dressed to kill

[Tammy]

Singer and grismeijer wrote this book. I'm reading it now.

Anybody else read it? Comments?

[rosarugosa]

Tammy: I'm intrigued by the title. What's it about?

[Tammy]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(book)

There's a summary.

It's about the correlation between breast cancer and the compression of lymphatic tissues by bras.

I just read the chapter where this correlation is shown to be many times greater than the correlation between smoking and lung cancer.

It also touches on some other fashion trends that impact our health.

[iris lily]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(book)

There's a summary.

It's about the correlation between breast cancer and the compression of lymphatic tissues by bras.

I just read the chapter where this correlation is shown to be many times greater than the correlation between smoking and lung cancer.

It also touches on some other fashion trends that impact our health.

Billy Barebutt knew this years ago and regularly lectured here on that issue.

[Tammy]

Most scientists since it was written 20 years ago think its not true. But then I think differently from most scientists on several things ...

[rosarugosa]

Thanks, Tammy. I remember reading an in-depth article about that quite some time ago, probably when the book was published. I kind of liked the theory because I don't like bras that much! I'm one of those smaller women who can often go without. And of course, it is seductive to think breast cancer could be eliminated so easily - well maybe not all that easily given the power of societal norms over our behavior.

[puglogic]

Billy Barebutt knew this years ago and regularly lectured here on that issue.

I.L., I burst out laughing at this. Was Billy Barebutt really a poster here, or did you just make him up to show the "wimmins should go braless" perspective?

[puglogic]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(book)

It's about the correlation between breast cancer and the compression of lymphatic tissues by bras.

Could that be a little like the old pseudostatistic "most car accidents occur within 10 minutes of home" (duh, because most car trips are 10 minutes from home)

The larger-breasted the woman, the more they need/try to bind those girls in place. And if you have more breast tissue, seems like you would have a higher risk of developing tumors in it. Wouldn't that logic make sense? Or am I just wishful thinking?

[iris lily]

I.L., I burst out laughing at this. Was Billy Barebutt really a poster here, or did you just make him up to show the "wimmins should go braless" perspective?

oh no! He was real! A real pain in the ass for some. I thought he was funny in his first incarnation, but not so sure about his later incarnations.

[pony mom]

I believe in the bra/breast cancer connection. Somewhere in the Health Forum in the past, I posted a video about Pfluffing the Girls, made by a massage instructor who teaches Cancer Massage. Bras stop breasts from moving, which stops lymph flow from the lymph glands under your arms.

Lymph flow can easily be increased throughout your body by dry brushing or some jumping on a trampoline.

I'm only a 34A and am much more comfortable w/o a bra, but it's not possible in most places outside of my home. I can't imagine being larger and needing one all the time.

I also believe in the breast cancer/antiperspirant connection as well.

[Wildflower]

I had 3 lumpectomies about 15 years ago. At the time my doctor suggested I quit wearing an underwire bra. I did. Went to a softer, sports bra type and I NEVER wear a bra except when I'm leaving the house. I've had no problems since. I think there may definitely be a connection....

[Dhiana]

I am so dead if this is true. I LOVE my underwire bras and ONLY wear underwires.

It is painful to let my girls hang loose. Just recently purchased a book about corset making and am
planning on making my own at home. Wore one at a Ren Faire several years ago and still dream about how comfortable it was!!!

At only 32Ds, I know there are many ladies out there in more pain than I. What is the recommended solution?

[pinkytoe]

I have been looking for some bras that are soft, cotton, ie natural and they are darned hard to find. Looking through lingerie departments, I see nothing but a sea of molded foam, plastic and wires. It worries me that young women wear these scary contraptions.

[decemberlov]

I have been looking for some bras that are soft, cotton, ie natural and they are darned hard to find. Looking through lingerie departments, I see nothing but a sea of molded foam, plastic and wires. It worries me that young women wear these scary contraptions.

I have 2 of these bras and am forever on the hunt for more....very, very frustrating :(
Almost all bras are like the molded foam ones you mentioned above with it itty bitty skinny straps that hold up nothing.

[Float On]

I'm with Dhiana on this one (only add a couple numbers and an extra D). Love my underwires for support - I do not want to go around braless for fear of the effects of age and gravity. I remember my grandma who nursed 10 children and hated wearing a bra had extreme droopage issue. I'm kind of drawn to the idea of the corset as well - anything that will give me lift.

[Kestra]

Thank god for my small breasts. I'm one of those lucky people who only needs a bra for exercising and when I'm in public. I've never understood the need for underwire and haven't found a "normal" type bra that is at all comfortable. So when I found some of those cottony natural ones that actual fit I went back and bought 10 more. Unfortunately this was many years ago and they're starting to wear out. I'm considering trying to sew something on my own, but haven't got motivated enough yet.
I also hate the sizing. I'm not that small so I need a large size chest wise, but a small cup. It's like they assume that if you are bigger then your breasts are bigger as well. Well, not always, damn bra-makers. And when I tried to buy one of those dresses with the built in bra, same issue - either crazy tight around the chest, or too loose in the cup. Can't win. That's my rant for the day.

[pony mom]

It's the magical underwires that make me look as if I have a bit of something on top. They're so uncomfortable though. The newer soft wire-free ones don't do much and tend to curl a bit, which shows through your clothes.

Anyone else have skintags and moles from bras rubbing against your skin? You can practically connect all my dots and draw a bra on me.

I'm in the same boat as Kestra. I'm small but could use a larger size with smaller cups. I thought of getting those extender hooks so I'm not being cut in two.

[Tammy]

I really like genie bra. Don't wear one at all at home. Wear genie bra otherwise.

[winterberry]

I also hate the sizing. I'm not that small so I need a large size chest wise, but a small cup. It's like they assume that if you are bigger then your breasts are bigger as well. Well, not always, damn bra-makers. And when I tried to buy one of those dresses with the built in bra, same issue - either crazy tight around the chest, or too loose in the cup. Can't win. That's my rant for the day.

So I'm not the only one! And even though I'm 30 pounds overweight, not a single pound settled there! I'm still an A. But I have found some nice stretchy sports bras that I live in.

[martha]

So when I found some of those cottony natural ones that actual fit I went back and bought 10 more. Unfortunately this was many years ago and they're starting to wear out.


Decent Exposures makes all-cotton, no-underwire bras that are very comfortable. I'm very large-busted and though I would love to go braless, it just isn't comfortable. It's underwires for going out in public, but the minute I hit the front door the wires come off and I live in my Decent Exposures racer-back until I have to go out again. They're perfectly fine for public wear, too; they just give a more natural shape than I'm used to for the office. They custom-make them when you order and have gazillions of size combinations. They also last for years. If they ever go out of business, I don't know how I'll survive! [no, I'm not affiliated with the company in any way :).] Don't remember the web address but they're Google-able.

[larknm]

I read Dressed to Kill 15 or more years ago and stopped wearing bras. I've learned a lot about wearing shirts of heavier fabric and pockets over head breast. Dark colors and layering can help. I agree with the memer above who figures anti-persperant is bad for us.

[Wildflower]

I read Dressed to Kill 15 or more years ago and stopped wearing bras. I've learned a lot about wearing shirts of heavier fabric and pockets over head breast. