Did you know that your bra can actually cause breast cancer? I had a dear friend pass away recently from breast cancer. She was my age. Since then, I’ve been reading a lot about breast cancer prevention.
It turns out the ladies burning their bras in the 1960s may have really been on to something. Read on…
Why Bras are Bad for You
Watch this video interview with Cheri-lynn Burk CCT, of the Las Vegas Thermography Clinic (where I’m booking my thermography appointment). I love what it says on her website: “Breast Cancer is a Big Business… Breast Health is a Big Mission!”
Burk says that bras restrict the lymph flow. She says the best thing we can do is go braless.
Of course, jumping on a rebounder or trampoline would also be really helpful as Cheri-lynn mentions, as rebounders stimulates lymph flow. (Just make sure you jump on it without your bra on.) I’m planning to buy a rebounder (and a trampoline for the back yard) this year.
Dressed to Kill
I also just started reading a fascinating book called Dressed To Kill: The Link between Breast Cancer and Bras.
I was very skeptical at first about this whole business. I mean, really, could a bra really cause breast cancer?
But I figured, what the heck, I’ll give the book a chance. It didn’t take long until I was hooked. I can’t say I’m absolutely convinced yet but I’m siding with the authors. They make a lot of points in the book that are hard to ignore.
And I’ll tell you what, I’m never going to wear my underwire bras again.
The authors conducted a study of almost 4600 women. Half of the women had breast cancer and half of did not. They found that the more hours per day that a bra is worn, the higher the rate of breast cancer. They also found that women who do not wear bras have a dramatically reduced rate of breast cancer.
Now, I’m sure people are going to complain about the way they conducted their research. I’ll cover that when I write the book review. As I said, I haven’t finished reading the book yet. But I will say that I think, for me, there is enough evidence (and not just the study they did) to make me stop wearing a bra.
Here is the summary of their research:
- Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer (in their study, n=2056 for the cancer group and n=2674 for the standard group).
- Women who wore bras more than 12 hour per day but not to bed had a 1 out of 7 risk.
- Women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day had a 1 out of 152 risk.
- Women who wore bras rarely or never had a 1 out of 168 chance of getting breast cancer. The overall difference between 24 hour wearing and not at all was a 125-fold difference.
So the bottom line is, according to the authors, if you must wear a bra, try to put it on as late in the day as possible and get it off as early as you can. And never sleep in a bra.
I work at home. Most days I don’t put a bra on until 9 or 10 am. Sometimes noon or even later (I like to work in my pajamas). And I like to put my PJs back on again right after dinner — by 6 or 7 pm. HA!
Anyway, I’m going to write a whole review post when I finish the book — stay tuned.
Do Braless Breasts Sag Less?
I posted about this topic on my Facebook page. I was surprised to see that lots of women told me they always go braless.
Me? I’m not courageous enough (YET) to go braless. At least not out in public. At home, sure. But I can’t go to a business meeting without a bra.
Although I have read very compelling arguments from folks on Facebook attesting to the fact that going braless has actually made their breasts sag LESS. (Which is really making me wonder if maybe I should ditch all bras for good.)
Susun Weed also writes:
1991 Researchers in Japan pubished a study on bras and sagging, in which they proved that a bra can actually increase breast sagging, rather than the opposite. This effect was most noticeable in larger breasted women. They compared bras to foot binding in their discussion section. (“Breast Form Changes Resulting From A Certain Brassiere” Journal of Hum. Ergol.(Tokyo) 1990 Jun; 19(1):53-62. Ashizawa K, Sugane A, Gunji T Institute of Human Living Sciences, Otsuma Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan) — Source
Less Constricting Bra Options
A number of people on Facebook wrote to say that they wear camisoles with shelf bras or other types of soft, stretchy bras that are not as constricting as regular bras. One person on Facebook recommended the Coobie Bra.
GOSH I love that about you guys. I get SO many great books suggestions, tips and ideas from you all!
I read the glowing reviews about the Coobie and so I bought one, sight unseen. It came last week and I have to tell you, I LOVE my new Coobie bra! It is so comfortable! It doesn’t pinch or bind. It’s the closest thing to wearing nothing at all. But even better in my mind, because I can wear a t-shirt out in public and feel comfortable. Even if I weren’t worried about cancer, I would still wear this bra.
I love it so much that I will be throwing away all my other bras.
Actually, maybe I’ll burn them.
Stay tuned for the book review of Dressed To Kill: The Link between Breast Cancer and Bras. I’m going to be up tonight reading it!
How About You?
Do you think there’s any truth to this theory about bras causing breast cancer? Do you wear a bra? Or do you let “the girls” fly free?
Photo credit: Burn the bras on Flickr
Disclosure: cmp.ly/4 and cmp.ly/5
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I would love to be able to go bra-less. I am always when I am in the house, it is the first item on the list, change into PJ’s. Unfortunately, as an H+ cup, it just isn’t on my horizons to do so outside the house. And the thought of jumping on a trampoline without a bra on practically horrifies me. That would be really painful. I think I would give myself a black eye.
Brittany- thanks for the laughs this morning!
Total ditto. I’m also an H+ cup, and just trotting after my dog in nightclothes (and braless) is painful for me. I have to wrap my arm around my chest to keep them from slapping around and knocking the breath out of me! In fact, almost every activity turns painful without a bra on, for me. I can’t lean over something without dragging “the girls” through whatever is on the surface (also a side effect of being short). I can’t even walk normally without major swinging and jiggling; makes me nearly blush with self-consciousness even in my own house.
So, yeah. Unless I get a reduction, I don’t think going braless is an option for me.
)
I agree! As a 34DD, and after nursing 4 babies, going braless is not a pretty sight. I have gotten away from the underwire and fitted bras though. Target actually carries a nursing tank top that is not constricting and very comfortable. Since it is a tank top, it can be worn by itself to exercise, or under anything. Since I started having kids, this is basically all I’ve worn and I love it. Not sure I could go braless exercising though either…
As a Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, I agree with this! Although I do wear a sport bra when rebounding or doing any vigouous exercise than involves alot of jumping.
@MShay If you watch the video I posted above, she says it’s especially good for you to be BRALESS when you exercise and especially on the rebounder.
it may very much depend on your breast. But I once went riding without a sportsbra and I was in bad pain during it but I think trampoline is less demanding as you can stop if you are in pain. so, I’d give it a try
I can’t imagine exercising without a bra – ouch! I am a large-breasted woman, and getting ready for bed at night I have to brush my teeth before taking off my bra, because the weight hurts.
I am interested in the Coobie bra from the link above, but the fact that it says ‘one-size’ makes me very leery — how stretchy could it possibly be?
THere is a full size for 38A to 42DD
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00545Y2SC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cheeseslave-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00545Y2SC
wish I could try the Coobie but I’m a bit bigger than a DD- the search continues for a comfortable, safe bra for the big busted girl. If anyone else knows of a source please link. I am curious about this one- need to get to Nords for a fitting.
http://www.wacoalbras.com/wacoal_everyday_softcup_bra_85226.htm
That looks way too confining! But I guess it is better than an underwire. Just make sure it is not too tight.
If you have to wear a bra, wear it as little as possible.
My absolute favorite~ The Jeunique Smoothie. The most comfortable, yet most supportive bra I’ve ever worn! I wear them when I’m nursing, and when I’m not. They are not restrictive at all, yet hold the girls in place (epecially wonderful if you have LARGE breasts). JeUnique only makes bras for large breasted women. My size varies between a 36 DD(I would wear a 34 in other bras) to a 36 EEF.
Unfortunately that’s a full size “padded” bra.
As a 38 H, I, or J cup (depending on the bra manufacturer), I steer clear of one-size bras, too! I had a huge issue when I needed a nursing bra three years ago, since I couldn’t find one that properly fit me. I did some research and found this awesome bra company called Decent Exposures ( http://www.decentexposures.com/bra.shtml ). There are very comfortable. They have different weights of cloth depending on how much support you need, the cups are smooth, and they can customize the width or length of the straps (which are non-adjustable). I was amazed at how comfortable the bras are!
And just for the record, no I have no vested interest in the company – except hoping that they’ll stay in business so I can continue getting my bras from them!
Woo! They make so many sizes, even my 32G chest is well within their ranges! One size bras are not even worth trying here…
I love this! I can tell that my bra is “cutting off my circulation” and have been keeping it off as much as possible for a few years now. Though I suppose now I know that it’s really my lymphatic system that was trying to tell me something.
I’m happy to hear that my boobies will get a little perkier if I go braless. That’s news to me. That was WHY I put a bra on for part of the day, because I thought it was preventing sagging. Wrong! And happy to be!
I just read on FB (on this thread) that underwear causes cellulite — same deal, lack of lymph flow.
I’m seriously considering going commando now.
Just wear a thong that’s not super tight, like hanky panky brand. That resolves the lymphatic issue.
Yeah Amy you know what is REALLY interesting?
I never had cellulite in my whole life. I used to only wear really loose granny panties or thongs.
Then I had a baby and started wearing regular underwear and lo and behold I have cellulite now on my thighs and butt.
I’m going to go back to the thongs and loose underwear — or just not wear anything — and see if it goes away.
Very interesting! Btw, I have to tell you, reading these comments makes me so grateful for being a AA. I know some women would feel self-conscious at my size, and sometimes I wish they were bigger, but reading all these comments makes me happy that I don’t need to worry about pain during exercise, sagging, or going braless around the house, etc. Silver linings to everything.
