Can Wearing a Bra all the Time Cause Cancer? What are the risk factors that we can control

Wearing a bra all the time does not lead to cancer. What one wears and how the breasts are touched do not have any effect on the risk of breast cancer. However, women who are uncomfortable with the way their partners handle their breast should share it with them so that they are comfortable with them. However, it is recommended that you wear easy fitting bra’s that don’t strain your back or body. It is also recommended that while you are sleeping it is best that you don’t wear a bra. During sleep, your body needs to be free and relaxed.

Risk factors for Breast Cancer that can be controlled:

Weight: Being overweight can cause an increased risk of a breast cancer. This risk is the greatest in ladies post menopause. Fat tissue is the body’s primary source of estrogen post-menopause when ovaries stop making hormone. Having, even more, the fat tissue would mean having a higher level of estrogen that can raise the risk of breast cancer.

Diet: Studies are trying to identify strong links between risk of breast cancer and diet. Few organizations recommend a low-fat diet as it can reduce the risk of having breast cancer. However, more research is required on this front as women would like to eat well without suffering from the risk of breast cancer.

Exercise: There is growing evidence to show that exercises can lower the risk of breast cancer. 45-60 minutes of good physical exercise at least 5 or more days in a week is recommended by American Cancer Society.

Consumption of alcohol: It is evident by studies that the more alcohol a woman consumes; the more is her risk of having breast cancer. Alcohol restricts the ability of your liver to control the levels of the hormone estrogen in the blood, that in turn may increase the risk.

Smoking: Smoking also increases the risk of breast cancer.

Exposure to estrogen: As the female hormone estrogen is responsible for stimulating the growth of breast cells, exposure to estrogen across long time periods, with no breaks, may raise the risk of a breast cancer.

Recent oral contraceptive use:  Usage of birth control pills or oral contraceptives also appears to somehow raise the risk of having a breast cancer, however, only for a limited time period. Women that stopped taking oral contraceptives about a decade back don’t appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer.