Breast Cancer and Deodorants - a relationship?

Deodorants and Breast Cancer - Recent Media Coverage:
on the previous page we have outlined a brief summary on the subject of deodorants
and Breast Cancer as things stood up to the end of 2003. We stated that we were ongoing studies on this
important issue but towards the end of 2003 there appeared to be a minor media explosion on the subject. We have therefore decided to add the following information to help people find the information they require.

In August 2003 Marianne Power of the Daily Mail published an article "Deodorants: the low-down". This article highlighted some very alarming FACTS, some of which are listed below:

1. Antiperspirants stop us sweating by using Zirconium and aluminium to block the pores which release the sweat.

2. Zirconium and aluminium in antiperspirants have also been found to enter cells and mutate DNA, which could lead to cancerous growth and disrupted hormone levels.

3. Breast cancer tumours in men and women tend to occur in the upper- outer section of the left breast, which could be because right-handed people apply more deodorant into their left armpit.

4. Perfumes in deodorants can include preservatives such as parabens, which some scientists think accumulate in the body and disrupt sex hormones, which in turn can increase the risk of breast cancer.

By the end of 2003 interest had increased dramatically and at the beginning of January 2004 other articles began to appear.

The Times: The Times published an article by Nick Speed, entitled "Scientist finds new deodorant link to breast cancer". Although the article had little new content it highlighted the most recent research which was carried out on tissue from 20 cancer sufferers. This research shows the level of parabens (contained in deodorants) that had been absorbed in four of the tumours was so high that it could have had a damaging biological effect on cells. The Observer/ Guardian: An article by Jo Revill, health editor, entitled "Warning over link between deodorants and breast cancer" was published in the Guardian on Sat. 10th Jan. 2003 and the Observer the next day. This article was greater in length and more alarming by nature than the Times article. Writing about the same recent study as the Times, Jo Revill went into greater detail.

The Mirror: On Jan. 12th 2004 the Mirror ran with the headline "CAN DEODORANT GIVE YOU BREAST CANCER?" to introduce the article by Claire Donnellly, "SPRAYS AND ROLL-ONS UNDER SUSPICION AS WORRYING CHEMICAL LINK IS FOUND". Reporting on the same study as the above articles, the Mirror provided an easy to read and informative piece but chose to highlight some of the frightening aspects of the study by using sub-headers such as "CANCER SCARE: Deodorant". However this was tempered with statements from those opposing the assumptions that cancer can be caused by using deodorant that contain chemicals such as parabens.

We have to thank the Mirror for their comments about our products:
"But the most unusual idea has to be Alvin Connor's deodorant, a huge crystal that is claimed to leave behind an invisible mineral layer to stop odour when it is rubbed under the arms.

Lasting a lifetime, it is available from some chemists and health food shops."

Yes, our deodorant does last for a very long time and it is larger than other products but most importantly our products do not contain the nasty, and possibly dangerous, chemicals used in other deodorants.

All Alvin Connor products are hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

Dr Philippa Darbre: Dr Philippa Darbre cancer researcher at the University of Reading, who wrote the study in question, has written other reports highlighting the use of other dangerous chemicals in deodorants. Speaking of here most recent report, Dr. Darbre said 'Finding these chemicals [Parabens Ed.] in human breast tumours does matter, because we know from other work that they can mimic the way oestrogen works to drive the growth of cancer." Dr. Darbre went on to say 'For years people have said there is no way they could enter the body because of our physiology, but I think it is to do with a physical overload of chemicals and that some are being absorbed by the skin'.

If you are interested in reading the report by Dr. Dabre please use the link below. Please be aware that it is very technical.

Click here for a copy of the study