Breast cancer warning over deodorants and shaving
WOMEN’S daily beauty routines could be fuelling a rise in breast cancer, according to alarming new research by Scottish scientists.
Shaving and using anti-perspirant could be triggering some cases of breast cancer because of the damage they cause to the skin.
Regular use of chemicals in deodorants that block the pores and repeated damage to the skin from razors could cause ‘repetitive trauma’ that eventually becomes cancerous.
A landmark study which took place at a leading Scottish breast cancer unit has revealed rates of the disease are on the increase.
The scientists behind the study have warned that while they do not want to ‘cause panic and alarm’, they are demanding urgent research to investigate whether chemicals used in women’s grooming could be a factor behind the worrying trend.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Scottish women, with 4,500 cases. Around 1,000 women die of the disease every year.
Experts from the Edinburgh Breast Unit at the city’s Western General Hospital carried out research on thousands of Scottish women.
They found that not only are breast cancer rates rising in general, there has been an increasing prevalence of tumours on one specific area of the breast – the outer edge, near the armpit. This finding, the experts say, is ‘significant’ and could be down to a number of reasons which require further research.
Dr Adil AlAjmi, a breast surgeon who led the study at the unit, said there is a theory that because anti-perspirants block sweat ducts they could cause ‘repetitive trauma’ to the area, as could shaving because of the damage it does to the skin.
This damage could lead to blocked breast ducts and breast cysts which may be linked to an increased likelihood of cancer.
The scientists compared more than 2,500 cases of the 1950s and the 1990s and looked at differences over time. Dr AlAjmi said: ‘Breast cancer is increasing worldwide and cases of cancer and other breast diseases in the upper outer quadrant, which is between the armpit and the breast are rising.
‘We looked at two groups of women who had cancer three decades apart and we noticed that these cases in the upper outer quadrant were increasing, so we looked at the reasons why.’
Dr AlAmji added: ‘One explanation is that there is a higher amount of
‘Cases are increasing, we need to know why’
breast tissue in this area but this does not explain why the trend has changed over time, so we looked at other reasons.
‘Forty years ago women were less likely to shave their armpits every day and now this is more common. In the past they were not using as much deodorant or anti-perspirant.
‘We do not want to cause alarm or panic. This could be a difference in lifestyle. But scientists need to do further research. Cases are increasing and we need to know why.
‘However, there are lifestyle choices we do know about that can help prevent breast cancer, such as eating less meat and more vegetables and olive oil.’
The study is published in ‘ecancer medical science’, the online medical journal from the European Institute of Oncology.
The potential link between chemical cosmetics and cancer is already being investigated.
A recent study showed that a group of chemicals called parabens, which are commonly used as a preservative in deodorants and other cosmetics, were also found in the breast tumours of 40 women. However, it is not known how significant this finding is.
Carolyn Rogers, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Care, last night said women should not worry about changing their beauty regimes.
She said: ‘Currently there is no good evidence to support the theory that deodorants and shaving increase the risk of developing breast cancer, so people needn’t worry about using these products or shaving. The authors of this study acknowledge that further research is needed.
‘Breast cancer is a complex disease and it’s difficult to isolate any one factor as a definite cause. There are three main risk factors; being female, getting older and for some having a significant family history.’