I’m with you, Amy! Glad to be so small now. I go commando all day unless I leave the house which is not too often. Then I wear wireless (learned about the breast cancer connected with those a while ago however I think I need to find something less constricting even, after this post). But that is only so it looks like I have SOMETHING there, lol.
Likes we are in the same boat – an A. I like the athletic look. My only challenge, even with a bra like the Coobie, is that I have evernips. Yup, rain, shine, warm, cold; really does not matter. My nips are always giving directions. Any tips on how to help them be less noticeable? As a massage therapist, it would really send the wrong message.
Oh, I’ve tried bandaids and these are painful when pulled off. *ouchies*
Yes, my problem is also the nips. I do a shelf bra on a cami and slip in some nipple covers before I go somewhere. When I was nursing I had some that totally stuck to me, but there was more to stick to back then. I also do the band-aid thing, but sometimes you can still see the bumps.
I’ve got some things called LilyPadz that totally cover. I got them when I was nursing, were meant to act in place of nursing pads. Not sure how healthy they are to wear day to day, but if you really need coverage they did seem to work well for that.
Annette you have given me a word I have been looking for-evernips! I about hurt myself laughing so hard. I am a large-busted chick and I have the evernips. Have you ever tried to google a solution? Yeah, don’t, it’s not what you’re looking for.
I’ve been commando for a looooooong time. Didn’t know it was healthy or fashionable, just don’t like being restricted. As a younger woman I had many UTI’s – back then, doctor’s were actually helpful and not so much in medicine for the money. Mine told me to lose the underwear and never to wear pantyhose. He was right. He said “if you wear underwear, never wear them tight, and never wear colored nylon underwear – ever – always white cotton, loose, and not washed with bleach unless you do an extra rinse”. Good advice then and now. Remember colored toilet paper? Yeah. Couldn’t use that stuff either.
I haven’t worn a bra in years except to go to special things. I am a work at home person, not to mention VERY busty, so bras were never my favorite thing. I can’t breathe when I wear the dang things. I am having a LOT of trouble coming up with something comfortable that doesn’t roll into a wad under my breasts. I am also sensitive to the elastic and end up with an open rash under there. I’ve tried tube tops (which ended up basically being a necklace after the first 5 minutes of riding up) and I’ve tried every bra advertised on TV as “comfortable and supportive”. Yeah. Right. There is no such animal. Most of the links provided here yielded nothing I could use, either. I am a 40 DD. I even tried wearing a wife-beater which actually worked pretty well, but you have to buy them small so they fit snuggly. They’re OK in the winter, but waaaay too warm in the summer, even though they’re light weight. And the camisole hasn’t been invented that could support these things. I’ve nursed 3 babies and what’s left 35+ years later isn’t exactly petite.
I can’t jump on a rebounder anymore because I hurt my neck really badly a few years ago, but even if I could I wouldn’t do it without something to hold my ladies in place because for sure it would be very painful. Sounds like a rather stupid idea, no matter what the good points are supposed to be in doing that. Whoever wrote the book was probably giving advice more suited to a “normal” sized woman.
Did your cellulite go away after you stopped wearing underwear?
Ahh. I looked closer at the Amazon link for the Coobie — fits comfortably 32A to 36C… don’t think I’ll be trying it on my 40G’s anytime soon.
I’m right on the cusp of that working. I’m a 38D. Hmmm…
Actually the Coobie comes in a “Full” size
It goes up to 42DD
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00545Y2SC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cheeseslave-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00545Y2SC
Thanks! Ordering…
I’m going to order some more. I think I’ll try the camisole too.
I just ordered a couple of the camisoles. I love the supportive feeling of wearing a bra, and don’t really want to go without one, but I have been wishing for a while that I had a more comfortable, unstructured one. This is it!
I hope you guys love your coobies! I love mine!
I don’t know, I think there are probably a lot of reasons women get breast cancer and this is just one more. I will not go braless out and about for aesthetic reasons, and besides, I love lingerie. But, as a AA I don’t worry at all about sagging and go braless whenever I can at home just for comfort purposes. Maybe I’ll start taking my bra off when I get home from work. But I think it’s bunch of things adding up, like hormones, toxins in the environment, emotional stuff, etc, etc. My grandma who is 95 wore a bra every day and has never gotten cancer.
I’m smaller-breasted as well, and though you’d think that would make not wearing a bra an easier decision, it’s really not! As you pointed out Amy, it’s an aesthetic thing… without a bra, it looks like there’s *nothing* there. I’m just not comfortable with that.
And, my bras never feel tight or constricting… they barely even leave any marks on my skin when I take them off. There just isn’t much weight in my chest pushing or pulling on the bra. Do you find that to be true too? I don’t know how much good not wearing a bra would do for me, since I don’t think they’re restricting my lymph flow all that much as it is.
I do wear underwires, so sometimes they are tight in the band area. I don’t need support to hold them up so I can try for slightly looser fitting bras. I definitely do not have any issue of my chest pushing/pulling the bra, it’s just the tightness of the band at the bottom. I think we probably have more options as smaller women, too.
Well….hmmm….I don’t doubt that there is validity to it. But idk if I could go braless. I don’t go braless at home much anymore.( though I for surely don’t sleep with it on) I have three kids, 2 girls and a boy. I don’t find it very modest to be walking in front of them or company with tune in Tokyo going on or jiggling all around. So when I get up in the morning, it goes on and stays on till bed.(unless I am covered with a robe or something) My oldest daughter is 12 and she is just developing….I don’t think it would be right for her to be walking around like that either. I mean your attention is immediately drawn to the chest. And as for exercising with no bra….ouch!!! I actually tried it once before….it kind of hurts!!! I would be willing to try the coobie bra and I have wondered about that Genie bra on tv. But no bra….can’t do it!!! I must admit according to that book I wear the worst bra!!! It is underwire and it is a push up……because the cold hard truth is that unlike Brittany and her well endowment…there just ain’t much here….lol…and after 3 kids…there is less than there was before!!
I was thinking as I was readying the blog post even as a size A I could not image going bra free while jumping on a trampoline.
yeah not without hold them by hand…..lol
I’m a B cup and I found that after not wearing my bra nearly at all, they are no longer painful in the slightest to run without a bra or anything! Give it a shot.
I LOVE my Genie bra… they’re affordable (2 for 20) and comfortable. It can’t get much better than that.
Great…I might have to give them a try!!!
I wonder if there is any documentation about breast cancer and women who wore corsets their whole life….
Not the answer to your question but lots of people think corsets were a lot more brutal than they really were.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/everything-you-know-about-corsets-is-false/
I’d actually prefer going corseted to wearing a bra, given that a corset gives me better back support and I have to sit in a chair for most of my work day.
And I just ordered my first Coobie from their site. Let’s see how it handles my girls.
I believe they could be on to something except for the no sagging part. It seems like most hunter gatherer women who go braless have pretty saggy breasts. Obviously most of them are cancer free, but if we’re talking pure vanity, I don’t think going braless 100% of the time will do the girls any favors in the looks department. That said, I go braless and I’m breastfeeding right now.I’m on my 14th straight month and I’ve never had a plugged duct, mastitis, or anything else like that. A relative of mine who does wear bras has had mastitis numerous times. She works though, so she has to pump instead of feeding on demand so that might be it… but it could be a combination of the two.
I found this to be true, also. I tried to keep my bra off when home and, finally, didn’t have mastitis with my fourth child. That, and placing a rag under the breast that wasn’t being nursed and letting the milk flow freely.
If I didn’t wear a bra when I was nursing my shirt would be constantly wet!
I agree about bralessness not equating to perkiness… lol One need look no further than the pages of NatGeo or PeopleofWalmart.com to see the effects of time and gravity on the natural breast.
That said, I’ve been wearing nursing tank tops for a couple of years now, and got rid of all underwires several years prior to that, and will never go back to regular bras.
I’m with you, Brittany. Us voluptuous women are a different story! After five decades and six kids, these H cuppers are as likely to get caught in a waistband as not! Braless? Only at home, but for as much of the day as possible.
My mom used to joke about high beams and low beams (wearing and not wearing a bra.) She never warned me about “footlights!”
I am very small breasted and only wear a bra when I leave the house, but I have a rebounder that I use regularly and I can’t imagine jumping on it without a bra. Ouch!
I think it takes time to get used to it. The co-author of the book said it took a few weeks for her to feel comfortable without a bra.
I have not worn a bra since my son was born 12 years ago. My breasts hurt horribly after he was born, and the doctor told me to wear a tighter bra! I was in so much pain with that, I went in the opposite direction- braless. What a relief! I haven’t gone back. I truly see bras as unnecessary and a way for men to keep us sexualized by showcasing our boobs in packages that make us look bigger, firmer, and perkier than they naturally meant to be. Do men pad themselves below? Do they restrict themselves? Not usually. So, why do we?
LOL! Great point, Jill!
Why do we? Same reason we wear makeup. :-p We care. Men don’t, LOL. It isn’t men’s fault I choose to wear a bra.
Funny thing, Spanx actually makes “shape wear” for men, with added support for an “enhanced profile”. Lol!
I wonder if those silicone adhesive bras that don’t have straps or a back would be a suitable alternative. I unfortunately wear my bra just about 24/7. I can’t stand the feeling of skin touching skin underneath my post nursing boobs.
