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Subject:
From:
Kathy Dettwyler <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 17 Jun 1997 15:41:34 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
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>From:         "katherine a. dettwyler" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      Teaser for "Dressed to Kill"
>
>This weekend from home, I will send in a summary of the research on the link
>between wearing a bra and breast cancer, published in the book "Dressed to
>Kill."  For now, I'll just say that while the research methodology and
>sample size and statistical analyses all leave something to be desired, and
>the writing is repetitive repetitive repetitive and redundant (and they
>repeat themselves a lot, too) --- nevertheless, I'm taking my bra off as
>soon as I get home, and I'm not wearing it at home or on the weekends, and
>I'm going out this weekend with my daughter and buying her some bras that
>fit better (don't leave red marks), and they won't be underwires, either.
>And I'll be encouraging her to wear her bra as seldom as possible.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------


>From:         "katherine a. dettwyler" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      Results of bra study
>
>Hello folks.  Here are the promised excerpts from "Dressed to Kill: The Link
>Between Breast Cancer and Bras."
>
>The authors, two medical anthropologists, interviewed over 2,056 women who
>had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and 2,674 women who had no diagnosis
>of breast cancer.  They then compared various lifestyle variables between
>the two groups.  That's the extent of their methodology and *statistics* --
>just percentage differences between the two groups.  They point out that
>some of the women in the undiagnosed group may already have breast cancer,
>or will develop it.
>
>Age distribution:  no difference (30-79 for both groups, most between 40
and 70)
>
>Income distribution: no difference
>
>Occupation involving exposure to toxins: no difference, but most women had
>no idea if their jobs included exposure to toxins
>
>Are you comfortable with the size and shape of your breasts without a bra?
>Standard group: 18% yes
>Cancer group:    5% yes
>
>[Note how many women in both groups don't like the way their breasts look
>without a bra!]
>
>Do you select bras to shape or accentuate your breasts?
>Standard group: 74% yes
>Cancer group:   87% yes
>
>Other than price, what is the most important feature you look for when
>buying a bra?
>Standard group: 30% appearance, 51% comfort, 19% both
>Cancer group:   62% appearance, 25% comfort, 13% both
>
>Does your bra occasionally feel tight or uncomfortable?
>Standard group: 28% rarely, 55% sometimes, 17% always
>Cancer group:   48% rarely, 34% sometimes, 18% always
>
>Does your bra ever made red marks on your skin or cause irritations?
>Standard group: 25% rarely, 52% sometimes, 23% always
>Cancer group:   14% rarely, 46% sometimes, 40% always
>
>How long do you wear your bra each day on the average?
>Standard group: 20% < 12 hrs. daily, 80% > 12 hrs. daily
>Cancer group:    1% < 12 hrs. daily, 99% > 12 hrs. daily
>
>[Note: YIKES!]
>
>Do you wear a bra or breast-supporting garment to sleep?
>Standard group:  3% yes
>Cancer group:   18% yes
>
>Do you wear a bra?
>Standard group: 5% no
>Cancer group:  0.24% no
>
>Have you breastfed:
>Standard group: 14% yes
>Cancer group:    4% yes
>
>The authors point out that there are many things they didn't look at that
>would be of great interest in future studies, such as number of hours
>wearing a bra as a continuous variable, type of bra (stretch, underwire,
>standard, etc.), size of the woman's breasts (though there apparently is no
>link between size of the breasts and rates of cancer), duration of
>breastfeeding, etc.  They call for more research, and in the interim suggest
>everyone wear a good-fitting, non-binding bra, as few hours as possible a day.
>
>The authors are Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer, publisher is Avery
>Publishing.

Dr. Singer is an anthropologist, BTW.
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Nutrition
Texas A&M University

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