Written on November 14, 2009 – 11:19 am | by admin |

An e-mail that has been making  the rounds of inboxes since 1992 has impli cated antiperspirants as a cause of breast cancer. Given that breast cancer is the second most common type omf cancer and the second most common type of cancer death among women, fe males have every right to worry.

But the question remains: is it true?

The worry revolves around the supposed effects of chemicals used in antiperspirants. Some studies have looked at the role of aluminum- based compounds, while others have focused on a preservative called parabens. Both produce estrogens-like effects in the body. Estrogen is a female hormone that can promote the growth of cancer cells. Likewise, using blade razors to shave underarms doesn’t help matters as the chemicals in the antiperspirant can supposedly get into nicks in the skin.

What is known for sure is that all the research studies conducted so far are inconclusive given their inconsistent and contradicting results. For eple, a 2002 study stated that there was no correlation between cancer and the use of antiperspirants. On the other hand, a 2004 study noted that 400 brteast cancer survivors who used antiperspirant at a younger age had a diagnosis of breast cancer 22 years earlier than nonusers.