I remember going to a naturopath years ago who told me that bras can interfere with lymph flow.

I must confess I've never heard of wearing a bra to bed. I can't wait to take mine off when I come home from work. I have a bunch of much softer, looser (and less flattering!) bras that I wear around the house. Perhaps you can find one designed for sleep, that doesn't restrict as much?

I've heard of women who wear bras 24x 7, but have never known anyone who did it. Personally, mine comes off the minute I walk in the door, even before the shoes come off! LOL! I have to admit, I don't understand the reasoning behind it, but it's probably just what you get used to. (maybe mine have never fit right, and that's why I'm so happy to get out of them.)

But, I can disprove that study because I'm fighting breast cancer now ... and have always been braless unless there are people other than immediate family around me.

Here's what the American Cancer Society says about this issue:

"There are no scientifically valid studies that show wearing bras of any type causes breast cancer. The email appears to be based on the writings of a husband and wife team of medical anthropologists who link breast cancer to wearing a bra. The two anthropologists suggested this association in a book called Dressed to Kill. Their study was not conducted according to standard principles of epidemiological research and did not take into consideration other variables, including known risk factors for breast cancer.

We know of only one scientifically-conducted epidemiologic study that investigated a possible link between bra use and breast cancer. This study suggested that breast cancer might be less common among women who do not wear bras than among bra wearers. However, breast cancer risk in the two groups was not significantly different, according to standard statistical criteria, and the researchers themselves expressed uncertainty regarding this correlation. They also noted that if there is any connection, it would most likely have occurred indirectly, because women who are obese or have larger breasts are less likely to go braless. Obesity has been identified by numerous studies as a breast cancer risk factor, and having large breasts has been suggested in some studies as increasing breast cancer risk for young women who are not overweight.

We do not know of any epidemiologic studies published in scientific journals that suggest bras directly contribute to breast cancer risk or that lymphatic compression by bras might cause breast cancer.

Regardless of the size of a woman's breast and whether she is slim or heavy, there is no convincing epidemiologic evidence that her choices regarding bra use will influence her breast cancer risk. Furthermore, the alleged mechanism suggested in the book and in chain e-mails (blocked lymphatic vessels causing toxins to accumulate) is inconsistent with scientific concepts of breast physiology and pathology."

Here is a link that might be useful: American Cancer Society

I'm not sure which study you read but if it was based on the book "Dressed To Kill" which was one of the first to suggest a possible link - bear in mind that the authors were anthropologists and the study wasn't conducted utilizing standard research protocol. There was another study done (Harvard?) but the risk was only slightly increased for bra wearing women and there were many other variables that could have explained the statistics. For instance - larger breasted women are more apt to wear bras than smaller breasted women, poorer women might wear them less, older women wear them more, lactating women wear them more ... etc.

I wouldn't change whether I wore a bra or not based on those reports. And who knows - maybe there's a new study being conducted now that will provide more information.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Cancer Society

Gardenspice - I must have been composing my reply while you posted yours - we think alike!

I know this comment isn't related to wearing bras, but on a recent trip to Florida, I sat next to a physician/researcher for cancer. This physician told me that he and his researchers have discovered that AntiPerspirants are very big causes of cancer - they contain chemicals and wax to keep you from sweating. He further stated that your body needs to sweat, because it's one of the ways your body eliminates impurities/poisons. He recommended plain deoderant OR baking soda, which is even better and is safe.

Yes, I read statistics from "Dressed to kill", very scary if they were true.
Thanks for the links, Gardenspice and McMann, they seem to disprove a connection.
Stoneybaloney, I am sorry you have to deal with this. I wish you a fast and complete recovery!
Alisande, I am going to try some sleep bras or maybe just a t-shirt, that might work.
Kayjones, I've heard the same info. Aluminum is also a problem, so I just wear deodorant with natural ingredients, it works okay.

Thank you for your well wishes, Petra.

BTW ... which deodorants have natural ingredients? I'm supposed to look into switching over, and haven't started researching yet what's out there and available.

I wear a bra 24-7, I take it off to bathe and put one right back on. I use to be a DDD before I had a reduction to a C, but the habit lingered.

I have heard the story about the deodorants and I am sure I use the bad kind, cause if I don't I sweat and stink. I use Mennen for Men.

Yes, I have heard about the link between bras and breast cancer.

Yes, I am comfortable not wearing one. I almost never wear a bra.

Ok,maybe I'm dumb but (yes,maybe a dumb butt too.LOL) I haven't figured out what not sweating under the arms would have to do with anything.Sweating "removes toxins from our bodies" and not having those toxins removed just because we use antiperspirant doesn't make sense.We sweat from all the pores in our skin,not just under the arms,and we don't use antiperspirant all over our bodies.Now,if we did then I might worry about the sweating/antiperspirant theory!It was my understanding that the antiperspirant/deodorant/cancer theory was because of the aluminum content and certain chemicals in antiperspirants.Who knows!!
I don't wear a bra any more than I have to,not at all at home unless I have company.I could never sleep in one but did out of necessity when I was nursing babies.My mother slept in her bra till the day she died!LOL She didn't have breast cancer but did have a large cyst that was drained with a needle when she was about 50.Never had any more problems with it.

I don't have much to put in a bra to be very honest with you! I only wear one when I have to. During the winter months I go without. During the summer I only wear one in public. It is first thing to come off as soon as I get home each day, with my shoes being second!

Trish

I don't claim to have any knowledge of the biology of underarm sweating, but it makes sense to me that blocking the sweat channels might be harmful. I have always subscribed to the theory that every time we interfere with nature, we create the potential for trouble.

I discovered a long time ago that antiperspirants give me a rash, so I stopped using them then. Stoneybaloney, health food stores offer a variety of natural deodorants. I use a roll-on made from crystal minerals, and I also carry a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It is bacteria tha creates underarm odor, and the sanitizer kills the bacteria and eliminates the smell.

lilliepad, if it blocks sweating under the arms, then maybe the toxins under the underarm skin just stay there and aren't flushed out efficiently like they would be if one did not wear anti-perspirant?

Stoney, I like Weleda Citrus or Sage Deodorant, they smell good and are effective for me.
I also like Alvera Aloe Herbal.

Alisande, I missed your answer to lilliepad, sorry. But looks like we came to the same conclusion. :o)

Stoney, i just did some research and found a "Green Guide" to deodorants, looks like there's lots of other useful info on the site as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Green Deodorant Guide

((((( Stoney ))))) I didn't know you were fighting the dreaded C. Have you posted anything about it? I haven't been here much lately. I wish you the best.

Linda

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions for natural deodorants! I appreciate it!

I don't know how deodorants/antipersperants figure into whether we get cancer or not ... but since they removed my sentinel lymph nodes, I'm now at risk to get lymphedema. One of the papers the hospital gave me on the subject said to avoid commercial deodorants, which use harsh chemicals. The doctor told me to look into deodorants with natural ingredients.