Study Claims Link Between Deodorants and Breast Cancer
Controversial Findings Blame Preservatives
Vancouver Sun, Jan 16/04 | CanWest News Service | By Sharon Kirkey
Long dismissed as an urban myth, the notion that deodorants may cause breast cancer is gaining new attention after tests by a scientist who tossed out her own antiperspirants on a gut feeling suggest a possible connection.
Phillipa Darbre, who stopped using deodorants and antiperspirants eight years ago over concerns their chemicals may cause breast cancer, has published a study that found an ingredient in some underarm cosmetics is also present in human breast cancer tumors.
Darbre’s team detected parabens — a preservative used in thousands of cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food products — in 18 of the 20 breast tumors tested. Numerous studies have shown parabens can mimic the effects of estrogen, which can drive breast cancer tumor growth.
Their small study, published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, doesn’t prove parabens cause breast cancer, and groups such as the Canadian Cancer Society are questioning just how meaningful the results are — and more importantly, whether they cause any harm.
But news of the controversial paper has been published in respectable British media, from The Guardian to New Scientist. Darbre, a senior cancer researcher at the University of Reading in the U.K., believes the answer is “blindingly simple.”
"We put all these chemicals under our arm every day in just the area where there are too many breast cancers."
Studies have found a disproportionately high number of breast cancers in the upper, outer portion of the breast, she says. And the parabens detected in the breast cancer tumors were in a form that suggests the “route of entry” was from something on the skin — not ingested.
Parabens, or para-hydroxybenzoic acids, are also added to foods such as canned fruit, jellies, syrups and baked goods to prevent spoilage.
Industry Response
Kathleen Ljubisic, associate manager of regulatory affairs for the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, says parabens “are not used particularly often” in deodorants and antiperspirants today. She believes there is no reason for people to change their underarm hygiene habits based on Darbre’s research.
Still, a study of breast cancer survivors published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention found that women who used antiperspirants or deodorants and shaved frequently — and who began these habits before age 16 — were diagnosed with breast cancer up to 22 years earlier than those who rarely or never used such products.
Researchers in that study suggested that aluminum salts, “the most consistently used components since the commercial introduction of antiperspirants in 1903,” may be contributing to rising breast cancer rates.
Breast Cancer Statistics
An estimated 21,200 women in Canada will develop breast cancer this year, and 5,300 will die from it. While genes account for 5–10% of cases, more than half of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors — such as family history, obesity, or smoking.
Rumors suggesting a link between deodorants and breast cancer began popping up in chain emails and online forums years ago. Women were warned that a “concentration of toxins” from deodorants and antiperspirants could be absorbed through the skin or enter the body through razor cuts.
Safer Alternatives: Colour Energy Liquid Deodorant
A product recommended by health care providers including the Mayo Clinic and the Walter Reed Medical Clinic, Colour Energy Liquid Deodorant has been used for post-operative cancer patients receiving radiation treatment — as a safer replacement for conventional antiperspirants and deodorants.
Note: ALUM and ALUMINUM are not the same. ALUM is not absorbed due to its ionic charge. Soluble forms of ALUMINUM can be absorbed.
Why Choose Colour Energy's Liquid Deodorant?
- Contains natural Potassium Alum, just like deodorant stones, but in a more convenient liquid spray form
- Allows easier application through body hair
- Will not stain clothing
- Aroma-free (you can add a personal scent if desired)
- Environmentally friendly with no chemical propellants
- Simply spray and wait a few moments for all-day protection
This liquid deodorant offers a gentle, natural solution for individuals seeking safer hygiene alternatives — especially those managing breast health or undergoing cancer treatments.