| At a recent international conference on breast | | | | mostly in young women, probably because many are |
| cancer, researchers claimed they were baffled as to | | | | now wearing tight bras 24/7. |
| the cause of the increasing rate of breast cancer in | | | | Supporting the bra/cancer theory is a recent study |
| poor nations. However, as a medical anthropologist | | | | from China, published in July, 2009, that shows |
| examining how cultural practices lead to disease, the | | | | wearing a bra to sleep increases cancer incidence. |
| cause is easy to understand: Western fashion. | | | | And a Harvard study in 1991 also found that bra-free |
| Women in developing nations are increasingly wearing | | | | women had half the rate of developing cancer as bra |
| bras, as Western culture redefines the attire for | | | | wearers. |
| working and professional women in these previously | | | | Bras are constrictive garments designed to alter |
| bra-free cultures. The result is an alarming increase in | | | | breast shape, which is accomplished by applying |
| breast cancer incidence in these cultures, which were | | | | constant pressure to the delicate breast tissue. This |
| previously free of this disease. | | | | constriction can impair the drainage of lymph fluid |
| Breast cancer is a problem only in cultures where | | | | from the tissue, as the bra squeezes down on easily |
| bras are worn. Around the world, where there are no | | | | compressed lymphatic vessels. A healthy, unrestricted |
| bras, there is virtually no breast disease. | | | | lymphatic system is essential for removing fluid and |
| The 1991-93 Bra and Breast Cancer Study, published | | | | toxins from the breast tissue, and is the circulatory |
| in the book, Dressed To Kill: The Link Between | | | | pathway of the immune system. Chronic compression |
| Breast Cancer and Bras, showed that bra-free | | | | and constriction of the breast lymphatic system by |
| women had about the same incidence of this disease | | | | bras can result in fluid accumulation (lymphedema), |
| as men. On the other hand, wearing a bra 24/7 saw | | | | breast pain, cyst formation, fibrocystic breast |
| about a 3 in 4 chance of developing breast cancer. | | | | disease, and may lead to cancer. Signs of constriction |
| Additional research in Fiji, where about half the | | | | are red marks and indentations in the skin left by the |
| women are bra-free, found that, given women from | | | | bra. |
| the same village, with the same genetics and diet, | | | | Women throughout the world need to be warned |
| the women who are getting cancer are the ones | | | | about the bra/cancer link. But don't expect the West |
| wearing bras. | | | | to help. The lingerie industry is a multi-billion dollar a |
| Developing nations look to the West as a model for | | | | year business, as is breast cancer detection and |
| their development. As they copy Western culture, | | | | treatment. It's the poor women of the world versus |
| they develop Western diseases. | | | | the business interests of the West. |
| The increase in incidence in developing cultures is | | | | |