Bras
and Breast Cancer
From: "The
Women's Spiritual Network" <SURYA@SPIDERNET.COM.CY>
From: http://www.chetday.com/breastcancerandbras.htm
Breast Cancer: A Pinch of Cancer - Can Wearing
a Bra Kill You?
by William Thomas
If you didn't burn yours in the 'Sixties, you might want
to put it away now. "Bras cause breast cancer. It's
open and shut," says medical researcher Syd Singer.
The Singers became breast cancer sleuths in 1991. On
the day Soma discovered a lump in her breast, the husband-wife
team was studying the effects of Western medicine on
Fijians.
In the shower, Syd noticed that Soma's shoulders and
breasts were outlined by dark red grooves. He remembered
a puzzled
Fijian woman asking his wife about her brassiere:
"Doesn't it feel tight?"
"You get used to it," Soma had replied.
Could bras be constricting breast tissue, Syd wondered,
hampering lymph drainage and causing degeneration?
Soma decided to stop wearing hers. But when
Syd searched
the medical literature he found no known causes of breast cancer, which rarely
appears before a woman's mid-thirties, most often after 40. The highest death
rates from breast cancer are in North America and northern Europe, with the
developing world catching up fast. The World Health Organization calls chemical
toxins the
primary cause of cancer. But poisons accumulating in breast tissue are normally
flushed by clear lymph fluid into large clusters of lymph nodes nestling
in the armpits and upper chest. The Singers
found that "because lymphatic vessels
are very thin, they are extremely sensitive to pressure and are easily compressed." Chronic
minimal pressure on the breasts can cause lymph valves and vessels to close.
"
Less oxygen and fewer nutrients are delivered to the cells, while waste
products are not flushed away," the Singers noted. After 15 or 20
years of bra-constricted lymph drainage, cancer can result. Looking at
other cultures, Soma and Syd
were struck by the low incidence of breast cancer in poorer nations awash
in pesticides
dumped by northern nations. They didn't find peasant women wearing push-up
bras. Instead,they discovered that the Maoris of New Zealand, integrated
into white culture, have the same rate of breast cancer, while Australia's
marginalized aboriginals
have virtually no breast cancer. The same trend held for "Westernized" Japanese,
Fijians and other bra-converted cultures.
In Dressed To Kill: The Link Between Breast
Cancer and Bras, the researchers also observed
that just before a woman begins her period, estrogen
floods
her system, causing her breasts to swell. If she continues wearing the
same bra
size, life-saving lymphatics will be even more tightly squished. Had
they found the "estrogen
link" to breast cancer? Childless women never fully develop their
breast-cleansing lymphatic system. Nor do women who have never breast-fed.
Working women who wear
bras every day and postpone having children could be at higher risk,
the Singers
warn.
Even worse, a young woman's coming of age is often "marked" by her
First bra. Like the ancient Chinese practice of foot-binding, "breast-binding" at
puberty can eventually lead to severe medical complications. Could bras be the "missing
link" in a growing epidemic of breast cancer? Beginning in May, 1991, Soma
and Syd Singer's 30-month "Bra and Breast Cancer" study interviewed
some 4,000 women in five major US cities. All were Caucasian of mostly "medium
income" ranging in age from 30 to 79. Half had been diagnosed with breast
cancer. Almost all of the women interviewed were unhappy with the size or shape
of their breasts. Women who chose a bra for appearance, ignoring soreness and
swelling, had twice the rate of breast cancer of those who did not.
But the most startling statistic was that three out
of four women who wore their daytime bras to
sleep contracted breast cancer. So did one
out of
seven women
strapped into a bra more than 12 hours a day. Bra-free women have
just a one in 168 chance of being diagnosed
with breast cancer, says Singer.
The
same as
bra-free men.
"Don't sleep in your bra!" Syd Singer pleads. "Women who want
to avoid breast cancer should wear a bra for the shortest period of time possible
--certainly for less than 12 hours daily."
Syd also submits that some 80% of bra-wearers who experience lumps,
cysts and tenderness will see those symptoms vanish, "within a month of getting rid
of the bra." Not everyone is ready to hang up her halter. As one woman told
the team, "My breasts will sag all the way to my navel without a bra." But
Surgeon Christine Haycock at the New Jersey College of Medicine says that inherited
traits -- not ligaments or breast size -- are the reason some breasts give
in to gravity. Bouncing bosoms help clear the lymphatics.
Well aware that their findings were "explosive," the Singers sent
their survey results to the heads of America's most prestigious cancer organizations
and institutes. None responded. Like the cancer business, the bra business
is
huge. Multiply how many worldwide women buy several $25 bras every year and
you end up with a multiple of the $6 billion-a-year US bra business.
