp 1578-80.
[6] www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/deodorants-breast-myth/
[7] Choice – Australian Consumers’ Association 2004, Personal care products: myths, rumours and facts
[8] Personal Care Products Council, “Antiperspirants & Deodorants “. http://cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/14/