1 Answer

(CNN) – Is there a link between breast cancer and cell phones? Some doctors say they’re seeing evidence of breast cancer that could be connected to where some women keep their mobile phone–in their bras.
Tiffany Franz got breast cancer at just 21-years-old. She had no genetic predispositions or other risk factors–except where she kept her cell phone.
“It just so happened her tumors were exactly where her cell phone had been against her skin her bare skin for about six years,” Traci Frantz, Tiffany’s mom, told KTVU in Oakland.
Tiffany had to have her left breast removed.
Donna Jayes also got breast cancer. While she was a bit older, her late 30′s, she also had no genetic risk factors. The connection is where the tumors developed. Her doctor says they formed just under the skin, exactly matching her cell phone, and just under the surface of her skin.
She says she kept her phone in her shirt for ten years. She later had a mastectomy.
Breast surgeon Lisa Bailey told KTVU phone-related breast cancer may be common. Saying it mayb be the heat of the battery of the radio frequency of the radiation that makes keeping a phone directly on the skin risky.
“These young breast in the early evolution are more sensitive to changes that might lead to cancer,” Bailey said.
Nevertheless, bras are now be marketed for the express purpose of carrying cell phones, with little pockets built-in to hold cell phones.
Other breast cancer specialist are now speaking out as well. Dr. John West says men who keep their phones in their shirt pockets are also at risk.
The wireless industry, meanwhile, denies any problem, citing a lack of scientific evidence that cellphones cause breast cancer.
Those concerned doctors though say it’s because not enough studies have been completed.
“There’s no evidence, but that’s because we haven’t studied it,” Bailey said.
“Until further data either supports it or disproves it, I would keep cell phones away from the body, in particular the breasts,” adds Dr. June Chen, a Breast Cancer Radiologist.
In the meantime, doctors say you should read the fine print on your phones. The new Iphone manual says you should keep the phone at least 10 millimeter–or about half an inch–away from the body.
In the meantime, experts convinced of the link say better safe than sorry.
“It’s as simple as that and it might save a life it might avoid a mastectomy, chemotherapy, it’s easy enough to do, why take a chance?” West said. “If there is a risk and we don’t find out about it for 5 or ten years from now, we’re going to see a whole cluster of young people with breast cancer.”

http://wtvr.com/2012/11/19/doctors-women-who-store-phone-in-bras-at-risk-for-breast-cancer/ 

OMMENTARY | A disturbing trend is becoming apparent in young women. Those who keep theircell phones in their bras seem to be at a higher risk for breast cancer than women who do not. KTVU spoke with breast surgeons who claim they are seeing a disturbing trend in a link between breast cancer and cell phones.

How big a risk

KTVU spoke with two women who kept cell phones in their bras for five years or more. Both women developed breast cancer in the same place the cell phone rested against their skin. I have breast cancer, but I never kept my cell phone in my bra; I don't know anyone who does.

Breast surgeons Dr. John West and Dr. Lisa Bailey, say that there is most likely a link and are warning people to be careful. Both claim there is an increase in male breast cancer from men who keep cell phones in their shirt pockets. The World Health Organization (WHO) agrees with them. If you are keeping your cell phone in your bra or shirt pocket, this is something to pay attention to.

Why just a breast cancer link

The wireless companies are denying any link between their products and an increase in cancer. They may have a point. Many people, men and women, keep cell phones in their pants pockets. No links to cancer in the hip bones or genital cancers are attributed to cell phones, so why breast tissue? Maybe breast tissue is more sensitive to changes than the tissue in our thighs and backsides.

Cause for concern

Judy Peres quotes Dr. John Samet, overall chair of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, (IARC) in her article "WHO Classification Sparks Debate Over Cell Phone Safety" as saying, "there could be some risk, and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk." Dr. Samet is also the chair of preventative medicine at the University of Southern California.

WHO classifies cell phones as potentially carcinogenic. The IARC lists it as a class 2B. This means that the phones might cause cancer but there is no concrete evidence to show that this is true. More research is needed to make a hard fast link between the two.

Maybe it is just a coincidence, but what if they are right? Could keeping a cell phone in your bra give you breast cancer? As a breast cancer patient still going through treatment, I would not want to risk it. My cell phone is staying in my pocketbook -- right where I always keep it. My cell phone did not give me breast cancer, but there are other women who say their phones did.