Many women have done it at some point. You're heading out for a quick errand, your outfit doesn't have pockets, and slipping your phone into your bra seems like the easiest option.
Then you come across a social media post or hear someone claim that carrying a phone this way can cause breast cancer. It's the kind of statement that can stay in the back of your mind. After all, if the phone is sitting close to the breast for hours, it's understandable to wonder whether it could affect your health.
What is causing this concern
Much of the concern comes from the fact that mobile phones emit radiation. Many people think of cancer when they read the word radiation. There are rumors that women who have had breast cancer have used their phones in their bras frequently. These stories may be disturbing
What does the science say?
As of yet, no proof that wearing a cell phone in the bra leads to breast cancer. What mobile phones spread is non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation has a lower energy level, and it does not damage DNA, unlike ionizing radiation.
Scientists have dedicated years to investigating the link between mobile phone usage and cancer. If mobile phones were causing cancer, one would expect there to be clear trends becoming evident as mobile phone use has risen in recent years. Research to date has not found a definite connection between mobile phones and breast cancer.
What about the stories shared online?
Personal stories can be brought to life and work wonders, especially when accompanied by a serious illness such as breast cancer. They tend to proliferate as they sound like peers and are authentic.
The problem is that one personal experience can't demonstrate cause and effect. Several factors cause breast cancer. That's why researchers use more extensive studies with many people instead of studies on a single case.
Risk factors
Taking a cell phone in the bra is not known to cause breast cancer, but several factors are known to affect the risk of developing breast cancer. This includes age, family history of breast cancer, inherited genetic mutations (e.,g. BRCA1 or BRCA2), alcohol use, excess body weight after menopause, and low physical activity. These risk factors are well studied and are much better associated with breast cancer than mobile phones.
Can you leave the phone at home when wearing a bra?
If wearing a phone around the breast is uncomfortable or makes the skin itch, it might be better to wear it in a pocket, purse, or bag. But if you are worried about breast cancer, then there's some good news. Studies have failed to show that women who wear a cell phone in their bra are more likely to develop breast cancer. For years, people have been saying that women can get breast cancer from wearing their phone in their bra, but that has not been substantiated by research. When it comes to breast health, it's a lot more important to be aware of the screening guidelines and to speak with your health care provider about any new breast changes than to worry about where your phone is.