J_9,
I loved reading your introduction, even though I am a little late on posting. But I have a question I would like you to answer since you are in the medical field an have been through breast cancer personally, maybe you can give me a definite answer. I'm sure every teenage girl and women has heard some of these "myths". Such as can wearing a bra at night while sleeping, cause breast cancer? Or even just sleeping on your stomach? And also I am a preschool teacher and sometimes while trying to calm a little one down, I might get kicked in the breast rather hard, and I have heard that that might cause it too? I have asked friends and female family members these questions, and some say yes and some say no. So are these just "myths" or is there some truth behind them? Thanks for all your help!

Ashley, I am going to put your mind at ease here!!

Breast cancer is genetic. There are few outside sources that contribute to breast cancer, and stress is currently being studied as a possible contributor.

To answer your questions:

Wearing a bra to bed at night will only prolong sagging. :p My 13 year old wears hers 24/7.

Sleeping on your stomach, you are kidding right? :eek: LOL, if that were the case then 75% or more of women would have breast cancer.

Getting kicked in the breast from fidgity little ones? Nah, that is only painful for a short while.

There are new studies out that have proven that since women were taken off hormone replacement therapies after menopause in 2002 or 2003, I think it was, that the rate of breast cancer has declined tremendously.

So, breast cancer is largely genetic and hormones contribute in part to its occurrence.

Now, mind you there are 2 types of breast cancer - estrogen receptive and non-estrogen receptive. Estrogen receptive means that if you are genetically predisposed then estrogen levels will contribute. I had extrogen receptive, after my mastectomy and chemo I was no longer able to use any form of birth control since birth control contains estrogen. I got pregnant 5 years ago, I was watched very closely because pregnancy causes estrogen levels to rise.

If a woman has estrogen receptive breast cancer then the cancer can possibly come back in 5 other organs if estrogen levels rise to a high concentration level.

I hope this helped. :D

I actually read in new scientist that wearing a bra while sleeping lets the blood flow less freely and can heighten the probability of developing cancer.. the same with lying on your front.

of course it may only heighten the risk by 1 or 2 percent.. but studies have shown that a link may possibly be there.

Well, Cap you are right in that there are studies, but the studies as of yet have no merit and have been unfounded at this point in time. There is also a rumor about women who use antiperspirants developing cancer. There is no fact based evidence to prove this. If this were the case the doctor's would advise women to stop sleeping on their stomachs from a young age, etc etc.

The oncologic specialists I have dealt with trough the years emphatically state that this is not so.

Yes of course, because the studies take such a long time and the chances may be so slight that you need to do a lot of trials in order to get a statistically significant result.

I'm not trying to disprove your point, just stating that there have been inconclusive studies in the past, and it definitely shouldn't be labelled a "myth"

Well, just like the antipersperant issue. Actually that one is now a myth, because studies were done and found inconclusive. Now however, the sleeping on the stomach and the wearing the bra 24/7 is also inconclusive.

Don't you really think that since my daughter is genetically prone to possibly have breast cancer in her future that I would NOT allow her to wear her bra 24/7 the way she prefers.

I was using the word "myth" because I have consulted my oncologist, reconstuctive surgeon, and gynocologist for an answer to this question when my daughter started wearing her bra 24/7. That is what they all told me. Once it has been proven inconclusive and the story continues to circulate it is determined it is considered a myth.

Snopes.com states that the breast cancer and anti-perspirant link is undetermined. Let's face it, you are either genetically predisposed or not.

My daughter is and all of my specialists believe that this is nothing to be concerned about. We ingest chemicals by the pound in all the foods we eat. That is something to be a little more concerned about.

Oh yes, granted that is the case. There's no chance that wearing a bra 24/7 will do to your body anything like the other things we do to our bodies on a daily basis, we're talking very small percentages here.

I'll see if I can dig out the New scientist article

I would appreciate it if you did. I would be interested in reading and critiquing it.

Thanks Cap. Oh, yea, you have a smudge on your badge!! Here I'll shine it back up! LOL

Sorry J_9 I can't find it dear :(

Maybe I am mistaken.

Well, darlin, if you find it I would love to read it.