I remember reading somewhere as well that massaging the breast also helps with tightening sagging skin. I seem to remember trying this for a short period of time noticing a slight difference, but couldn’t get into a routine of breast massage. Maybe massage coupled with copious amounts of beef gelatin might help!
I really wouldn’t want to go braless all the time, I love my bras. My boobs are DD after breastfeeding two kids (I’m still BF one of them) and it’s just not comfortable at all to go around all day braless. I sweat like crazy under my boobs, they get in the way of my arms when I do things, and they look gigantic without a bra. I would have nothing but men staring at my boobs they entire time I’m in public if I wore no bra.
But luckily I never wear one to bed, don’t wear underwire anymore, and I start taking mine off earlier in the evening. I really like the invention of the bra, for me anyway. I would hate going around without a bra or wrap or some kind of support because that hurts.
If I had small boobs I would just go braless though.
You don’t have to go braless. Just try not to wear your bra ALL the time — which it sounds like you are already doing.
They have a Full size Coobie for DD sizes:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00545Y2SC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cheeseslave-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00545Y2SC
I really hate when people try to pass off 40 DD as “plus size” That’s actually really small, and I hardly know any woman with a DD chest that has a bra band smaller than at least 42. I have a 48DD and it’s tight! There just aren’t any good options. Luckily I am at home all day, but it is uncomfortable to not wear a bra. I don’t wear a bra, because underwires press right on my lymph nodes and cause cysts under my arms, but I don’t have any real options for a bra. I understand that a bigger chest isn’t easy to support without wires and straps and spandex and things, but it really ticks me off when people say that such and such company goes all the way up to a 40DD! That’s not plus size. That’s mildly large normal.
They dont’ call it a Plus Size. They call it a Full Size.
Ki Vick, you should really check out Jeunique. They are very supportive, have over 200 sizes, and still allow for lymph flow. Google it. You have to find a consultant in your area to custom fit you. You won’t regret it!
I googled them and they quit manufacturing bras in September. Bummer! I’m having a hard time finding ANYONE who still makes bras for well endowed women.
Jennifer, if you contact someone who sells the bras they can tell you the current status of the company. The owner died last summer and they quit manufacturing because there was no one to take over the company. My mom still sells the bras and there are other consultants that still have bras in their stock. If you would like more information you can email my mom at bosom_buddy8-AT-hotmail.com. Of course you should replace the -AT- with @, but I don’t want her to start getting computer generated spam or something.
You sound like me when it comes to the jammies
I go braless most of the day when I am home, but could’nt when I am in public. When I was nursing I wore one of those nursing tank tops and those are great and less constrictive. I think I will go back to wearing it and purchase a Coobie also! Thanks!
This is all very interesting. I think I’ll need to read the book. I personally just wear Bravado Body silk which are super comfortable. I never really feel like I am wearing anything. I assume that the main issue here is wearing something really constrictive? I wonder what Theresa Tapp would think as she is really into lymphatic health.
I have two boys and I would not go braless.
The one thing that makes me wonder is if the data here is real…then I think many more women would have cancer since almost all women wear bras.
I don’t get it statistically.
Yeah but not all women wear bras all the time. Some of us fling off our bras the moment we get home from work. Others wear them all night and sleep in them.
Also I think gut flora plays a huge role. The body has many detoxification pathways. Lymph is just one of them. 80% of detoxification happens via the gut. So if you have abnormal gut flora and your detoxification via the gut is compromised, I can see how cancer would result.
I think this may play some part in breast cancer, but I think the number one cause is taking artificial forms of birth control and artificial hormones. I have spoken to and have known several women that have or died from breast cancer, and this was a common link. You sound like me when it comes to the jammies
I go braless most of the day when I am home, but could’nt when I am in public. When I was nursing I wore one of those nursing tank tops and those are comfy and less constrictive. I think I will go back to wearing it and purchase a Coobie also! Thanks!
Yes I think the pill and fertility treatments are a big part of breast cancer. I don’t think my friend Vivi did either of those and she died of breast cancer.
I think another cause of cancer of any kind is abnormal gut flora. 80% of our detoxification happens via the gut. My friend Vivi had very bad gut flora and was allergic to everything near the end.
So very heartbreaking about your friend Vivi. I’m definitely with you in that I think one of the most significant causes of cancer is an unhealthy gut. That is exactly why I’m convinced that the best thing we can do to prevent cancer is to go through the GAPS diet. I’m doing it now before I have kids to make sure they inherit the best gut flora they can from me.
I work three days a week, so I wear a bra only three days a week. Recently though, I’ve been trying to be brave and not wear a bra to work either.
This information is so interesting. Just another reason to “let the girls fly free”, (LOL!) as you put it. Thanks, Ann Marie!!
I’m a 38DDD. In public, I generally wear a well-fitting underwire bra (I nursed two kids, my breasts also can be tucked in my pants now.) But at home I usually wear a Blue Canoe Jane’s bra. http://www.bluecanoe.com/e-store/prod_details.asp?pcid=3101632436589&pcatid=3101629411057&pid=3111818352217&product_name=Jane's_Plus_Cup I’ve used these soft cotton bras for about 6 years. I mainly wear them at home to help with the u.t.s. (undertittysweat) and to keep from flopping all over when I run up the stairs. Also, they prevent odd looks from the FedEx man when I answer the door.
I think there is something to this theory. That said, I wear a 38DD and really can’t go out in public braless or even in a bra like the Coobie. But I will start to take it off now right away when I come home. I used to do this anyway but had gotten out of the habit.
They have a Coobie full size!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00545Y2SC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cheeseslave-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00545Y2SC
I ordered one. Worth a try.
Large breasts here and sometimes it’s hard enough to exercise WITH a bra….so I am curious. I do spend all the time i can w/out a bra. Maybe breast reduction surgury is the answer. I’d go braless all the time, if they were small.
I’m not even that big (maybe a 38C?) and I don’t like going braless unless it’s at home with only my husband and daughter. I’m too self-conscious.
The Coobie is my solution. There are other good, non-constricting bras out there as well.
I’m just taking advantage of my non-bra time and going without one as much as I can around the house. Now I don’t have to feel bad about getting into my jammies by 6 or 7 pm!
I don’t wear a bra. If I am going out, I wear tank tops that are snug fitting or have a shelf bra built in (elastic on the bottom). But the rest of the time, which is the most of the time, I don’t wear one!
Ann Marie, I’m not a doctor, but I am a scientist and I work with statistics on a daily basis. This sentence jumped out at me: “The overall difference between 24 hour wearing and not at all was a 125-fold difference [in breast cancer risk].” I’m sorry, but that just screams “small number statistics.”
When you talk about risk, you have to use confidence intervals. For example, you might say, “We can say with 95% confidence that the risk is greater that x and less than y.” (There are established formulas for getting x and y from your raw data.) I’d be curious to see the raw numbers.
As I said in the post, I knew people would complain about their research methods.
That said, there are many other points in the book that are worth considering which is why I recommend reading the book. I’ll post my book review when I’m done reading it. They probably have the raw numbers in the book; although I’m not sure.
Oh and I don’t know if that particular sentence came from the book. (I haven’t gotten that far in the book.) I copied it from another website. So don’t shoot the messenger.
Oh, I didn’t mean to shoot the messenger, but it seems very unlikely to me that anything (short of Chernobyl) would increase your cancer risk by 12500%.
Thinking more about it, I’ll bet that the authors surveyed women about their bra use and whether or not they’d had breast cancer. Some women who’ve had mastectomies are probably reluctant to ever take off their bras (because of their protheses) and that’s the source of the huge difference.
I checked the links and really like the ideas of the ‘bra-like-objects.’ I’m actually have been looking for such things. Thanks!
I know I hate bras. I homeschool, so I don’t have to get dressed until a bit later in the day and the bra ususally comes off pretty early in the evening. I wear camis or sports bras more than the full support action with underwires.
I also don’t like wearing shoes. I guess my natural wardrobe impulses are better for my health.
hi michelle, maybe it is something about the lifestyle – I homeschool, wear bare feet and no bra, it just feels better and my two girls are learning that it doesn’t always have to be high fashion to look good
One of my grandmothers never wore a bra or panties. She always wore a dress and slip which she made on an old New Home peddle sewing machine. I seldom wear a bra anymore, but do wear a camisole with the shelf bra and do have several bras which are cotton and do not bind for those times when extra coverage is necessary. I think synthetic fabrics also hold heat in and don’t allow your skin to breath as it should. Just my gut feeling, nothing I have studied or researched; I think natural fibers are better against our skin for a lot of different reasons. I read clothing labels also :~D. I really like all the things you are discussing and bringing to light now. Thanks Anne Marie. As an older woman, I no longer have children living in my home, but I do have grandchildren that I dearly love and love for them to visit, so am interested in things pertaining to a healthy family life at all stages.
Yeah, I need support, even as a c, but I will try to ditch the underwires. Although I am uncomfortable just thinking about any bounce!
Make sure you don’t inhale the toxic smoke from your braburnings!
I have very rarely worn a bra at any time in my life and I am now 42. I read a long time ago that under wiring can cause breast cancer and reading this post now makes me very pleased that I did the right thing all those years ago.
btw – once breasts stand on their own, they do not sag – years of supporting them = sagging!
yoga exercises that twist the torso are incredible for increasing lymphatic drainage – as long as they are done WITHOUT a bra!
loving your blog as I always did,
your friend Louisa x
Hi Louisa!!!!! How are you? We haven’t “seen” each other in a while!
