| "Whom can you trust when your culture is the | | | | discussed in detail in Dressed To Kill, and our follow-up |
| biggest enemy of your health? Can you trust your | | | | research in Fiji, discussed in our book, Get It Off!, |
| culture's leading authorities? Can you trust your | | | | there are still no other studies on the bra/cancer link. |
| culture's government? Can you trust your culture's | | | | Not even a letter or discussion of the issue can be |
| private industry?" | | | | found in any medical journal. After decades of breast |
| We asked those questions in 1995, at the end of our | | | | cancer research, the bra is still completely ignored as |
| book, Dressed To Kill: The Link Between Breast | | | | even being a potential factor for consideration. It's |
| Cancer and Bras. Before writing our book, we sent | | | | like studying foot disease and ignoring shoes. |
| details of our research to the National Cancer | | | | Keeping the Public Mystified |
| Institute, American Cancer Society, President's | | | | This lack of research, and the consequent ignorance, |
| Cancer Panel, American Women's Medical Association, | | | | are then used by cancer organizations to justify |
| National Organization for Women, National Women's | | | | further suppression of the issue. As the American |
| Health Network, and National Women's Health | | | | Cancer Society states on its website, (ignoring the |
| Resource Center. There was no response. Not one. | | | | Harvard study), "There are no scientifically valid |
| Given the lack of interest, we decided to publish our | | | | studies that show a correlation between wearing |
| findings in a book, getting the information directly to | | | | bras of any type and the occurrence of breast |
| the women who needed to hear it. | | | | cancer. Two anthropologists made this association in |
| But are women getting the message? | | | | a book called Dressed To Kill. Their study was not |
| It has been 12 years since our book was first | | | | conducted according to standard principles of |
| published. Over that time, more than 500,000 women | | | | epidemiological research and did not take into |
| in the US alone have died from breast cancer, with | | | | consideration other variables, including known risk |
| another 2,000,000 having been diagnosed with this | | | | factors for breast cancer. There is no other, credible |
| terrible disease -- a disease that is in most cases | | | | research to validate this claim in any way." And they |
| preventable by simply loosening up or eliminating the | | | | don't seem interested in funding any such studies in |
| bra. And yet, this lifesaving information has been | | | | the near future, either. There are other organizations |
| actively suppressed and censored by the medical and | | | | that are similarly critical of the bra/cancer link for lack |
| lingerie industries. | | | | of research evidence, while at the same time |
| Examples of Suppress and Censorship | | | | discouraging any research on the subject. |
| A large public relations firm in New York City was | | | | Of particular interest is when breast cancer |
| willing and eager to help us release this information to | | | | organizations antagonistic to the issue declare the bra |
| the public. "My wife just had breast cancer, and I'm | | | | cancer link to be "misinformation" or a "myth", |
| sure you are right," the head of the firm confessed. | | | | without any scientific study supporting their claims. |
| A big media announcement and celebration were | | | | They say bras are important for women to wear for |
| planned. Days later, however, the firm withdrew its | | | | support, without any evidence showing bras are safe |
| offer to help, stating that one of their clients, a large | | | | or necessary. They then encourage regular |
| medical center, objected to their working with us. | | | | mammograms, cancer prevention drug therapy (not |
| A Sydney, Australia public relations firm agreed to | | | | realizing that "prevention therapy" is an oxymoron), |
| help publicize our work when we were doing | | | | and even preventative mastectomies (which means |
| outreach efforts in their country. But it, too, reversed | | | | that those who are high risk for breast cancer but |
| itself. We had asked if they had any conflicts of | | | | who don't want to get it can have their breast |
| interest, such as lingerie industry clients. They said | | | | removed as a prevention strategy). Of course, it is |
| they had none. But as it turned out, they did | | | | better to remove the bra instead of the breasts, but |
| represent a pharmaceutical company that makes a | | | | bra removal is not a billable procedure. |
| breast cancer treatment drug, and the prevention of | | | | Keep in mind that bras have been associated with |