Syd Singer says that establishment censorship of
the bra-breast cancer connection is killing
women. Pointing to the biggest commonality
among breast cancer
patients, he's emphatic that it's bra-squeezed lymphatics.
Going bra-less for all occasions,
Soma began dressing to de-emphasize her breasts. She also began
regular
breast massage and bicycle riding, vitamin and herbal supplementation,
and drinking
only purified water. Two months later, her lump disappeared.
At the first frightening sign of a lump, an angry Syd Singer
says, "women should take their bras
off before they take their breasts off." Why wait, when you can liberate
your lymphatics now.
IF YOU MUST WEAR A BRA: Push-up and sports bras are
out. Choose loose-fitting cotton bras. Make
sure you can slip two fingers
under the shoulder-straps
and side-panels. The higher the side-panels, the more severe
the restriction of major
lymph nodes. Don't wear this disastrous device to sleep.
Take it off at home. Massage your breasts every
time you remove
your bra.
Sing
your lymphatics
into health -- or at least breathe deeply.
Dressed To Kill: The Link between Breast Cancer and Bras
$15.95
by Sydney Ross Singer, Soma Grismaijer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Singer and Grismaijer have collected striking (but
preliminary) evidence that bra-wearing may be a
major risk factor associated
with breast
cancer: women who
wear tight-fitting bras 24 hours a day are 125 times
more likely to have breast cancer than women
who do not wear
bras at all.
Their interpretation
is that tight
clothing inhibits the proper functioning of the lymphatic
system (an internal network of vessels and nodes that
flushes wastes
from the
body)
and leads
to a buildup of carcinogenic compounds in the constricted
areas.
Although it must be emphasized that their studies
are preliminary, still controversial, and definitely
need
to be followed
up with detailed analyses
of correlative factors
(do these women have higher rates of smoking? do they
have less-healthy diets?), this book should be read
by anyone
concerned about breast
cancer. Possibly
a very important book that could save many lives.
Ingram reveals the link between bras and breast cancer,
explaining in non-technical language how the restrictive
nature
of bras inhibits
the lymphatic
system and arguing that the correlation is four times
greater than smoking is
to lung cancer.
Original. IP.
From the Publisher
When Soma and I did our research for Dressed To Kill
we were not aware of how easily women can recover
from fibrocystic
breast disease
by
foregoing the bra.
Bras, by their very design, alter the shape of the
breasts for fashion. To
alter breast shape you have to apply constant pressure
on
the breast tissue. That is
why bras are elastic garments. This pressure from
the bra impedes the circulation in the breast tissue,
specifically,
the circulation
of
the lymphatic system.
This system is composed of microscopic vessels that
originate in the breast tissue and drain the tissue
of fluid, which
is directed
through
these vessels
to the
lymph nodes. The lymphatic vessels are extremely
thin and
small, and have no pump, such as the heart, to propel
its contents
forward. As
a result,
lymphatic
vessels are easily constricted by external pressure,
such as that applied to the breast tissue constantly
by the
brassiere. It is
compression of these lymph
vessels that prevents the proper draining of the
breast tissue, leading to fluid accumulation in the
breast.
Medically,
this is called lymphedema
of
the breast,
secondary to constriction from the bra. This fluid
accumulation leads to breast tenderness and pain,
and ultimately the
fluid develops into
cysts.
The cysts
over time become hard, and we have a picture of
the creation of fibrocystic
breast disease. Within days or weeks of ending
breast constriction by bras, the breast
tissue is allowed to flush out this excess fluid,
cysts disappear, and breast pain and tenderness
are minimal
if at all present.
From
our research with
hundreds of women, getting rid of the bra has
resulted in remarkable
recovery of breast
health in over 95% of the cases. Since foregoing
the bra for a month is cost-free and risk-free,
and may
prove beneficial,
we
encourage
all women
who wear
bras to partake in a self-study to see for themselves,
on themselves,
whether their
bras have been damaging their breasts. Keep in
mind that breast disease is only a problem in bra
wearing cultures.
Women who
are bra-free
have the same
breast
cancer incidence as men. And don't wait for the
cancer
detection and treatment industry to endorse this
information before
you try it. Billions
of dollars
are made each year treating breast cancer. Nobody
will make money by women loosening
up to prevent this disease. The prevention of
breast disease is up to each individual woman. Just
stop
binding the breasts
with
bras
in the
name of
fashion, and begin
to love yourself and respect your body.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Reviews of GET IT OFF!