Here’s a big virtual hug to you! Hope all is well in your world, and I’m glad to see you are still blogging. I will add you to my reader so I can stay in touch.
xoxoxo
Great! I love what you are doing, I LOVE the blog and I am so excited about your new online course, I just watched the clip over on your other post. It looks superb.
I am very honoured to have been ‘there’ from the start of your fantastic career. I expect to see you on TV with a regular slot soon. I am still keeping my nose to the ground (and also love GROUNDING!) and reading reading reading about anything I can get my hands on that I think may make a difference, so yes, let’s keep in touch,
Lou x
I am a small size A so I actually wear bras to give me a bit of a lift! Also, after having two babies and nursing them my nipples are rather big so I also wear a bra so I am not nipping out – so not appropriate at work! I do wait until I get dressed for work or the day to put a bra on and normally it is one of the first things that come off at night. I usually change into my Pj’s as soon as I get home from work. So I am one of those 12 hour a day wears during the work week and much less than that at home.
I love it. I hate wearing bras and only do it when I absolutely have to.
I actually had the nickname, ‘No bra’ in high school! With good reason. I didn’t wear a bra. Of course, I didn’t know I had this nickname at the time. It was only later that my male friend told me this. My girls are small (B cup)and I frankly didn’t care. It was part of my general nonconformity and now, looking back it is amazing that my mother didn’t interfere. I guess she knew it would’ve been pointless.
It’s funny because now I can’t even go to the store without a bra on because I feel it isn’t decent and everyone would know. When I am fortunate enough to work from home I don’t ever put on a bra. Thank you so much for the Coobie recommendation. My current bras, all underwire, are ancient and I’ve been vowing to replace them. Now I have something to look forward too.
This is so true! I encourage my clients to go braless whenever they can. I noticed how much better I felt years ago on days when I would be at home and without a bra on (in contrast to working outside the home and wearing a bra for over 12 hours a day). I would experience more headaches, shoulder tension and overall pain when wearing a bra. I even had an underwire bra that hit a reflex point that affected my heart rate, which I discovered later. Seriously! Now, I wear a bra perhaps 5 hours per week, usually less. The cami/tanktops with built-in shelf bras are easy, comfortable and provide some support. I feel comfortable in public with that under a hoodie or heavier sweater. However, when we go out or I have a meeting, I still wear a standard bra. I’ll be trying the Coobie!
Amy let me know when you have time to talk so we can work out a bartering plan. Next week is wide open for me but I can do this week if you need to
I checked out those Coobie bras and expected them to look all fuddy duddy but they’re really cute!
And I also love working in my pajamas. The UPS guy came the other day while I was talking to my niece on the phone. When I said to him, “Hey, I’m actually dressed today!” She said, “Did you really just say, ‘I’m dressed today’, to the delivery guy?” LOL!
Kel
I just got dressed — put on a shirt (no bra) and some pants (no panties).
Now that I’m thinking about it it makes so much sense that underwear would cause cellulite. I’m going to start going without underwear as often as possible and see what happens with my cellulite. I need to take before photos.
I often answer the door in my PJs!
PS I will call you about the Lacoste guy
Yay to the PJ people!! I live in my jammies! And when people are forward enough to ask me, “You’re still in your jammies? At this time of day?” I tell them I am the female Hugh Hefner!!
Why get dressed to cook and clean? I’m all about the comfort, Baby!!
And Ann Marie- I think you are on to something about the undies: When I used to go commando, I never had cellulite. It started to appear about the same time I started wearing undies. I need to go take these suckers off!
I mostly gave up on undies years ago. I’ve never found any that don’t migrate into places where only thongs belong (and I don’t see the point of thongs). So I wear undies when I need them to hold a pad, or when I am wearing a skirt too short to be safe without (rare). With longer skirts, I’ll wear some sort of undies, but it occurs to me that it would be good to make a few pair of little knit shorts for such uses–tap pants or similar. I go barefoot at home, and so do my kids. I like Danskos for shoes, so going out usually just means shoving my feet into my Danskos (I might wear socks–wool ones!–if it’s cold. And to the person a few posts up: synthetic fibers actually DO trap sweat and keep your skin from breathing properly. There’s plenty of science on it. Some of the new microfibers are a bit better about breathing, and a few even wick sweat away, but most synthetics do not breathe.
@Susan LOL! I started today!
Oh the beauty of being a stay at home mom. I Never wear a bra when I am at home. I stay at home, and homeschool my children most days. I do wear my bra when I am out of the house, or when I have company over, but most days I don’t even touch the thing! I wonder if there would be an good choice for moms who work outside of the home. Pasties or something that might make it look like they are wearing a bra, but not restrict them at the same time!
HELLO! Also, this lymphatic breast massage feels great and is supposed to support breath health: http://www.breasthealthproject.com/lymphatic-breast-massage.html.
Happy Massaging! : )
The timing of all these bra/cancer posts lately has been pretty amazing. I had noticed recently (within the last couple of months) that I NEVER wear a “regular” bra anymore and was wondering if that was weird. I had even mentioned something about this to my husband, as I realized I don’t even own a regular bra anymore (the couple I did have left were in terrible shape and I had gotten rid of them). I have a boatload of camis with the built-in shelf bra (like what you get from Aeropostale, they seem to have tons of them in different colors), and have gotten to where I wear those every day. I’ve always had a hard time with bras not being comfortable and have always kind of hated wearing them. And now that I don’t have to dress up anymore for work or much else, the camis work perfectly under just about everything. Even in the summer, I wear them under all my t-shirts and tanks. I’m not huge (34D), but the idea of going with nothing at all isn’t something I’m comfortable with. Doesn’t feel modest, plus, when I go completely braless all day (as in no cami, just a tank or t-shirt at home), it gets uncomfortable, kind of sticky/sweaty under my boobs (and this happens even though mine are pretty perky, I can definitely pass the pencil test
). So, yes, I love my camis 
.
So, will the coobie bra keep the lymphs flowing around the girls? I believe that my lymphs are not pumping like they should and need help, so I am currently jumping daily on my rebounder. If I buy a coobie I want to make sure that I am still helping out my lymphs, and not constricting them in a more comfortable manner.
Nicole
I will post a picture of the lymph nodes so you can see how it works I do the the coobie constricts the lymph flow a LOT less than a normal bra
Thank you, I would appreciate that.
I think a” LOT less” constriction is ahead of the curve, so I can happily settle for that!
I’ve been wearing wirefree bras for a few years… and have been avoiding deodorant for close to 8 years now to aid in the lymph drainage. BUT I totally just took my bra off. I mean.. I wear camis with a shelf bra… so why have a double layer when I dont necessary need it. haha. Such liberation! I went to the bathroom to take care of business… we shall see how long this lasts.
Thanks for the article!!
I’ve been cutting out the wiring on every new bra I’ve bought for years!
It started because they were just plain uncomfortable, then I heard about the dangers in the metal and that was it.
Interestingly the darned little critters are becoming harder and harder to take out – but keep trying, they come out eventually.
Hi Ann Marie,
I have been following your blog for a few months now, and realize that the information that you are presenting (which much of it is a reinforcement of things I already know) has motivated me to make some major changes in my life which were long overdue. I have already given up wearing a bra, but I was so happy you posted this information today. I sent the link to all of the women in my family and posted it on fb. I just started supplementing iodine, I have increased my magnesium, quit sugar and white flour for good yesterday, added coconut oil to my diet, and signed up for your 12 week class on whole grains. You have been an impetus for many positive changes for me in 2012. Cheers and thank you!
I hate bras. Add to that they are terribly expensive and virtually impossible to find (M cup here), but I can’t IMAGINE stepping outside without one! I ditch it as often as I can though. Never liked them – even when I was a perky DDD pre-children…
What are large breasted women to do?
IS a corset any better than a bra? (not like they are much easier to find….)
Where do you buy bras? I’ve been wearing stretched out, holey old ones for years, and recently decided to try to find something to fit my K’s. Maybe it’s harder because I’m looking for nursing bras, but I’d love to know your source – thanks!
I’m a 30H and I swear by http://www.ewa-michalak.pl/
Before you buy your trampoline you should check with your home insurance policy about their rules on these devices. It is a questions on every home insurance application.
There is a strong relationship between iodine deficiency and breast cancer.
The author of the book must not have large breasts or she would know it’s painful to jump around without a bra…it makes me wonder if my husband wrote this book…
Thank you thank you thank you for reading about this and posting. I have been just instinctually not wanting to wear underwire anymore but haven’t gotten around to finding a good bra without it. The coobie bra (I’ve seen it under other names as well) is something that’s been on my list to try and now for sure I will.
Yikes! Breast cancer is no fun at all! I tend to wear my bra around 13 hours per day!!! Mainly because I’m warmer with it on and I don’t like the saggy feeling.That is going to change. Also have wanted a rebounder for a while.
As far as undies, recently I went up a size because it was cutting off my circulation! Now I’m thinking of doing those boy short type of undies with no seams.
I wonder if the researchers consider estrogen dominance and its effects. Women who wear bras more often probably do so because they have larger breasts (when you wear a 32G, its not comfortable to go braless), this is often due to estrogen dominance.
