Breast Cancer Advice Center

Does wearing a bra constantly really cause Breast Cancer?

I have read conflicting stories on this subject. I personally wear one 98% of the time. Besides the fact that my breast aren't "droopy" , I believe due to this habit, I don't have Breast problems. I have regular mammos and everything is good. I "heard" that wearing a bra constantly constricts the lymphnodes causing them to "back up" and swell and harden. Possibly causing the dreaded Breast Ca. I work for a Cancer Institute and have been told that there has to be a tremendous amount of pressure on the lymphnodes to cause any of the said effects. I tend to concur on this but was wondering what others have heard and if it is still possible? The upside is that the breasts are firmer from years of wearing a bra constantly even after 3 kids. My oldest is 21. So in 21yrs I have not developed Breast Ca. Has anyone heard of potential danger?

Public Comments

1. lymph drainage is different from mutated cells that are cancerous, you may wish to let yourself "breathe" a little more by not constricting all the lymph passages with a bra so much, but cancer is not related to lymph drainage.
2. no that sounds stupid your bra has nothing to do with cells or lymph nodes inside your breast.
   
   my mom has breast cancer.
3. i don't thing that's true.
4. no, its a myth and it never been proven
5. I have never heard of this concern.
   You would think that you would have, eh?
6. FALSE
   
   Under wire bras are reputed in some circles to obstruct lymph flow. Interesting theory but no scientific evidence exists to support this. A publication was found that reported a 50% reduction in breast cancer risk in pre-menopausal women who did not wear bras compared with bra users. This difference was attributed by the authors to the possibility that women not wearing bras were thinner and likely to have smaller breasts. Among bra users, larger cup size was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer although the association was found only in post-menopausal women and was accounted for, in part, by obesity.
   
   Source: Dr. Susan Love MD, UCLA School of Medicine