| breast cancer and its treatment are in conflict, they | | | | other health problems, such as headaches, numbness |
| explained. | | | | in the hands, backache and other postural problems, |
| The Intimate Apparel Council (which is the US trade | | | | cysts, pain, skin depigmentation, and more. And |
| association for the multi-billion dollar bra industry) | | | | lymphatic blockage, which is the result of bra |
| threatened our publisher, Avery Publishing Group, with | | | | constriction, has already been associated with various |
| a lawsuit if Dressed To Kill was released. The | | | | cancers. Clearly, the bra/cancer link needs further |
| publisher said the publicity would help spread the | | | | research, while women take the precaution of |
| word. The lawsuit never materialized. | | | | loosening up. |
| After the book was released, the NBC television | | | | Why the resistance? |
| news show, Dateline, was interested in doing a story | | | | What harm could there be in following our simple |
| on our work. We were extensively interviewed by a | | | | advice, or in even researching this issue? Why the |
| skeptical reporter who became a supporter. The | | | | defensive reaction? |
| story was then abruptly terminated. The producer | | | | There are three reasons: |
| confidentially explained that the policy of General | | | | 1. The bra industry fears class action lawsuits. Many |
| Electric, which owns NBC, is to avoid airing news | | | | insiders have admitted to us that for years the |
| stories that can adversely impact on other GE | | | | industry suspected underwires were causing cancer. |
| interests. As it happens, GE is a manufacturer of | | | | They know that tight bras cause cysts and pain. It is |
| mammography machines. | | | | only a matter of time until a lawsuit is made against a |
| Women's magazines, such as Glamour, Self, and | | | | bra manufacturer. As a defense, the industry is |
| others, ran critical stories condemning our work, and | | | | shifting the blame to the customer, claiming that |
| finding "experts" to encourage women to continue | | | | most women are wearing their bras too tightly, and |
| wearing bras. Elle magazine planned a positive story | | | | should get professional fittings. (How do you get a |
| about the bra/cancer link, but was coerced into pulling | | | | properly fitted push-up bra?) Breaking ranks with |
| the story by bra advertisers. In various newspapers | | | | their industry peers, and trying to capitalize on the |
| around the world, such as the Guardian in the UK, | | | | bad news, are several bra manufacturers that now |
| stories were pulled prior to publication because of | | | | offer newly patented bras claiming to mitigate the |
| fear that they may "panic the public", including their | | | | damage, including cancer, caused by conventional |
| lingerie advertisers. | | | | bras. |
| The British Fashion Council (which is the UK's | | | | 2. The medical industry is making billions each year on |
| equivalent of the Intimate Apparel Council) published | | | | the detection and treatment of breast cancer. As |
| the Breast Health Handbook in 1996 to oppose our | | | | mentioned above, there is a conflict between the |
| efforts. They announced the formation of the | | | | prevention and the treatment of disease, especially if |
| Breakthrough Breast Cancer Foundation, which was | | | | the prevention does not include drugs or surgery. |
| to receive donations from bra sales to fund genetic | | | | The fact is that our treatment-focused, |
| research into breast cancer. The book criticized our | | | | profit-oriented medical system is making a killing |
| work, claiming, "The idea that wearing a bra | | | | treating this disease, and has billions to lose if breast |
| encourages cancer by trapping toxins was recently | | | | cancer goes out of fashion along with bras. |
| put forward by researchers at the Institute for | | | | In addition, the bra issue will revolutionize the breast |
| Culturogenic Studies (sic) in Hawaii. Researchers from | | | | cancer field, embarrassing many researchers. Breast |
| more august establishments promptly dismissed it as | | | | cancer research to date that has ignored the bra |
| claptrap." Without any medical evidence or research, | | | | issue is seriously flawed as a result, which is why the |
| the book informs women that wearing bras is a | | | | "experts" are still unable to explain the cause of over |
| health necessity, and should be worn as early in life | | | | 70% of all breast cancer cases. Career cancer |
| as possible to prevent breast damage. | | | | researchers who have ignored the bra issue will have |
| Our original publisher, Avery, was purchased by giant | | | | to admit this fatal flaw in their work, which they are |
