Does the Use of Deodorants or Antiperspirants Increase My Risk for Breast Cancer?

— -- Question: Does the use of deodorants or antiperspirants increase my risk for breast cancer?

Answer: It was reported in the lay press that deodorants or antiperspirants might increase breast cancer risk. Some people think the theory would be that because it clogs up the pores in your armpit that it would decrease the circulation of the lymph fluid that would be draining from the breast. And as you may know breast cancer often spreads to the lymph glands as one of its first stops, if it's leaving the breast. However, the evidence supporting such an association is tenuous at best and certainly is contradicted in other studies. So, in general, I would not advocate discontinuing the use of antiperspirants or deodorants as an adjunct to decreasing breast cancer risk.

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