Another thing the researchers may have missed is that women who go braless for health reasons are obviously doing other things to prevent breast cancer (balanced diet, supplementing with iodine, stress-relief). Take out those factors to see how much a bra really effects results.
Good points also. Sugar is purported to increase estrogen dominance.
I long ago began to be thankful for very small breasts.( Even at the heighth of breastfeeding, I was barely AA and the only reason I wore bras briefly then was to hold pads to absorb excess milk flow.) This gives me one more reason to be grateful I never “needed” bras.
Fellow AA here – totally agree! (although I do wear them for aesthetic purposes)
OK — so a few thoughts/questions…
1. I have read up on Mercola & various other places about wired bras pulling in EMF’s into an area you do NOT want EMF’s pulled into… around the breasts. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/17/aluminum-containing-antiperspirants-contribute-breast-cancer.aspx — I switched to Victoria’s Secret non-underwire bras a few years ago & they actually feel great. But checking into these Coobie’s… After nursing for a total of 59 months (3 kids), my 36B boobs are sad & saggy & a far cry from where they were. Not a good look to go bra-less, TRUST ME. LOL
2. Are jog bras OK? I wear those most days — then in evenings if we go out, I put on my non-underwire VS bra… it’s a push-up! LOL It makes my girls look spectacular!!!!
3. Rebounding — do this often — but without a bra? Is it OK to rebound WITH a jog bra on? It does not feel tight or restrictive…
4. Also interesting is the deodorant connection in the above article… I only use natural now, too. Hoping that plus non-underwire/jog bras/camis plus nursing plus eating healthy & probiotics & no family history reduces my breast cancer risks… but also planning to do thermography here. Dr. already suggested mammogram in the next few years (I am 37). NO!!!!!! Don’t want to go there?!??!
Thoughts?!?!
G.
I’m an 32E, and I’ve always been self conscious about my boobs. That said, I only wear a bra when I’m out in public. At home alone or with my husband, I wear low support sports bras most of the day, and nothing at night. Some days I never put a bra on (like today, it’s raining, and I’m not going out, so why bother). I wear a tight bra when I’m hiking (3-4 days a week) but nothing when I’m doing my yoga practice (6 days a week). And I do other things to stimulate lymph flow, like skin brushing, oil massage, dancing like a madwoman around the living room, and taking lymphatic herbs. I can’t imagine rebounding with nothing on whatsoever- that’d hurt so much!!
My former acupuncturist once told me that the bra falls right on some critical points that are connected to the adrenal glands..and so the extra stimulating is not recommended. And if we think about the vast number of women that are wearing the wrong size, squeezing their breasts or creating extra rubbing and irritation…If we go back in time it’s obvious we were created to be braless and that for a reason. Our ancestors didn’t need bras..Modern society now imposes this and so health problems arise..I think our breasts got “deformed” over time the way our teeth got deformed. While you need braces now and structural work to help your dentition, I think you need to be braless (as much as you can) to assure natural development…if still possible…
A friend and I just ordered our Coobies last night. Can’t wait until they arrive! I have very high hopes.
Breast cancer risk aside, I’m all about finding a comfortable bra to wear! Before I had a baby I was a 34 A or B, depending on weight fluctuation, and could go braless with certain shirts. Now, I’m a 34 D and NEVER go out without a bra. These look pretty great. I just bought 2 at shopcoobie.com, as Amazon doesn’t currently have any basic colors in stock. I wanted to pass along a “buy one get one free” coupon code I found that worked for me – PMBOGO. Shipping was $4.95, so in all, I got 2 bras for $24.95. Nice! Thanks for the bra recommendation! I’m pretty excited to try these out.
Whoops! S&H charge was $5.95.
I wish I could do this, but I can’t exactly go bra-less at work… And exercising without a bra sounds really painful. Maybe no-underwire is a decent compromise? I never wear bras with underwires because they’re so uncomfortable.
Hmm…when I’m out in public, I ALWAYS wear a bra, the thought of not having one on, would not be socially acceptable where I live. However, when I’m at home, I prefer going without. It’s much more comfortable.
I think underwire bras are more problematic than bras wth built in wiring.
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather
I find it interesting that there is so much discussion about going completely braless, when by far the most significant reduction in breast cancer risk can be achieved by just wearing it less than 12 hours a day! There’s a pretty insignificant difference between wearing less than 12 hours,and not at all. There are so many other contributing factors, I’ll personally be continuing to wear my bra, as well as keeping my gut flora healthy, maintaining iodine intake, making my own deodorant out of coconut oil. and eating the best food I can acquire.
Also, I just want to mention for the sake of the busty gals who can’t/won’t appear in public without a bra, and can’t exercise without one (I’ve tried it before – it is painful!), my mother has sold very good, custom fitting bras for years. She has worn them most of her life. She breastfed eight children and she’s a busty gal. I agree with a previous poster that I would like to see the data that says that going braless makes the “girls” more perky – all the pictures of mature native women I’ve seen are pretty saggy! Anyway, this isn’t meant to be a commercial, but I’m very skeptical of information that says that going braless is the only way to get lymphatic drainage when I’ve been told by my mother for years that good support is the way! The company she sells for is very old and reputable. They wouldn’t just make stuff up. They are also very anti-underwire. If you want to go braless, fine. But it’s just not possible for all of us, and some of us are wary of the uniboob effect of an unstructured bra like a Coobie. If you’re busty and interested in a supportive bra that isn’t restrictive, you might want to check out Jeunique bras. Just google it. You have to find a consultant near you to be custom-fitted. Here’s an article that mentions lymph flow. http://www.thehealthybracompany.com/healthybras_vnavbar2.html. It’s also a fantastic sports bra and nursing bra. It doesn’t just smash your boobs like a regular pullover sports bra, which continues to bounce painfully, it helps to hold them up. The bras also reduce back strain.
Ever since I tried the Genie bra in October, I prefer it over any other bra! It really does hide my bulges, haha. It’s so comfortable, extremely affordable, and you can find them in many places. They’re 2 for $20 and come in a nude and black set. I’ve seen them at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and a few other places. I wear about a 36DD or DDD and I wear an XL in the Genie. It supports me very well. Sometimes I don’t like the look of my breasts in the Genie bra, because it doesn’t give you that perky look an underwire bra does. It doesn’t make you look “saggy,” it just doesn’t have that Victoria’s Secret effect. But for the comfort, it is TOTALLY worth it. I doubt I’ll ever go back to underwire.
I learned this a few years ago and have changed over to using Just Barely There bras… you can get them at Kohl’s. The Coobie bra looks just like it, but Barely There bras provide more variety.
Anyway, I learned about this when I joined a group that is Nourished Tradtion-minded and beyond… going braless was one of the first things the group leader talked about and shared how to get your lymph flowing. Not only with a rebounder or trampoline, but also with massages, hot water pressure and some others (can’t remember them at the moment).
I’ll have to recommend this book to my mama… she is not convince that going braless is the way ;o) HA!
Can’t believe how much “brain-wash” we’ve all gone through!! Not only with bras, but with shaving hair, eating bad fats, the wacko food pyramid, medicines and more! LOL!!
I go braless at home most of the time. And definitely don’t sleep with a bra on. I would go braless more often if my girls weren’t so saggy. After bfing my two children the girls are not so perky anymore! I would love to try the coobie bra but it doesn’t look like it would lift up the girls very well. I need a bra to lift and support. I do not like wire bras though, they are terribly uncomfortable. I’m all for the going braless at home for sure but outside in public not so much. Cancer sucks!!
I thought making them bonce was bad and have always been worried about doing so. I’m going to try it out with the daily massage of Arbonne organic firming cream to see if I can decrease the sagging. I already wear my bra less than 12 hours a day, especially since I’m on maternity leave and breast feeding right now. Thanks for the info!
Funny! Since I’m a stay at home mom, I never wear a bra and haven’t in years. If I go out grocery shopping or run errands, I wear a coat to hide the fact I’m not wearing a bra. Of course I’ll wear one to social events, but I even have some shirts where you can’t tell I’m not wearing a bra, so i’ll wear those as often as possible
I’ve always wondered why (after having 2 kids) my boobs never sagged and are still perky (sorry for the TMI). They didn’t change at all during my pregnancy nor after.
I HATE wearing bras, so I just never bothered. I’m glad to know there’s an actual health benefit to this!
My Mom never wore a bra–if she was going to something dressy (very rare), she would maybe put one on, but we’re not even talking once a month here. She died of breast cancer 3 years ago. She was 57. I’m nursing (a good way to prevent breast cancer!), so need a bra if only to hold breast pads, but I’ve never found restrictive bras to be comfortable, anyway, so I don’t buy them. I stick to unpadded, unwired, cotton or silk. Getting you vitamin D levels where they should be is another major breast cancer preventer!
i started going braless about 7 months ago. i did it for self esteem reasons. i’ve always been insecure about breasts, thinking that they weren’t big enough (a very small 34 C) and weren’t perky enough and full enough and all other thoughts a lot of us have about our breasts. so, i thought, i don’t want to lie to people or myself, these are my breasts and this is how much they sag and how small they are. though i still have issues around them, i am so much more comfortable with them. i appreciate them more. and i’m so much more comfortable. i also exercise without a bra. though, i will wear a sports bra at times. i wear tank tops instead of bras and i don’t intend on ever going back. thanks for the post. good stuff.
