Breast Cancer and Cell Phones

Cell phone manuals tell you not to place your phone directly on your body; however, most women are unaware of these warnings. Numerous doctors recommend that people keep the phone away from the brain and body, especially the breast.

EHT organized a conference at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club featuring breast surgeon Dr. Lisa Bailey, former president of the American Cancer Society of California, who gave a lecture recommending women keep cell phones out of the bra. The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition created educational curriculum for classrooms to prevent breast cancer. In 2017, the California Department of Health released an advisory on how to reduce cell phone radiation stating, “Carry your cell phone in a backpack, briefcase or purse; not in a pocket, bra or belt holster.” The American Academy of Pediatrics and the North Carolina Public Health Department both state “Avoid carrying your phone against the body, like in a pocket, sock or bra. Cell phone manufacturers cannot guarantee that the amount of radiation you are absorbing will be at a safe level.”

What You Can Do

Dr. Devra Davis, president of Environmental Health Trust (EHT), has been working for decades on the environmental causes of breast cancer. She now is raising awareness about the health risks of cell phone radiation.

Cell phones emit microwave radiation, like your microwave oven, but at much lower power. The World Health Organization (WHO) International Agency for the Research on Cancer classified cell phone radiation as a Group 2B “possible” carcinogen in 2011 and today—more than a decade later—numerous WHO experts recommend an upgraded classification.

Breast tissue absorbs wireless microwave radiation. Research shows a link between cell phone radiation and breast cancer. Case reports are published documenting how women are developing unusual breast cancers directly where they carry their phones in their bras. Young women, even with no family history, are developing this type of breast cancer.

In a case-control study of the association between smartphone use and breast cancer risk among Taiwanese women, participants with smartphone addiction had a significantly higher risk of breast cancer. Individuals with the habitual behavior of smartphone use (more than 4.5 minutes) before bedtime had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared to those that used a smartphone for fewer than 4.5 minutes before bedtime. Additionally, a closer distance between the smartphone and the breasts when using the smartphone exhibited a significantly increased risk. Participants that carried their smartphone near their chest or waist-abdomen area had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared to those that carried the smartphone below the waist.

n Keep your phone away from your body, and especially out of your bra.

n Turn your phone on airplane mode with Bluetooth off to shut off the radiation.

n Use wired landlines for calls (not cordless).

n Use wired computers for email and internet browsing.

n Educate yourself on the published research.

n Spread the word on social media. Make your bra a #NoPhoneZone!

Source: Environmental Health Trust, a think tank that promotes a healthier environment through research, education and policy. For more information, visit EHTrust.org