Antiperspirants and

breast cancer: rumours and reality

Antiperspirants and breast

cancer risk: an unfounded rumour

The rumour claims that breast cancer could be linked to the use of antiperspirants

Where does this rumour come from?

Several articles on the Internet and an email signed by G. Larrosa, professor at the Department of Cellular Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay contributed towards spreading this rumour. Professor Larrosa has since personally denied being the source of this information.

Why shouldnt you trust this rumour?

Results from some studies published in scientific reviews have served to reinforce this rumour. However, these studies, whose methodology was not particularly sound, have been widely disputed by the entire international scientific community and did not manage to identify the supposed responsible component.

What evidence is there against the rumour?

A key study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2002(1) analysed a sample of around 1,600 women (813 women with breast cancer and 793 safe) 90% of whom used deodorant. This single study, carried out according to a rigorous methodology, confirms the absence of a link between the use of antiperspirant and breast cancer.
(1)

Mirick DK, Davis S, Thomas DB. Antiperspirant Use and the Risk of Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002 Oct 16; 94(20):1578-80.

In no case has data currently available been able to establish a link between the use of antiperspirants and breast cancer. Closer study of the lifestyle habits of women suffering from breast cancer would undoubtedly reveal that most of them use a hairdryer and watch television, etc. So would it be reasonable to conclude that these habits might be responsible for breast cancer?
Dr E. Luporsi (Director of the Clinical and Biostatic Research Unit - Centre Alexis Vautrin Nancy, France)

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute do not know of any study that confirms even the slightest link between using underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and the subsequent onset of breast cancer.
US National Cancer Institute

whats the difference?

Deodorants and antiperspirants:

reduce body odour through the use of ingredients such as perfume or alcohol.

Deodorants

Antiperspirants provide the same function as deodorants

but also reduce perspiration under the arms.

How?
By dissolving in sweat, the aluminium salts produce a thin film on the skin that temporarily reduces perspiration under the arms.

And what about our heat regulation capacity?

When it is hot, the thousands of sweat glands all over our body secrete sweat and help lower our internal body temperature. Perspiration under the arms represents just 1% of the total amount of sweat secreted. Localised use of antiperspirants therefore has no effect on our heat regulation system.

regulations and are subject to stringent controls.

Deodorants and antiperspirants must meet strict safety

To date, antiperspirants

have not been identified as a risk

The theory according to which the use of antiperspirants could cause a build-up of toxins in the body is unfounded: the alleged responsible components could be aluminium salts, which are used in some cosmetics. But the analysis of available scientific data does not show any link between these substances and breast cancer.
According to Dr E. Luporsi, Director of the Clinical and Biostatic Research Unit of the Centre Alexis Vautrin, Nancy, France.

A group of nationally and internationally renowned French experts analysed all the scientific literature available on this subject and recently published its research findings in the scientific review Cancer Bulletin. A large number of the articles studied are not very stringent in terms of methodology and do not provide answers to the questions asked. These findings add to those of the French and US Health Authorities, namely, the in-depth analysis of available data did not reveal aluminium salts to be harmful.

Thus, the use of antiperspirants does not (2) constitute a risk of breast cancer .

(2)

M Namer, E Luporsi, J Gligorov, F Lokiec, M Spielmann. The use of deodorants/antiperspirants does not constitute a risk of breast cancer. Cancer Bulletin 2008;95(9):871-80

Established data(3)

Breast cancer and risk factors:

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, affecting almost one in ten women in France today. The prevention of genuine risk factors is therefore crucial.

Known factors that double, or even quadruple, the risk of developing breast cancer
Age Medical history of breast diseases (breast cancer, etc.) Predisposing gene identified (BRCA1, BRCA2) Breast cancer in the family (mother, sister or daughter affected) Mammographically dense breast tissue

Other risk factors

First period before the age of 12 Menopause after the age of 55 First full-term pregnancy after the age of 30 Few children (0 or 1 child) Medical history of primary cancer of the ovaries or the endometrium Treatment for menopause Long-term oral contraceptive Not breastfeeding children Other factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking are currently being studied.

(3)

According to Health Canada: Canadian Breast Cancer initiative. 2001 report.

For further information

On cancer: - American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org - Cancer Research UK, http://www.cancerresearchuk.org On Unilever: http://www.unilever.com On antiperspirants: http://www.antiperspirantsinfo.com/

largest manufacturers of deodorants and antiperspirants

Unilevers mission: to be a daily source of vitality

Unilever one of the worlds

Is there anyone who hasnt heard of our brands Sure, Lynx and Dove, to name but a few? Every day 150 million people use Unilever products throughout the world. Our brands help everyone feel better and get more out of life. Each brand is designed, formulated and developed with vitality in mind, helping people achieve a more balanced lifestyle. Vitality is our priority: it guides our brands as well as our whole team and is at the heart of our values.

Unilevers objective: to win consumer confidence

Consumer confidence is based on the concerted effort we make around the world, day in day out, to ensure the safety of our products. We have always done all we can to guarantee the safety and reliability of our deodorants and antiperspirants. European Union regulations and the laws in force in the countries where we sell our products are always at the root of their development. We assess all new formulas and any changes to formulas to ensure that they can be used completely safely by all of our customers. Knowing how complex scientific studies on chemical substances and their effects are, we do not risk placing any product on the market if there is even the slightest suspicion to indicate that one of its components could be harmful to human health or the environment. Furthermore, we have well-established partnerships with experts and scientific societies in order to increase our knowledge on the potential risks of chemical products and to continue to adapt our work to new research findings, as well as public health requirements.