From the Publisher
In 1995, the world was shocked to discover that
one of its most cherished garments, the bra,
might be
the leading
cause
of breast
cancer. The
bearers of these bold
tidings were the husband and wife medical anthropologist
team of Singer and Grismaijer, authors of the
critically acclaimed
book,
Dressed To
Kill: The
Link Between Breast
Cancer and Bras (Avery, NY 1995 and ISCD Press,
2002). And the worlds of medicine and fashion
have never
quite been
the same
since.
Well, they're back! Get It Off begins where
Dressed To Kill left off, and then goes where
no health
book has
gone before.
Get
It Off explores
the
cultural dimensions
of breast cancer, holding a mirror up to
the culture to examine the behaviors, values,
and
obsessions
that are
just as central
to breast
disease as
are brassieres. The medium used to illustrate
the cultural issues is a musical
play, (without
the music). Each scene in the play reflects
a different facet of this cancer-causing
culture, and is accompanied
by insightful
text
analysis
in clear, concise
language. The effect is astounding, and has
the
power to change your life.
The end of the breast cancer epidemic is
at hand. The solution is no longer a mystery.
It just
depends on
a woman opening
up her mind,
her
possibilities,
and,
most importantly, her bra.
About the Author
Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer
are a husband-and-wife research team
dedicated to uncovering
the lifestyle
causes of disease. Medical
anthropologists and co-authors
of, Dressed To Kill: The Link Between
Breast Cancer and Bras (Avery, 1995), Get It Up!,
Get It Off!,
and Get
It Out!,
(ISCD Press, 2000-2001)
this
dynamic
duo
is known worldwide for their willingness
to stand up to the profit-oriented, treatment
focused
medical system.
Sydney Ross Singer received a B.S. in
biology from the University of Utah
in 1979. He
then spent two
years in
the biochemistry
Ph.D. program
at Duke
University,
followed by another two years at Duke
in the anthropology Ph.D. program,
receiving a Master’s Degree. He then attended the University of Texas Medical Branch
(UTMB) at Galveston, Texas on a full academic scholarship, where he spent one
year in the medical humanities Ph.D. program, and received an additional two
years training in medical school.
Soma Grismaijer received an associate’s degree from the College of Marin
in the behavioral sciences, and a bachelor of arts from Sonoma State University
in environmental studies and planning. In addition, she is an American Board
of Opticianry-certified optician. She has been the President and Executive
Director of the Good Shepherd Foundation since 1980, a charitable organization
dedicated
to the elimination of human and animal suffering.
Together, Singer and Grismaijer started
the Institute for the Study of
Culturogenic Disease
in 1991.
Their first
project was the M.D.
(Medical Demystification)
Crusade, informing the public of
the hazards of medicine and
how to prevent
them. The
Crusade included the Medication
Side Effects Hotline, and a national lecture
tour explaining
the nature
of doctors,
medicine,
and
health. Following
their research into the cause of
breast cancer and the publication
of Dressed
To Kill, Singer and Grismaijer
traveled
around
the world bringing their health
message to millions of people. Currently,
they are
spearheading an international campaign
to educate people about
various culturogenic
diseases,
explaining how to prevent
and cure a host of conditions considered
a "mystery" by modern medicine
. In addition, they have begun an Internet based SELF STUDY CENTER, at selfstudycenter.org,
to help people practice health self-care by trying certain lifestyle changes.
BREAST CARE by Sharon Porter, RCST®,
RPP, SEP
(970) 731-4553
SHARON PORTER found a large lump
in her breast in 1974. Scapula
work and
no more
bras dissolved
the
lump in
days. She chucked
her bra
except for
very special
occasions, when she experiences
pressure and pain within 90 minutes
of putting
on a bra.
Her mother
died with
one breast.
Sharon's
experiences led her to
study lymph tissue, milk ducts,
and self-care. The following are
exercises
and self-care
for breasts, lymphatics and the
immune system that Sharon teaches
to anyone
who will listen.
The economics of bras goes well
beyond the medical industry
and the sale
of bras, though
these are
certainly significant.
Women
are concerned
that they
will be
unattractive without a bra.
I took an informal survey of men
some
years back
and asked
them how they would
be affected
by
women not
wearing
a
bra. A summary
of their main answer was, “What we’d miss in projectile, we’d
gain in jiggle. We could easily
live with this change if it were
good for women and would reduce
the incidence of breast cancer.”
So the remaining stumbling
block is the way women feel
about themselves
and each
other.