Wow! Good for you, Sarah! I feel exactly as you do and it sounds like we are the same size. I admire you for being brave and overcoming your self-consciousness. I ordered some Coobies yesterday and feel like that will be a step toward coming out of my bra completely! You go, girl.
I’m bra-free! I think I wore one maybe once in the past few months? And that was to look better in pictures on Christmas Eve (I’m an A cup with a belly bulge :-/)
Granted, I don’t work outside our home… but even when I did, I often managed to dress so that I wouldn’t need one. The fall and winter are better for this, even though it can be done in spring and summer — layers can often hide nipple bumps and it’s much easier to wear scarves that drape down right in that spot. In fact, scarves are my go-to accessories because even if I’m down to a single layer, I still don’t necessarily look like I’m braless!
I started doing this several years ago when I read info on the breast cancer link. It was my excuse that sounded better than “gee they’re not very comfy!” Also, when I did have to wear one more frequently, I had frequent eczema flairs that made it so much worse.
I was actually just recently talking about this issue with my daughter. I feel like as I have aged my breast have really started drooping pretty noticeably and so I really need a little assistance, ie “push-up” bra. But, I was telling my daughter that I had read somewhere that bras are not good for our health. It is good to have something that I can send her to show her about this issue. It couldn’t recall the details about bras but I knew that they weren’t good. Thank you for clarifying why they are not good for us.
Okay a few things to consider: I have NEVER been able to go braless. Maybe once when I was super skinny and running an hour 5 times a week. My boobs almost fit into a C cup…for a minute. But ultimately, I am a D or DD and going braless feels wonky. The boobs go to different sides of my body, small children get squished and lose oxygen, sometimes a nipple gets cut off by my armpit and it really hurts, etc. And I’m not saggy – just big (and pregnant with my 3rd so about to get a little fuller). Women who are able to forego a bra at any point in the day are probably thinner. Thinner women have less health complications and issues. Also, who wears their underwire bra at night???? I wear a sleep bra but only because I am usually nursing. So, I would like to know the correlation between weight, bra size and breast cancer. My mother had breast cancer, then uterine cancer, then passed away from pancreatic cancer. She was overweight and her breasts were DDD’s. She had to wear a bra no matter what! (However, she never nursed any of her 6 babies and I know that nursing decreases breast cancer risks.)
Okay a few things to consider: I have NEVER been able to go braless. Maybe once when I was super skinny and running an hour 5 times a week. My boobs almost fit into a C cup…for a minute. But ultimately, I am a D or DD and going braless feels wonky. The boobs go to different sides of my body, small children get squished and lose oxygen, sometimes a nipple gets cut off by my armpit and it really hurts, etc. And I’m not saggy – just big (and pregnant with my 3rd so about to get a little fuller). But these bad boys are so big that NO ONE wants me to go braless… Women who are able to forego a bra at any point in the day are probably thinner. Thinner women have less health complications and issues. Also, who wears their underwire bra at night???? I wear a sleep bra but only because I am usually nursing. So, I would like to know the correlation between weight, bra size and breast cancer. My mother had breast cancer, then uterine cancer, then passed away from pancreatic cancer. She was overweight and her breasts were DDD’s. She had to wear a bra no matter what! (However, she never nursed any of her 6 babies and I know that nursing decreases breast cancer risks.)
::::::::knock on wood:::::::: I’ve just passed my 4 year cancerversary with breast cancer. I had invasive lobular carcinoma, which is kind of rare. It’s a wicked breast cancer in that you can’t see it, you can’t feel it but you know something just isn’t right. Don’t even get me started on bras! To be honest, that’s what’s saved my life to this point.
Symptoms:
Bras never fit. I kept pulling and tugging at my bra on the right side.
I’d get off work and immediately remove my bra. I’d go home and was exhausted.
Scary, huh? I had mammograms followed by ultrasounds. Why? Because I had a fluid filled cyst, again I say it’s another thing that saved my life. My mammograms were always clean and clear. My ultrasounds were always clean and clear. But my breasts hurt and my bras never fit no matter what bra I wore or what size I wore.
My last mammogram was in December 2007, one month after I got married. The mammogram came back clean & clear (digital mammogram) and I reminded them about my little cyst and so, on we went for the ultrasound. She was showing me all the layers of breast and tissue on the screen when a black mass appeared with tentacles. I knew this wasn’t a good thing.. and she became very quiet but kept taking photos of it. The radiologist came in and looked at it, did his own exam and told me that in all good conscience he couldn’t let me leave thinking everything was ok. That I needed a biopsy A.S.A.P. . . . I knew when I left that I had cancer though that word was never spoken. The biopsy showed that the mass was 1.5 cm in size and was in fact cancer. I had an MRI which showed the mass to be 10 cm or 4 inches large which in a breast is huge. Did I mention you couldn’t feel it? Couldn’t see it? My type of cancer falls into the 15% of breast cancers that don’t show up on mammograms, they’re invisible. So all of those years I had breast cancer that was never caught. Do I think my bra caused it? No. The only reason I’m going through this much detail is so you think about this if you ever have symptoms like I did. I went from being a competitive dancer to a couch potato. Symptom. Symptom. Stupid things… but symptoms for me. And bras that didn’t fit… for me.. were symptoms. Do you know why? My cancer went way under my right arm and it wasn’t until I raised my arms that I could see that there was way more tissue there than there was on the other side.
Burn your bras? Heck yeah! Life is too short to live with constrictions! I had DIEP reconstruction with the worlds best micro surgeon’s in New Orleans. I’ve not worn a bra since. But if I ever choose to do so, it won’t be underwire!
If you only make one change in your life…. only drink organic milk… the alternative will kill you. Blessed be.
Congrats on your 4 year mark, Susan! Why do you specifically mention organic milk as being critical? RBGH? I recently located an old woman with a Jersey milk cow and get fresh, raw milk. Score! I am curious why you mentioned the milk as important. Also, did your doctors ever tell you that you have dense breast tissue? I’m curious, b/c I just watched a TED talks presentation by a doctor who has co-developed a gamma process for detecting breast cancer and it is incredibly much more accurate than mammograms in dense breast tissue. I had no idea before watching her video how completely worthless mammograms and ultrasound are in detecting even large tumors in dense breasts. She and her team do not want to make any money off the technology but are meeting with resistance from the FDA nazis since they threaten the status quo. It infuriates me when I start digging into the politics of breast cancer. You will find her presentation interesting. Here’s a link: http://youtu.be/DqbM1ZrpTQg
Like many women, I used to wear bras all the time. I even wore them to bed sometimes. I always used to wear underwire bras too. Then some years ago, I started buying the stretchy, cotton type bras. They were more comfortable, but still they were constricting. Then about 4 years ago I decided to stop wearing bras because I knew that bras were connected with increased breast-cancer rates. Since then, I’ve been mostly wearing cotton camisoles with a little elastic shelf for support. They are very loose and comfortable, and still give me enough lift to make me feel comfortable. I also sleep in them too, but not every night. All I know is, they are about 85 percent looser than the bras I used to wear. The brand I’ve been buying is Bella (they make t-shirts too). I’ll have to check out the ones you recommended, they look a lot like the ones I wear. Great post!
I remember reading about the link between breast cancer and bras many years ago. I try not to wear a bra when I’m at home and definitely not to bed (ouch!), but going braless out in public is not an option. The coobie bra is fine if you’re no bigger than a 36C, but what about if you are? What are the options for women in D’s and DD’s? I happen to be one of those overly endowed women, so much so that I have considered on many occasions getting a reduction surgery. Would love to hear from you, AnnMarie, or from your readers about options for large busted women. Maybe I will try switching to a non-underwire bra, but I just have never found one that supports and shapes appropriately for public places
Ha! I guess if I had actually read some of the comments, I would have seen that I am not alone!
Victoria Secret makes several nice wireless bras that support and look good. Not sure what you need, but I think 40D is the largest I’ve seen on their web site for those, so maybe at least a few more options…
I would measure according to the directions on the Breakoutbras site, and get measured at Nordstrom’s to compare. Most women wear too small of a cup size. You could look into nursing bras/tanks. There are some non-underwire options in those. I’m not currently nursing, but I wear the bravado tank that fits F/G cup. (might run a little small)
Chantelle bras fit great, Nordstrom’s carries them. They are french-made and pretty expensive. Best fitting bra and best shape under t-shirts I’ve ever had: Chantelle Sublime Invisible Spacer T-Shirt Bra Felina carries another streching-foam one that’s about half the price. The band runs a full size small though: Felina Aubrie Full Coverage Convertible Underwire Bra
If you have a large band size, you’ll have more options. But is difficult to find options for the smaller band sizes/large cup size combo.
I’ve been wearing either no bra or a Genie or Ahh Bra, cheap and comfy, for some time now. I’m small-chested but even I wouldn’t go jogging without a sports bra. I do use our rebounder without one, though, and I don’t need a bra for kettlebells either!
I occasionally apply iodine solution (betadine etc) to my breasts after a shower. It’s supposed to be a good, safe way to absorb iodine and get it right where it’s needed. If pressed I could look up where I got that advice, some site on holistic breast cancer prevention.
A great resource I discovered for gentle-fitting bras for large breasted, (an other sized women), is Decent Exposures. They have a different styles, fabrics, colors and will custom fit anyone. This is a great resource for truly large breasted women.