| Penguin Putnam in 1998. The new publisher did not list | | | | not inclined to admit in their lifetimes. |
| the book for three years and refused to revert | | | | 3. Finally, there is the dogmatic, fearful resistance |
| publication rights to the copywrite holders, Singer and | | | | from some women who find their personal identity |
| Grismaijer. The book was virtually unavailable, and it | | | | so connected to their bras that they would rather |
| was thought to have gone out of print. Finally, after | | | | risk cancer than be bra-free (which some women |
| repeated requests, the publishing rights were | | | | have actually told us.) Women are cultural entities, |
| released to us in October, 2001. (ISCD Press has | | | | and so long as our culture scorns a natural bustline, |
| been keeping it in print since then.) | | | | many women will submit to the pain, red marks and |
| A television documentary was produced in the year | | | | indentations, cysts, and even the threat of cancer |
| 2000 by Channel 4 in the UK, called, Bras- The Bare | | | | rather than face potential public ridicule (which never |
| Facts. In the documentary, 100 women with | | | | really happens.) |
| fibrocystic breast disease went bra-free for 3 | | | | There are also women who believe the myth that |
| months to document the effect on breast cysts and | | | | bras will prevent droopy breasts. The bra industry |
| pain. Two prominent British breast surgeons | | | | admits this is a myth, while it still promotes it to |
| conducted the study. The results were astounding, | | | | improve sales. In fact, bras cause breasts to droop, |
| and clearly demonstrated that the bra is a serious | | | | as the breasts become dependent on the bra for |
| health hazard. We were interviewed for the program | | | | support and the natural supportive mechanisms |
| to discuss the bra/cancer connection, which was | | | | atrophy from non use. |
| considered highly plausible and important by the | | | | Despite the resistance, however, some women have |
| doctors interviewed. Some theorized that, in addition | | | | gotten the message. And many health care |
| to lymphatic impairment, the bra could also cause | | | | professionals, who have also suspected bras for |
| cancer by overheating the breasts. The documentary | | | | years, are now spreading that message. As women |
| made newspaper headlines in British Commonwealth | | | | hear the news and discover that eliminating the bra |
| countries throughout the world, but no mention of it | | | | also eliminates cysts and pain, the news further |
| was made at all in the US. The following day, | | | | spreads by word of mouth. |
| headlines in the U.K. tried to suppress fears of the | | | | There are now thousands of websites on this |
| bra/cancer link, and the doctors in the study quickly | | | | subject, many from health care professionals including |
| distanced themselves from the cancer issue, telling | | | | medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, osteopathic |
| women to continue wearing bras. Their research for | | | | doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, lymphatic |
| the documentary was supposed to be published in a | | | | specialists, nutritionists, and others who care about |
| medical journal, but never was. And no further | | | | women and helping end this epidemic. Grassroots |
| research ever materialized to follow-up on their work, | | | | efforts to keep this information alive and spreading |
| which they said they would do. Extensive news | | | | have supplanted the traditional medical research |
| coverage of the program was available on the | | | | approach, which has disqualified itself for lack of |
| Internet soon after it aired, but most articles were | | | | interest and conflict of interest. |
| removed shortly thereafter. | | | | When a disease is caused by the culture and its |
| No follow-up studies have been done to refute or | | | | habits, attitudes, fashions and industries, there is |
| confirm our research. None. While a Harvard study, | | | | bound to be resistance to change. Industries that |
| published in the European Journal of Cancer in 1991, | | | | contribute to disease will be defensive, and industries |
| discovered that bra-free women have a lower rate | | | | that profit from disease will be conflicted. However, |
| of breast cancer, the results were not central to the | | | | the truth has a way of getting out, despite the |
| research they were conducting and were considered | | | | resistance and suppression. Thank Goodness the |
| unimportant and not followed-up. In fact, apart from | | | | truth does have a way of getting out. |
| our initial 1991-93 Bra and Breast Cancer Study, | | | | |