Deodorant and cancer?

Deodorant causes cancer?

• Research is showing that the alluminum in deodorant is starting to cause cancer. I've heard that all natural deodorant is better. I usually use Dove or Secret Deodorant, so I need some that works well. I would like it to smell good too! Does anyone know of a natural deodorant that I can buy at a common store like Target, that smells good and works? If you can help thanks! <3

• Answer:

  Can you provide a link to any research that shows that aluminium in deodorant or anti-perspirant causes cancer? In fact no link between cancer and deodorants/anti-perspirants has been proven, and all the evidence strongly suggests there isn't one. The currently widely-held belief that they are linked to breast cancer is mainly down to a hoax email A large study in 2002 looked for links between antiperspirant use and breast cancer in 1,500 women. The researchers found that neither antiperspirants nor deodorants increased breast cancer risk. These links give some facts: http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/myths/antipersp.jsp http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-causes/CA00085 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-causes/CA00085 Those who claim that deodorants/antiperspirants cause breast cancer state one of these three things as the reason: 1) they contain aluminium; many do but there is no strong evidence that aluminium could increase the risk of cancer 2) 'anti-perspirants prevent the release of toxins, which cause cancer'; this is nonsense - the purpose of sweat is to cool you down, not release 'toxins', and even if sweat did release toxins, there are plenty of other areas you sweat profusely from. 3) they contain parabens, a preservative many believe is linked to breast cancer. - There is in fact no evidence that parabens cause cancer; the concern arises from a small study in 2004 by British researchers which found traces of parabens in tissue taken from women with breast cancer. The tumours of 20 women were tested, and for obvious reasons there was no control group. The researchers claimed the study demonstrated that if people are exposed to parabens , the chemicals will accumulate in their bodies However, this extremely small study doesn't demonstrate a direct causal link between deodorant or antiperspirant use and developing breast cancer. A study that small cannot be regarded as proof. There are many deodorants available without parabens and aluminium, and many people choose to use them to be on the safe side - I do myself, and did long before my breast cancer diagnosis - but there is no proof of a link with breast cancer or with any other cancer