Allegedly Deodorant Can Cause Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurs in many parts of the breast and armpit women. In some women who have breast cancer also found the chemicals that are added in deodorants. This makes scientists suspect that deodorants can trigger breast cancer.

For several years, researchers have studied the relationship between a substance called paraben and breast cancer. Parabens are widely used as a preservative to kill germs in cosmetics such as deodorant or antiperspirant.

Researchers have learned that parabens slightly resemble the female hormone estrogen function. While estrogen is itself a risk factor for breast cancer.

Researchers in England examined breast tissue samples from 40 women who had undergone mastectomy and found that traces of parabens is widespread in body tissues. In fact, seven of whom women say that they never use any product in the armpit.

"In the seven people who do not use these products, parabens can be derived from other products," says Dr. Philippa Darbre, cancer researcher at the University of Reading as reported by HealthDay, Friday (01/13/2012).

In a study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, Darbre and colleagues reported that one or more types of parabens found in 158 of 160 tissue samples taken from 40 women. Researchers found 96 samples containing five of the most common paraben esters.

Dr. Darbre never found levels of parabens in cosmetics prosuk four times greater when he conducted a similar study in 2004.

"Since 2004, many manufacturers have been removing parabens from the list of deodorant and antiperspirant compositions manufacture. So, we were so I was somewhat surprised to find high levels of parabens in breast tissue after 2004," said Dr.. Darbre.

High content of parabens found in between the breast and underarm, and breast cancer most often appears in the area. Nonetheless, Dr. Darbre cautions that this research can not imply causality.

"Although estrogen is known to be a component of fuel breast cancer, remains to be explored again whether environmental chemicals that have estrogenic properties also contribute to the progression of the disease," explained Dr. Darbre.

Meanwhile, Dr. Darbre appealed to women to reduce or discontinue the use of cosmetic products as much as possible. On the other hand, the American Cancer Society found no clear link between deodorant or antiperspirant with breast cancer.

"The fact that the preservative found in most samples of breast tissue can not be concluded that this material actually causes breast cancer," said Dr. Michael J. Thun, vice president emeritus of epidemiology and surveillance research the American Cancer Society.

Other studies conducted the American Cancer Society found that parabens are also found in lotions, makeup, and sunscreen products, and can be absorbed by the skin.

However, the agency asserts that it takes more and more research to determine the effects of parabens on the risk of breast cancer.