Is it Time to say Goodbye to Underwire Bras?

It's a common misconception that underwired bras cause breast cancer. Just the other day, someone at the nail salon was saying that she doesn't wear bras because they cause breast cancer. Many people believe that underwired bras cause breast cancer because it is said that it disrupts the lymph flow of the lymphatic system. Fortunately, a study in 2014 shows that wearing a bra has no significant evidence that underwire bras are associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Furthermore, there was another study done in 1991 that also indicated that there is no scientific association between breast cancer risk and any type of bra. However, this study did find that women who did not wear bras had a decreased risk of breast cancer compared to those who wore bras. The researchers found that this may be due to other factors, such as wearing a bra and not the actual bra. Additionally, the women who did not wear a bra in the study were usually thin, which may be why they had a decreased risk of breast cancer than those who wore bras because being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The researchers of this study believe that breast size may be a potential factor in this myth that bras cause breast cancer.

Currently, there are still no studies that show that underwire bras, or any bra, is associated with higher risks of breast cancer. As this topic is studied more, there may be new light shed on this common misconception.

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Information and image obtained from the following website(s):

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/disproven-or-controversial-breast-cancer-risk-factors.html

https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/slideshows/myths-facts?slide=3

https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FactorsThatDoNotIncreaseRisk.html

https://pixabay.com/photos/underwear-lingerie-bra-pink-627302/