Ladies, Why Risk Getting Breast Cancer?

Normally, I don’t impulsively tap a woman on the shoulder to share a health warning. But recently, at Whole Foods, alarm bells went off in my head when a pretty, carefree, 20-or-30-something woman nonchalantly strode by, with her cell phone tucked into her bra.

I felt compelled to approach The Cell-Phone-in-Bra Chick. After my insistent nudge, she thrust me an annoyed look.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I just wanted you to tell you that it’s very dangerous to keep your cell phone in your bra,” I cautioned her.

Cell-Phone-in-Bra Chick glared at me, as if to say, “Leave me alone. It’s none of your business.”

[shareable cite=”Connie Bennett, Sugar Shock Blog”]It’s foolish to wait for research to confirm what’s obvious — it’s unsafe to put your cell phone in your bra. [/shareable]

Of course, it was none of my business, but I just had to speak out, because I was scared for her.

After all, my mission is to shock, educate and activate people to take positive action for their health by kicking or reducing sugar, exercising regularly, keeping cell phones far away from your bra and brain, etc.

Determined to help protect Cell-in-Bra Chick’s health, I tried another tactic.

“Please, just Google ‘dangers of cell phones in bras,’” I pleaded.

She smirked or sneered —- it was hard to tell -— jerked her head away from me, and then, before I could scare her with specifics about breast cancer, she darted off, with boyfriend in tow.

Now, I’m kicking myself for not being more insistent.

Why did I “bury the lead” just like correspondent Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks) in Broadcast News.  He just didn’t get to the point quickly enough in an important scene. (I won’t spoil the occasion.)

Whether or not this young woman heeded my warnings, please let me alert you:

Preserve your girls! Don’t store your cell phone in your bra!

I’m not the only one, who urges this cautionary advice.

Here’s one such warning from the Environmental Health Trust.

Even Dr. Mehmet Oz did an episode on The Dr. Oz Show about the breast cancer-cell phone link.

What baffles me is that detractors are blasting Dr. Oz for so-called “fear mongering.”

In fact, he was performing a valuable public service by sharing important information that all women — especially cell-storing-in-bra ladies — need to know.

Just watch this episode to learn the sad story of 21-year-old Tiffany Frantz, who developed breast cancer after spending years wearing her cell phone in her bra.

Now let’s look at the science. A cell phone emits non-ionizing radiation in the form of electromagnetic fields around both the phone and you, the user, when it’s turned on.

Non-ionizing means that they’re not like X-rays, but more like low-powered microwave ovens.

To assess the health effects of exposure to these fields, scientists from all over the world have studied the impacts on specific areas of the human body.

Although their findings are preliminary, in some instances they show a pattern of toxic effects — at least 10 of them — that should concern you, the phone user. (Stay tuned for another Sugar Shock Blog post about all 10 effects of cell phone use.)

For example, scientists have found people with certain brain tumors that may have been caused by cell phone field exposure — i.e., holding the phone next to your ear.

And, as I already shared, they’ve discovered possible breast cancer cases linked to carrying phones in bras right next to breast tissue. You can learn more about this from CNN.

Admittedly, the science on cell phone and breast cancer is sketchy, but this study finds a frighteningly suspicious link.

For a thorough and balanced summary of what’s currently known about cell phones and cancer risk, read this jargon-free report from the National Cancer Institute.

If you still think I’m alarmist, then check out the World Health Organization warning. Back in 2011,  WHO warned about possibly cancer-causing radiation from cell phones..

In addition, WHO considers mobile-phone use in the same “carcinogenic hazard” category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform.

It’s true that all researchers in this area call for more studies.

But frankly, I think it’s outright foolish to wait for “several decades of exposure,” which is how long most environmental factors take, “to see the consequences,” according to Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The World Health Organization isn’t the only concerned international body.

The European Environment Agency has been pushing for more targeted research, because it believes that cell phones could be as big a public health risk as smoking, asbestos and leaded gasoline.

Meanwhile, the city of Berkeley, California is worried, too. Starting this month, it implemented a new “Right to Know” law that requires cell phone stores to inform customers about safety recommendations regarding phone use.

Bottom line: distance is your friend. Keep the actual phone away from your body. Texting is better than chatting. Speak via speakerphone. (Earphones can cause problems, too.)

Cell phone companies and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dismiss these safety concerns, citing the lack of “real science.”

This reminds me what happened in 1998 when I first quit sugar on doctor’s orders.

The sugar-is-toxic research was nowhere near as developed as it is now, when you can find irrefutable proof of the link between eating too many sweets and developing cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

As for you cell-phone-in-bra-wearing women, do you really need scientists to confirm that you shouldn’t expose your precious breasts to excess radiation— or, for that matter, your brain or private parts?

Please share this Sugar Shock Blog post with all your female friends, family members – hey, even perfect strangers you see taking unnecessary risks with their health.

And please join the conversation. Post your comments now here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, as well as on and Twitter.