I hope that is of help to some of you looking for an underwire alternative.
My 44F’s are a-swingin’! I HATE bras and go without all the time. I’ve been to the store quite a few times without a bra and, while I did get a few lewd glances, I’m grouchy enough to put a stop to it. I have considered having a t-shirt printed that says “My Eyes Are Up There” with an arrow.
I exercise without a bra as well. When jumping I hold my breasts from underneath so that they still move but I can catch them before they slam down and get painful or I place my arm underneath to catch them, if I have to hold onto something.
I usually go braless unless I have a blouse on that is too sheer or otherwise inappropriate for wearing in public. I have had six kids and breastfed each of them, and my best friend kids me about my perky girls.
Also, it is interesting to note that Patricia Bragg, of the Bragg aminos and ACV company has advocated going braless for years. She looks so youthful,too!
Did you know, “bra burning” is an urban legend? Those women in the 60s were tossing their bras into a big trash can. Someone who was present compared it to men burning their draft cards. And the two ideas got merged into one. But in reality, there never was any big bra inferno.
I think that lymph node restriction probably is a big part of the problem, and so I won’t wear underwires. I wish I had heard about bras making you droopier when I was a kid (instead I had an aunt who insisted that I should wear a playtex 18 hour bra 24 hours a day). It’s way too late for me now. I’m VERY large breasted and just can’t go without a bra if I don’t want my breasts on my knees. I did wear nothing but tank tops with shelf bras for awhile 7-10 yrs ago, but now that just doesn’t seem to work anymore.
So I like to remember other contributors to breast cancer – like not breastfeeding apparently increases your chances. I’ve breastfed for well over 10 years, so I like to think that’s going to keep me safe. Then there’s diet – staying away from food-like substances as much as possible and eating as healthily as we can has to help; and of course, reducing our chemical exposure. I’ve done no-poo for years, clean with vinegar, baking/washing soda & borax, and have even purchased a shower head filter. I try to use spring water when possible from the local springs & ingest probiotics (kombucha) daily.
So yes, bras are probably a problem, but doing the best we can in a variety of areas may make up for some of those things we just can’t adjust (like bouncing on the trampoline w/ my K cups – ouch!)
There is actually one of those 50% off daily deals on coobie bras today!! $20 for $40 worth of merchandise from the coobie website… talk about perfect timing
. If anyone’s interested: http://737cbf27-a26f-4553-a774-794b286983a2.kgbdeals.com/?id=74121
So, is it the under wire bra that causes cancer or bras in general?
According to the book, bras in general, but especially underwires
A person wearing the correct size bra (the alphabet does not end at DD!) will not have those underwire issues.
I completely agree, however, that an ill-fitted bra leads to many health complications. Most women wear wires that are much too small, and a wire that’s too small can cut into the breast tissue, plugging ducts and blocking proper circulation. A properly fitted wire simply provides structural support and never presses on any breast tissue.
(And the idea of jumping on a trampoline without a bra on utterly terrifies me.)
I would hate to die of cancer from wearing my bra.
I would also hate to die from:
traumatic head injury from running without a bra;
tripping and falling, potentially skewering myself on a pitchfork or similar implement;
being caught in the PTO shaft of my 1952 ford 8N…
:]
I admit I haven’t read through all the links, but braless = perkier?? I have been to Africa, and while there may be mitigating circumstances, perkier is not how I would describe things… o.O
For all we know they would be MORE saggy wearing bras.
Either way the girls are going south. We may as well avoid cancer, don’t you think?
Anne Marie,
Just make sure the bra you bought is 100% cotton and natural color. It is important not to use the bra at night – in my country my grandma was not letting me use any underwear at night, just a cotton tunic. If the bra is simple, light cotton, without coloring, the usual triangle in other words, there is no harm. They cost very little, often less than 10 dollar.
Jo
I am large-chested, which makes going braless hard, because my back hurts.
However, I often don’t wear bras when I am just at home, especially on the weekends. I don’t wear one to bed. I don’t wear underwire. I feel comfortable with skipping the bra when I can, and wearing it when I need to (especially while breastfeeding). I notice in the stats you listed that wearing a bra 24 hours a day vs. not at all was a striking difference, but wearing one a few hours a day vs. none was not a huge difference.
Yep, I think that’s the most crucial thing, wearing the bra as little as possible. Not all day and NEVER to bed
Interesting post! I’d be willing to give that bra a go once I’m done breastfeeding my little girl. I have to admit, I have frequently felt bad for going around on weekends without a bra, but my reasoning for the last year is that I’m breastfeeding and it’s easier to go bra-less than to deal with undoing the front clasp of the nursing bra for my toddler. She’s nurses quickly and frequently so it’s a pain. Right now I wear a bra for about 10-12 hours a day at work and take it off when I get home. Looking forward to the book review on this!
I would be very interested to see the overlap in that data between women who don’t wear bras and women who breastfed for an extended period of time. I have to imagine there’s a lot of crossover…not to overgeneralize!
I also like to take my bra off in the evening. For the past two years I’ve worn soft nursing bras almost exclusively. I’m totally going to make a more concerted effort to ditch the bra now!
Since having had abreast reduction 20or more years ago I dont wear a bra unless I go to work ( I work at a public school), or out.
I don’t normally discuss such details publicly but…..
I quit wearing a bra years ago unless I’m going to church. The girls are far firmer and perkier than they have ever been and that’s including a 100 pound weight loss. The girls look better now than they did when I was in my 20s, and I nursed for five years straight between then and now.
I read a while back on The Cellulite Investigation Blog about the connection between cellulite and underwear and I switched to wearing the Hanky Panky thongs when out and nothing when at home. It’s made a difference in the little bit of cellulite I had left.
I did not stop wearing a bra untill after my breast reduction.
I’m 63. I’ve probably spent no more than a thousand hours in my whole life wearing a bra (usually in super stuffy company or if the dress requires that shape, a rarity for me). I’ve nursed two babies for a year, and still have perky tits I’m proud of. I actually do exercises to keep decolletage healthy and always have. My size B recently evolved into a nice C. I look in the mirror and am amazed, expecting any day now I’ll look inthe mirror and they will have dropped to my waist, Like bra wearing women everywhere. but no. Who knew? Burn your bras, girls. especially those disgusting rubber things they’re selling you now. Those tacky victoria secret things. If you must buy a bra, buy a nice French or Italian or Swiss lacey one at a good store. They’re comfy and last forever and don’t keep you from breathing!
When I started nursing I ditched the ‘regular’ deodorant and underwire bras and have kept it up ever since. Victoria Secret makes several different wireless bras, I think up to a 40D, including a cotton option I’ve taken to wearing when I go to work. Usually without at home unless we’ve got company and always at night.
I can’t imagine any intense exercise without though. Running in any non-constrictive bra is painful and actually impacts my breathing and speed! Can’t imagine what it would be like for exercises like burpees, but maybe will have to try it sometime at home.
Of course you originally posted about the Coobies just a few days after I went bra shopping.
I’ll be curious to hear if the authors report any correlation with wearing an improperly sized bra. Heard this theory many years ago and that was one of my thoughts. If it i all about the lymph, then I’d imagine wearing something too tight would really restrict the flow.
Wow! This topic has generated a lot of good advice! I looked at the Coobi bra and several things jumped out at me. 1. You can buy a very similar bra at our local Fred Meyers for far less money. 2. The straps are way to thin for a large breasted woman, even in the full size. The weight of the breast would cause the strap to cut into the shoulder.
BUT
Listed along with the Coobi was this lovely underwireless bra for large breasted women…all cotton and non restricting. http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Within-Wirefree-Leisure-Sleeping/dp/B004I7BO74/ref=pd_sbs_a_4
I have also read that following the “Wise Tradtions” of our foremothers is the best way to prevent breat cancer. They all breastfed their babies and not just for 3 months or 6 months or a years, but for at least! 3 years. Think of Hannah and Samuel in the Bible…. The average woman had more than 2 children in a lifetime. So between pregnancy years and breastfeeding years, the average woman had MUCH fewer periods than we experience today. And very very few of our foremothers had elective abortions. Elective abortion disrupts hormone regulation abruptly and dramatically and in women who have not yet born a full term pregnancy, the risk for breast cancer skyrockets. Miscarriage does not produce the same hormonal disruption as the hormones decline gradually due to the natural loss of the baby and the pregnancy.
So in all these discussion, let’s also think about what our foremothers did that worked for them, the same way we think about the food we eat.
Oh and our foremothers didn’t wear bras.
My mom was anti-bra, so when I went to college I was still wearing undershirts… But then I didn’t shave my legs either so people thought I was super weird
Of course by the last year I’d started shaving and wearing bra’s to fit in, but now I’m back to braless around the house, and I wear Walmarts cheap sports bra kinda like the Coobie, so comfortable! I work out alot and have to wear something super stout at the gym, else my nips can be seen from a mile away. What’s with the working out and nipples anyway? They drive me crazy 
I’m still breastfeeding my 19 month old so that probably has something to do with it. Great article, my mother has always told me there was a connection between bras and breast cancer, and between deodorant and cancer as well. So I only use DO when I have to go to town, which isn’t often.
I’ve known many woman who decided to go bra-less and they do sag, big time. Especially if they nursed without wearing bras. Add me to the camp who’s not brave enough to walk around my my Ds bouncing around. I won’t pretend that I’m not influenced by Western culture when it comes to what’s acceptable in beauty.
I will look into the Coobie Bra through – looks like it has a lot of good reviews.
So, is there much of a difference between the Coobie bra, the Genie bra and a regular sports bra? Just asking because they look pretty similar and sports bras can be pretty constrictive. Thank you!
A great post and thank you for raising awareness of this issue.
I was told by an English breast surgeon, that women were unwise to wear under-wired bras and to refrain from wearing a bra as much as is humanly possible, as it can constrict the body’s natural processes.
Massage to increase lymphatic drainage is wise as well as a daily walk for peace of mind. http://www.breasthealthproject.com/lymphatic-breast-massage.html
The more women ask for non-wired bras the more manufacturers will produce them, so keep asking!
Alice,
A sports bra binds to keep the breast from moving in an unhealthy way. The Genie & Coobie bra is just a stretch fabric covering with some binding with no support for the full busted especially. Just look at the picture of the model wearing the bra. She looks as if she is just about a B. I know woman who have bought it hoping it was the answer and it wasn’t.
I ordered a couple of coobies and they are OK, but not as comfy I was expecting after watching all the women gush about them on the coobie video. I still can’t wait to take it off at the end of the day. I am a C/D and it is pretty snug below my breasts. I don’t forget I’m wearing a bra, which is what I was hoping for. Also, if you get the basic model, it comes with removeable straps and the hooks are very thin and dig into my skin, especially irritating on my back. I’m going to remove the hooks and stitch the straps in since I don’t go strapless anyway. I won’t buy any more coobies. I honestly don’t see how this is less restricting than a normal good-fitting bra. I have a camisole with built in padded bra that is much more comfy. That’s my two cents!
I finally read this article! I’m very interested in going bra-less, but my chest is a bit larger. I’m going to try out the Coobie bra and see how that works. I’m game.
My mom has gone without underwire bras for years. She read about it being too constrictive and that it’s causal with breast cancer.
Beth,
Don’t waste your money on that so called bra. Just because we wear something over our breast doesn’t constitute it as a bra any more than us sleeping in a garage make us a car. That will not give any support. It’s just a stretch covering.
Hi Cheeseslave. I found you yesterday in my new GAPS research. I LOVE your site.
I’m 62, stopped wearing a bra in about 1970, 21yo. I tried 15 years ago, but I couldn’t stand the feel of any bra I put on. About 10 years ago I had a couple made by Decent Exposures (someone linked below), soft cotton knit, which I wore when necessary. (Approx 34 B+) Over the years I wore leotards, sports tops, singlets. I started looking again during this year, concerned about the sag, though I learned from you that’s no cure. But with my ME/CFS (newly discovered celiac…OMG, that’s what it’s all about) my skin is so sensitive and I so overheat, that I’ve just dropped the idea.
I read Dressed to Kill years ago. It struck me that if the first thing I do when I come home is yank off that bra, then maybe I shouldn’t be wearing it. I’ve experimented using a cotton scarf as a halter arrangement. It felt good. But I’ve returned to just going without. Wow, best going braless on rebounder?? That’s amazing.
Thanks, I’ll be back.
Anybody have any tips for healing fibrocystic breasts? I’m certain that my years of wearing push-up underwire bras all day plus wearing corsets several times a week for several hours at a time have contributed to my condition. They have gotten a LOT better, but I still have trouble sometimes. Limiting bra use I think has helped the most.
After cleaning up my diet, and eliminating wheat (after learning I’m intolerant) I have cleared up soooo many health problems, my painful, lumpy breasts are the one hold out. I’ve read a lot of widely varying advice for how to heal them. Does anyone have experience and suggestions? I try to go bra free during the day as often as possible, when my shirts permit, and on days that I need to wear scrubs to work it is super easy to go 100% commando, no underwear of any kind. I NEVER wear a bra at home (I’m a 36B). Anyway, thanks, if anyone has any tips (herbal, massage, etc).
Progesterone cream can help some women. I’ve used it for fibro breasts myself. The stuff I get is from Dr. John Lee’s web site ( http://www.johnleemd.com ) called ProgesterAll. Use the dot on the back of the tube to measure approximately how much to use on each breast (if both are affected) and massage it directly onto the breast. I used it for about 2 weeks, took a month off, and used it again for 2 weeks. Done deal No more cysts. You will get a pamphlet on how to use the cream for whatever age group you’re in. I’m menopausal, but I think for the breast issues it would be the same no matter what age you are, you would just want to follow the “so many days on, and then so many days off” recommendations because if you’re still actively menstruating it will need to be used according to their directions for general application.
I thought that using progesterone was just a way to mask the problem temporarily without addressing the underlying issue? I had almost purchased some progesterone cream meant to be applied directly to the painful breast when I read about that approach being like taking advil for a cold — helps the symptoms but doesn’t heal you.
I can’t speak to what others would say about it, I can only speak to my own personal experience. It worked for me, and quite quickly, too. You should have your hormone levels tested (I think you can order kits from that John Lee MD web site I posted the link to) because maybe you would need estrogen cream rather than progesterone. I don’t know how old you are so that part would make a difference. Menopausal women, like me, are generally estrogen dominant and sometimes that, in and of itself, can cause the fibrocystic breasts, as well as weight gain and myriad other problems.
Thank you for your feedback! I am 27. I have had fibrocystic breasts at least since my first gyn appointment at 18, probably before that but I just didn’t realize it. I have always been told that it’s just something that women deal with, that it is “normal” and don’t worry about it, just keep up the monthly exams, etc. Aunts on both sides of my family have had breast cancer, and my maternal aunt died from it when she was 40. I guess I probably should get my hormone levels tested, but I thought it is tricky to interpret when you’re still menstruating. Everything else about my cycle has become so amazing since going paleo (no more PMS, cramps, etc), but the cysts in my breast enlarge and become so painful for the ~10 days preceeding my period, and then just as quickly they fade and I am pain-free.
@Amanda Sounds like low progesterone. Menstrual pain and cysts in the breasts are signs of low progesterone.
Matt Stone says that the paleo diet can cause hypothyroidism.
http://180degreehealth.com/2011/06/paleo-fail
if you are hypotyhyroid, your body can’t produce enough progesterone.
You can take progesterone cream which will help in the short term but I would also start taking your temperature every day. If you have consistently low body temps (you should be at around 98.6 during the day) then it’s your thyroid.
Matt Stone recommends RRARFING or “reefeeding”. It’s working for me. My temps are up from the low 97s up to averaging around 98.2. My cycle is also starting to regulate. Normally I have spotting I didn’t have the breast swelling/tenderness/pain this month. None at all.
You can also have your hormones tested here: http://www.canaryclub.org/
It’s not expensive and it’s well worth it to get a baseline. It will show if you are low progesterone etc.
However if you can’t afford just chart your temps daily. I’ll be posting on how to do this in the near future.
Oh my goodness, AnnMarie, this is exactly what I needed to hear. I am hypothyroid, and have ALWAYS had low temps since I was a kid, always around 97.5. In fact, docs suspected it was low progesterone that caused my three miscarriages, and I used a prog suppository during my first 12 weeks with Ella, and with Darcy-James, I used a natural prog serum (Progessence Plus from Young Living.) It makes SO MUCH SENSE now that you say that.
I would love to hear more about what Matt is talking about– what is RRARFING?
My friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and she is wondering if it’s ok to take cod liver oil?
Thanks, J
I’ve read a lot lately about how bad bras are for you and I canNOT stand wearing a bra and avoid it as much as possible. I’m small-chested so if I’m wearing baggier clothes I can often get away with it. However, I fight the “ever-nips” as some of the other ladies put it (LOL, btw) so I feel like a bra is inevitable. I’ve been wanting something that is at least better than my padded underwire push-up bras so I was really excited to read about the Coobie bra. I’m just wondering if they fight the “ever-nip.”
I am a breast cancer survivor, and my surgeon told me to NEVER wear an underwire bra, so maybe there’s something to the idea after all.
Well, thanks to this post Ann Marie, I have been without a bra at all for a week. At first, I was not comfortable at all, even though I never wore them to bed and never wore underwire bras. I had worn one everyday for the past twenty-five years (Has it really been that long?). I went travelling this past weekend half way across the country and attended a teaching workshop where we did some really active games and running–I went braless. Just yesterday I started to notice that not only do I seem a bit perkier and all discomfort is gone and most of my fears that someone will notice… I am sure that my breasts are going to be much healthier in the long run. Thank you so much for having the courage to post on this topic and discuss it openly.
I haven’t done the research, but i have heard the argument before that underwire bras increase the chances of breast cancer. It really makes me wonder though….I think cancer is a “newer” disease brought on by pollution, highly refined foods, petroleum products and etc and also stress.
BUt look at the women way back then when they wore those tight corsets etc……. I wonder how many of them had breast cancer. I think it’s a lot more than an underwire bra.
Also, I think the birth control pill is one of the bigger causes of breast cancer, and synthetic hormone replacement therapy.
I sell bras (Jeunique) that will do everything that you girls need. No underwires and help circulation to keep you from getting breast cancer. Super Super Bras.
I sell bras (Jeunique) that will do everything that you girls need. No underwires and help circulation to keep you from getting breast cancer. Super Super Bras.
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