Inflammatory Breast Cancer Rash

Can you trust your culture's leading authorities?research in Fiji, discussed in our book, Get It Off!,
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Rash Can you trust yourthere are still no other studies on the bra/cancer link.
culture's government? Can you trust your culture'sNot 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 ourcancer research, the bra is still completely ignored as
book, Dressed To Kill: The Link Between Breasteven being a potential factor for consideration. It's
Cancer and Bras. Before writing our book, we sentlike studying foot disease and ignoring shoes.
details of our research to the National CancerKeeping the Public Mystified
Institute, American Cancer Society, President'sLung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here
Cancer Panel, American Women's Medical Association,This lack of research, and the consequent ignorance,
National Organization for Women, National Women'sare then used by cancer organizations to justify
Health Network, and National Women's Healthfurther suppression of the issue. As the American
Resource Center. There was no response. Not one.Cancer Society states on its website, (ignoring the
Given the lack of interest, we decided to publish ourHarvard study), "There are no scientifically valid
findings in a book, getting the information directly tostudies that show a correlation between wearing
the women who needed to hear it.bras of any type and the occurrence of breast
But are women getting the message?cancer. Two anthropologists made this association in
It has been 12 years since our book was firsta book called Dressed To Kill. Their study was not
published. Over that time, more than 500,000 womenconducted according to standard principles of
in the US alone have died from breast cancer, withepidemiological research and did not take into
another 2,000,000 having been diagnosed with thisconsideration other variables, including known risk
terrible disease -- a disease that is in most casesfactors for breast cancer. There is no other, credible
preventable by simply loosening up or eliminating theresearch to validate this claim in any way." And they
bra. And yet, this lifesaving information has beendon't seem interested in funding any such studies in
actively suppressed and censored by the medical andthe near future, either. There are other organizations
lingerie industries.that are similarly critical of the bra/cancer link for lack
Examples of Suppress and Censorshipof research evidence, while at the same time
A large public relations firm in New York City wasdiscouraging any research on the subject.
willing and eager to help us release this information toOf particular interest is when breast cancer
the public. "My wife just had breast cancer, and I'morganizations antagonistic to the issue declare the bra
sure you are right," the head of the firm confessed.cancer link to be "misinformation" or a "myth",
A big media announcement and celebration werewithout any scientific study supporting their claims.
planned. Days later, however, the firm withdrew itsThey say bras are important for women to wear for
offer to help, stating that one of their clients, a largesupport, without any evidence showing bras are safe
medical center, objected to their working with us.or necessary. They then encourage regular
A Sydney, Australia public relations firm agreed tomammograms, cancer prevention drug therapy (not
help publicize our work when we were doingrealizing that "prevention therapy" is an oxymoron),
outreach efforts in their country. But it, too, reversedand even preventative mastectomies (which means
itself. We had asked if they had any conflicts ofthat those who are high risk for breast cancer but
interest, such as lingerie industry clients. They saidwho don't want to get it can have their breast
they had none. But as it turned out, they didremoved as a prevention strategy). Of course, it is
represent a pharmaceutical company that makes abetter to remove the bra instead of the breasts, but
breast cancer treatment drug, and the prevention ofbra removal is not a billable procedure.
breast cancer and its treatment are in conflict, theyKeep in mind that bras have been associated with
explained.other health problems, such as headaches, numbness
The Intimate Apparel Council (which is the US tradein the hands, backache and other postural problems,
association for the multi-billion dollar bra industry)cysts, pain, skin depigmentation, and more. And
threatened our publisher, Avery Publishing Group, withlymphatic blockage, which is the result of bra
a lawsuit if Dressed To Kill was released. Theconstriction, has already been associated with various
publisher said the publicity would help spread thecancers. Clearly, the bra/cancer link needs further
word. The lawsuit never materialized.research, while women take the precaution of
After the book was released, the NBC televisionloosening up.
news show, Dateline, was interested in doing a storyWhy the resistance?
on our work. We were extensively interviewed by aWhat harm could there be in following our simple
skeptical reporter who became a supporter. Theadvice, or in even researching this issue? Why the
story was then abruptly terminated. The producerdefensive reaction?
confidentially explained that the policy of GeneralThere are three reasons:
Electric, which owns NBC, is to avoid airing news1. The bra industry fears class action lawsuits. Many
stories that can adversely impact on other GEinsiders have admitted to us that for years the
interests. As it happens, GE is a manufacturer ofindustry suspected underwires were causing cancer.
mammography machines.They know that tight bras cause cysts and pain. It is
Women's magazines, such as Glamour, Self, andonly a matter of time until a lawsuit is made against a
others, ran critical stories condemning our work, andbra manufacturer. As a defense, the industry is
finding "experts" to encourage women to continueshifting the blame to the customer, claiming that
wearing bras. Elle magazine planned a positive storymost women are wearing their bras too tightly, and
about the bra/cancer link, but was coerced into pullingshould get professional fittings. (How do you get a
the story by bra advertisers. In various newspapersproperly fitted push-up bra?) Breaking ranks with
around the world, such as the Guardian in the UK,their industry peers, and trying to capitalize on the
stories were pulled prior to publication because ofbad news, are several bra manufacturers that now
fear that they may "panic the public", including theiroffer newly patented bras claiming to mitigate the
lingerie advertisers.damage, including cancer, caused by conventional
The British Fashion Council (which is the UK'sbras.