Are we
willing to
adjust our clothing
design and
choices? Could
we wear
bras just for special occasions,
or
for a few hours a day when
wearing certain
kinds
of clothing?
Could
we
wear beautiful
vests for beautiful
breasts? Could
we allow the rest of the
world to know that, for some of us,
our breasts head South as
we age, and that that’s okay?
Could the acceptance of our breasts
be the beginning of the acceptance
of the rest of our body? The
possibilities are evolutionary.
In the meantime, here are
exercises you can do to
clear your lymphatics
regularly
if
you do
wear a
bra. A video/DVD
of
these exercises
will be available soon.
Sharon Porter is a Body-Centered
Psychotherapist and Bodyworker
specializing in several
areas of Energy Medicine,
including Biodynamic
Craniosacral Therapy, Somatic Experiencing
and other trauma specialties,
Polarity
Therapy
and Yoga.
The Program Director
of Health Wave Institute,
she has been
training practitioners
since 1974 and presents
at
conferences.
For information
or private sessions,
in person or by phone,
call
(970)
731-4553 in Pagosa Springs
or email here
SELF
OR
PARTNER LYMPHATIC
PUMPS
Lying on back, gently
squeeze armpit
tissue with one
hand, the other
hand in an alternating
gentle
squeeze
at the groin or where
the shoulder
and
neck meet on that same side of
the body. After 2-3 minutes,
stop the
pump to monitor
for tingling
(a sign
the lymph
is beginning to move)
and
then hold another
minute
or so. Start pump again,
repeating the most blocked
area and taking
the other
hand to
the third location
(the
three are
lymph nodes
in armpit,
shoulder-neck,
and groin). Switch to
other
side.
REBOUND on a mini-trampoline
(Big Five and sports
department sell
these) a
few minutes
a day. Best
lymph mover and
anti-cancer there
is. Some
women don’t
bounce because of bladder
incontinence. It might
be better to wear a
pad during the exercise
to keep
the system clean. The
incontinence may be
improved by
stopping the urine
flow several times
during urination a
couple
of times a day, to
strengthen the musculature
of the perineum.
STANDING BOUNCE: The alternative
to rebounding
is to stand,
keeping heels
on the ground,
and bend knees
to create a
bounce that keeps
your breasts
bouncing
up and down for
a few minutes. Do this
with
deep breathing
that includes the
belly going in
and out to open
up the
lymphatic tissue
in the
cysterna chyli
near the umbilicus.
Some good breathing
patterns (move
from one
to the next during
your few minutes
of bouncing)
are:
a) In for 5 counts,
out for 5, through
the nose
b) In for 5 through
the nose, out
for 5 through
pursed
lips, to create
pressure
that clears
the tubes that
feed the lungs.
IMMUNE
SERIES (on floor,
or on
a chair with
no sides)
Breath is heavy/noisy/forceful
big belly breathing
through nose
(a-c). This
pumps the three
main
lymph stations,
moving lymph
throughout
the rest of
the body.
1 )--Inhale as
arch back
and push belly
against
groin/thighs,
exhale
as round
back. Pumps
lymph in
belly (cysterna chyli)
as well
as groin.
2 ) -Arms
above head, palms
out, inhale
as bring
arms down,
exhale back
up,
twice, then
on third
time turn
arms around
to clap
(extra lymph
squeeze).
Works with
the lymph
most related to
the breasts.
3 )--Reach
hand out
to opposite
diagonal,
then pull
in
as fist
that twists spine
to opposite
side.
Alternate
sides.
The "choo-choo" for
spleen.
4) -Thump
thymus,
which
is under
breast
bone.
Prefers a
waltz
rhythm. T-cells
immune
production.
5)- Left
palm
on
left brain,
right
on
right, "pull brains" out
to
sides, then allow them to be drawn together
till
hands
clasp,
into heart (third brain).
Brain Integration.
MASSAGE and
STRETCHING
TECHNIQUES
•-Vibrate
Breasts with hands or a vibrator to open up the lymph.
• Use a light circular
massage motion with a hand on each breast, first in
one
direction for 100 circles or so, then in opposite direction - one hand
going
clockwise
while the other goes counter-clockwise. The circular massage technique is favored
by Chinese
medicine
for balancing hormonal production. It's also
great for
opening up the shoulder blades and improving posture.
• Have a body worker free
up the tissue around the top, sides and bottom of your
shoulder blades, preferably when you are lying on your side. This helps to immediately
clear
congestion
in
the breasts.
•-You could also do the
Pyramid and Cliff-Hanger poses from Polarity Yoga (see
Energy Exercises by Chitty and Muller).
