Alcohol, antiperspirants, hormone replacement therapy – these are among some of the things being blamed for our soaring rates of breast cancer.
Experts can’t pinpoint exactly why some women get this disease and others don’t, but they do know about some of the things that may increase your chance of developing it.
For some women, it’s down to genes. For example, they may have inherited the faulty BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene that increases the risk of cells going haywire and becoming cancerous.
Research has also shown that piling on the kilos, as well as being physically inactive, also raises your odds. Hormone levels may also play a part.
There are also lots of other ideas about what contributes to breast cancer but it’s hard to know which ones we should be heeding. Experts from Cancer Research UK have looked into some of the main theories and given their verdicts on whether these are factors we should be concerned about. Here are their findings:
DRINKING ALCoHoL**Is there a risk?
Verdict: Yes**oany studies show that even small amounts of alcohol may increase your risk of breast cancer. The theory is that alcohol affects hormone levels, boosting oestrogen which can stimulate the growth of cancers in the breast.
The more you drink, the higher your risk. Compared with teetotallers, women who have one standard drink a day have a 10% greater risk of developing breast cancer. Those who down more than two drinks a day have a 50% greater risk than those who have less than two drinks a week.
**BEING oVERWEIGHT
Is there a risk?
Verdict: Yes**Carrying around excess kilos is linked to increased risk of breast cancer after menopause. Research shows a woman of average height (around 1.62m) who puts on around 14kg between the ages of 20 and 50 is almost twice as likely to develop breast cancer as someone who maintains a healthy weight for their height.
It’s thought this is due to the fact that fat is chemically active and pumps out oestrogen into the body. High levels of this hormone are associated with breast cancer.**
INJURING YoUR BREAST
Is there a risk?
Verdict: No**A study carried out in England found that trauma to the breast, such as a blow, may be associated with breast cancer. However, the finding has been disputed by other breast cancer experts, who say the evidence is not strong enough.
They point out that after a trauma, the breast is likely to be checked more closely, increasing the chances of a cancer that was already there being detected.
**TAKING HRT
Is there a risk?
Verdict: Yes**Studies have found that HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can increase the risk of breast cancer. While the risk may be very low if you are only on it for a few years, the longer you stay on it, the greater the odds.
There’s also an increased risk of cancer developing if you use combined HRT (which has both oestrogen and progesterone) rather than oestrogen HRT on its own.
Again, the increased risk is down to oestrogen and the role it can have in encouraging the growth of tumours.Meanwhile, research has found that five years after coming off it, your risk goes down to the same as a woman who has never been on HRT.
**USING ANTIPERSPIRANTS
Is there a risk?
Verdict: No**This theory sparked a lot of concerns a few years back, with people worried that because the aluminium salts in antiperspirants stop you sweating, they also prevent toxins being released from the body via underarm sweat.
The concern was that this results in toxins pooling near the breast, causing breast cells to become cancerous.There was also alarm when a study found trace levels of parabens (chemicals used as preservatives in antiperspirants) in breast cancer tumours.
However, another study found no increase in the cases of breast cancer in women who used underarm antiperspirants and scientists say theories about parabens are unfounded. Meanwhile, your body can get rid of toxins in other ways besides sweating.
**WEARING UNDERWIRE BRAS
Is there a risk?
Verdict: No**It’s been suggested that underwire bras can cause breast cancer because they restrict lymph flow. The lymph system drains fluid (lymph) from your body’s tissues into the blood via nodes, some of which are located under your arms.
While the wires of an underwire bra may put pressure on the lymph nodes, especially if the bra doesn’t fit properly, experts say there is no scientific evidence to back up the claim that it can lead to breast cancer.**
SooKING
Is there a risk?
Verdict: Maybe**We know cigarettes can cause cancer in other parts of the body but it’s still not clear whether there is a link between smoking and breast cancer.
Tests show that high concentrations of chemicals found in cigarettes – and second-hand smoke – may cause breast cancer in rats, but experts say there needs to be more research.
Because smoking causes so many other health problems, it’s worth quitting – even if that research doesn’t find a direct link.
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