Cancer myth:Deodorants and breast cancer
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Origin of the myth
The myth that deodorant causes cancer has been circulated via emails, on websites,
and even in newspapers. The story varies from source to source, but contains some or
all of the following elements:
- Aluminium-containing antiperspirants prevent toxins from being expelled by the body. These toxins clog up lymph nodes around the armpits and breasts and cause breast cancer.
- The aluminium in deodorants is absorbed by the skin. It affects the blood brain barrier and has been linked with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
- The risk is higher for women who apply deodorant after shaving. This is because nicks in the skin increase absorption of aluminium and other chemicals
Current evidence
The Journal of The National Cancer Institute published a study in 2002 exploring the
relationship between breast cancers and antiperspirants or deodorants in 1606 women.
The findings did not show an increased risk of cancer amongst deodorant or
antiperspirant users, or amongst women who shaved before using deodorant or
antiperspirant.[1]
Furthermore, antiperspirants work by aluminium salts blocking sweat glands, not lymph
nodes. Although lymph nodes do remove toxins, they do not remove them by sweating.
Most carcinogens are removed through the liver or kidneys and excreted out.[2, 3]
Studies show that there is no relationship between antiperspirant use and Alzheimer’s
disease. Humans are exposed to aluminium from food, packaging, pans, water, air and
medicines. From the aluminium we are exposed to, only minute amounts are absorbed,
and these are usually excreted or harmlessly stored in bone. At any one time, an
average human body contains much less aluminium than an antacid tablet. The
Alzheimer’s Society states that the link between environmental Aluminium and
Alzheimer’s disease seems increasingly unlikely.[4]
Summary
There is insufficient evidence to support the myth that applying deodorant or antiperspirant after shaving will increase the risk of cancer, as demonstrated by the 2002 study mentioned above. The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that the main risk related to using theses products is that they can cause skin irritation if a razor nick or cut is infected.
References
1. Mirick, D.K., S. Davis, and D.B. Thomas, Antiperspirant use and the risk of breast
cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst, 2002. 94(20): p. 1578-80.
2. Darbre, P.D., Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer. J Inorg Biochem, 2005.
99(9): p. 1912-9.
3. Exley, C., Does antiperspirant use increase the risk of aluminium-related disease,
including Alzheimer's disease? Mol Med Today, 1998. 4(3): p. 107-9.
4. Alzheimer's Australia. Aluminium and Alzheimer's Disease. 2006 [cited 2008
03/01/2008]; Available from:
http://www.alzheimers.org.au/content.cfm?infopageid=680.
