There seems to be some scientific evidence that wearing bras increases the risk of breast cancer. I found this article, written by a medical doctor.
[quote]There was a 125 fold increase in breast cancer incidence between
women who were bra-free and those who wore bras 24 hours daily.
Wearing a bra over 12 hours daily conferred a 113 fold increase in
breast cancer incidence! Bras apply pressure to the breasts, especially
to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system consists of tiny,
thin-walled vessels that drain from the breast tissue, removing toxins,
cell debris, cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, and other products
from the breasts. All of our tissues drain through the lymphatics,
which is essentially the circulatory pathway of the immune system.
However, unlike arteries and veins, these vessels have no internal
pressure. As a result, they are easily compressed by external pressure
(a bra, for instance) leading to the congestion of the tissues that
would otherwise have been drained.
When a woman wears a tight bra, she subjects her breasts to pressure,
closing off the lymphatic pathway from the breast to the nodes.
This causes fluid build-up, swelling, tenderness and cyst formation.
Toxins must be flushed out via the lymphatics. However, a bra-constricted
breast cannot adequately perform this cleansing process, resulting
in toxin accumulation in the breast.
Truthfully, bras are creating droopy, weak breasts…the breast relies
on the bra for artificial support, the body loses its ability to
support the breast by itself. This is why many women feel uncomfortable
without a bra. What is the solution to breast cancer then? DON’T
WEAR A TIGHT BRA! And maybe sleep without them. There is a remarkable
success rate for recovery from fibrocystic breast disease within
10 days to two weeks of going bra-free. Many women have tried going
bra-less and recorded a miraculous improvement in their health!
Thank you for your kind attention,
Nguyen Phawk Yu, M.D.[/quote]
[health2us.com/bra.htm](http://www.health2us.com/bra.htm)
Here's another article, written by scientist:
[all-natural.com/bras.html](http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html)
This position is definitely not endorsed by the majority of the medical community though.
[quote]Bras and breast cancer
There have been reports, e-mails and websites that say wearing a bra might cause breast cancer.
At this time, there is no reliable, scientific evidence that shows a link between wearing a bra and developing breast cancer. If well-designed, peer-reviewed studies are carried out on this subject, the Canadian Cancer Society will review the research and the results.
The Canadian Cancer Society understands that Canadians are concerned about breast cancer, but recommends that caution be exercised in evaluating any medical information or claims obtained from the unmonitored Internet