equivalent of the Intimate Apparel Council) published2. The medical industry is making billions each year on
the Breast Health Handbook in 1996 to oppose ourthe detection and treatment of breast cancer. As
efforts. They announced the formation of thementioned above, there is a conflict between the
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Foundation, which wasprevention and the treatment of disease, especially if
to receive donations from bra sales to fund geneticthe prevention does not include drugs or surgery.
research into breast cancer. The book criticized ourThe fact is that our treatment-focused,
work, claiming, "The idea that wearing a braprofit-oriented medical system is making a killing
encourages cancer by trapping toxins was recentlytreating this disease, and has billions to lose if breast
put forward by researchers at the Institute forcancer goes out of fashion along with bras.
Culturogenic Studies (sic) in Hawaii. Researchers fromIn addition, the bra issue will revolutionize the breast
more august establishments promptly dismissed it ascancer field, embarrassing many researchers. Breast
claptrap." Without any medical evidence or research,cancer research to date that has ignored the bra
the book informs women that wearing bras is aissue is seriously flawed as a result, which is why the
health necessity, and should be worn as early in life"experts" are still unable to explain the cause of over
as possible to prevent breast damage.70% of all breast cancer cases. Career cancer
Our original publisher, Avery, was purchased by giantresearchers who have ignored the bra issue will have
Penguin Putnam in 1998. The new publisher did not listto admit this fatal flaw in their work, which they are
the book for three years and refused to revertnot inclined to admit in their lifetimes.
publication rights to the copywrite holders, Singer and3. Finally, there is the dogmatic, fearful resistance
Grismaijer. The book was virtually unavailable, and itfrom some women who find their personal identity
was thought to have gone out of print. Finally, afterso connected to their bras that they would rather
repeated requests, the publishing rights wererisk cancer than be bra-free (which some women
released to us in October, 2001. (ISCD Press hashave actually told us.) Women are cultural entities,
been keeping it in print since then.)and so long as our culture scorns a natural bustline,
A television documentary was produced in the yearmany women will submit to the pain, red marks and
2000 by Channel 4 in the UK, called, Bras- The Bareindentations, cysts, and even the threat of cancer
Facts. In the documentary, 100 women withrather than face potential public ridicule (which never
fibrocystic breast disease went bra-free for 3really happens.)
months to document the effect on breast cysts andThere are also women who believe the myth that
pain. Two prominent British breast surgeonsbras will prevent droopy breasts. The bra industry
conducted the study. The results were astounding,admits this is a myth, while it still promotes it to
and clearly demonstrated that the bra is a seriousimprove sales. In fact, bras cause breasts to droop,
health hazard. We were interviewed for the programas the breasts become dependent on the bra for
to discuss the bra/cancer connection, which wassupport and the natural supportive mechanisms
considered highly plausible and important by theatrophy from non use.
doctors interviewed. Some theorized that, in additionDespite the resistance, however, some women have
to lymphatic impairment, the bra could also causegotten the message. And many health care
cancer by overheating the breasts. The documentaryprofessionals, who have also suspected bras for
made newspaper headlines in British Commonwealthyears, are now spreading that message. As women
countries throughout the world, but no mention of ithear the news and discover that eliminating the bra
was made at all in the US. The following day,also eliminates cysts and pain, the news further
headlines in the U.K. tried to suppress fears of thespreads by word of mouth.
bra/cancer link, and the doctors in the study quicklyThere are now thousands of websites on this
distanced themselves from the cancer issue, tellingsubject, many from health care professionals including
women to continue wearing bras. Their research formedical doctors, naturopathic doctors, osteopathic
the documentary was supposed to be published in adoctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, lymphatic
medical journal, but never was. And no furtherspecialists, nutritionists, and others who care about
research ever materialized to follow-up on their work,women and helping end this epidemic. Grassroots
which they said they would do. Extensive newsefforts to keep this information alive and spreading
coverage of the program was available on thehave supplanted the traditional medical research
Internet soon after it aired, but most articles wereapproach, which has disqualified itself for lack of
removed shortly thereafter.interest and conflict of interest.
No follow-up studies have been done to refute orWhen a disease is caused by the culture and its
confirm our research. None. While a Harvard study,habits, attitudes, fashions and industries, there is
published in the European Journal of Cancer in 1991,bound to be resistance to change. Industries that
discovered that bra-free women have a lower ratecontribute to disease will be defensive, and industries
of breast cancer, the results were not central to thethat profit from disease will be conflicted. However,
research they were conducting and were consideredthe truth has a way of getting out, despite the
unimportant and not followed-up. In fact, apart fromresistance and suppression. Thank Goodness the
our initial 1991-93 Bra and Breast Cancer Study,truth does have a way of getting out.
discussed in detail in Dressed To Kill, and our follow-up