Beards

This thread was about beards, but Dr Bob brought this up so I need clarification on this. Are women not suppose to shave their armpits and legs? Are we all not suppose to use deodorant? This is something new to me, s please give me your opinons or at least some reasoning.

 

Dr. Bob, Here is so info i found. Look at it and give me your opinion.
URL: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/3780/21258 Suite101.com Inc. <www.suite101.com>

PART II: Anti-perspirant is "a" cause of Breast Cancer? Author: Bobbi Jones Published on: June 15, 1999
This in a continuation from a previous article…”PART I: Anti-perspirant is “a” cause of breast cancer?” This information was taken from the American Cancer Society. The only web site that I could actually find this particular information on this “cause”. If you know of any other sites that I may have overlooked or don’t know of that contains information pertaining to anti-perspirants and breast cancer, please let me know and I’ll include them. Apparently, the email they received was somewhat different from the one I received. Email Rumor Links Anti-perspirant to Breast Cancer May 21, 1999 (News Today) - An email making the rounds falsely links anti-perspirant use with an increased risk of breast cancer. Even if emails seem to come from the most reliable of sources, experts suggest you should always look to the medical evidence. This is what the emailer had to say, followed by the facts. Email Rumor: I had toxic shock syndrome approximately two years ago from an infected lymph node found under my arm. The infection released toxins throughout my blood stream and caused my liver, kidneys, and lungs to collapse. It was extremely life threatening and I had no idea that this was happening to me. I was told by my doctor before I was released to use only aerosol deodorant and that I should not shave my underarms but to cut the underarm hair with scissors instead of shaving... Fact: This part of the message could be true. The woman the email is from probably had hidradenitis supurativa, an infection that starts in the sweat glands in the underarm or groin area. This infection can lead to bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream) and shock if not treated properly. Shaving with a blade can make an underarm infection worse. It is possible that some anti-perspirants may be slightly irritating to someone recovering from this infection or from underarm surgery. The email continues: The leading cause of breast cancer is the use of antiperspirant. Yes, ANTIPERSPIRANT. Most of the products out there are an antiperspirant/deodorant combination, so go home and check your labels. Deodorant is fine, antiperspirant is not. Fact: This is not true. There have been many extremely thorough epidemiological studies of breast cancer risk factors published in medical journals. We are not aware of any among these proving or even suggesting anti-perspirant use as a risk factor for breast cancer, much less the "leading cause" of the disease. The email also states: The human body has a few areas that it uses to purge toxins; behind the knees, behind the ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged in the form of perspiration. Antiperspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents the body from perspiring, thereby inhibiting it from purging toxins from below the armpits. These toxins do not just magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. This causes a high concentration of toxins and leads to cell mutations: a.k.a. CANCER. Fact: Lymph nodes clear some toxins from the body. But, they are not released through sweating. The American Cancer Society is not aware of any evidence that shows substances in deodorants or antiperspirants to be toxic or that cause DNA damage that could lead to cancer. Such products are rigorously tested before they can be marketed. The email states: Nearly all breast cancer tumors occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area. This is precisely where the lymph nodes are located. Fact: About half of breast cancers are in the upper outer quadrant (UOQ). The reason is entirely unrelated to lymph nodes and is because most of the breast tissue is located there. The breast quadrants are not of equal size; the nipple is not in the true center of the breast and a significant amount of breast tissue, called the "axillary tail" extends toward the underarm. The email concluded: Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by antiperspirant usage because most of the antiperspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied to the skin. Women who apply antiperspirant right after shaving increase the risk further because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area. Fact: Men are about 100 times less likely than women to develop breast cancer. This is because they have about 100 times less breast tissue. Hormonal factors also play a role. Deodorants or antiperspirants are not cancer risk factors to men or women. Razor nicks can increase the risk of infection but not cancer. "There is absolutely no scientific evidence that anti-perspirants cause or even increase a woman's risk for breast cancer," said Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and cervical cancer for the American Cancer Society. "Unfortunately the 'leading' risk factors for breast cancer are things that women cannot do anything about: being a woman, aging, and having a personal or family history of breast cancer." "The most effective action women can take to protect themselves is to get yearly mammograms beginning at age 40. Although this won't prevent breast cancer, it will give women the best chance of detecting it early when it is easiest to treat," she concluded. Here’s a post on a message board (WebMD, Breast Cancer, friend to friend)… B.C. / antiperspirant e-mail HOAX... by cpkm, 6/6/99 22:09:05 Friends Fighting Breast Cancer.... I am a 2-time survivor of breast cancer, and a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition's prestigious Project Lead advocacy-training program. I have received MULTIPLE TIMES in the last 4 weeks a very dangerous e-mail message, which I feel strongly there needs to be an organized campaign to fight! It's a cyberspace-extension to an old breast cancer myth that has been around for a while, but which is finding a new mode of communication via the e-mail system...(and, unfortunately, a new "pool" of unsuspecting believers!) The message claims to come from a person who “recently attended a medical conference” -- where it was announced that researchers have discovered a “leading cause of breast cancer is the use of antiperspirants (rather than deodorants).” This disturbing alert message continues to say antiperspirants contain “dangerous toxins” which enter the body through the underarm area, saying that this is the reason that most breast cancers occur in the quadrant of the breast closest to the armpit. It goes on to state that the reason MEN rarely develop breast cancer is because they have HAIR under their armpits, which protects the toxins from reaching their skin. It suggests that women change from an antiperspirant to a DEODORANT, to be protected from developing breast cancer. Like most of these INTERNET HOAXES, it ends with a strong suggestion to “send this to everyone you know.” The first time I got the message, I laughed out loud. How can anyone believe this crock of - - - I mean, if this were true, everyone at the Races for the Cure would have hairy armpits and body odor! But, the more I thought about it, the more concerned I became, because several of the people who sent it to me attached a note asking: "CATHY, CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE TRUE?" Even women I know who should KNOW BETTER have received and forwarded this hoax on to others, thus is spreading very quickly. The way this alert message is worded, it will undoubtedly result in some unsuspecting person to believe that by changing underarm products they are safe from developing breast cancer. As ridiculous as it sounds to those of us who have first-hand experience with breast cancer, it is an attractively-worded message -- especially to women who are terrified of this disease, and who desperately WANT to believe that there is a simplistic cause and cure to the epidemic proportions of breast cancer. Somewhere, someone will change deodorant instead of having a suspicious lump checked, instead of having an annual mammogram, instead of practicing monthly breast self-exam. And somewhere, someone may DIE as a result of this misinformation. A staffer employed at the Long Beach Memorial Breast Center told me that they have had mammography patients come in with a breast lump, stating as if it were fact: "I know this lump is a result of my using antiperspirant...." (I'll wager 100 pink ribbon pins that the originator of this dangerous e-mail LIE is some manufacturer of DEODORANT products, because they are the only ones who could possibly benefit from the spreading of this misinformation!) We need to do everything we can to snuff out this dangerous hoax before it results in more women dying. If you receive the hoax message, please REPLY ALL and set them straight -- and ask those who sent it to you to do the same. Sincerely, Cathy Masamitsu co-author, BREAST CANCER? LET ME CHECK MY SCHEDULE!

 

Salt City asked

The key to the question is "Lord Calls". If He calls then I would go. But at age 53, I doubt they would want me anyway.

[ September 29, 2003, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Jailminister ]

 

OOPS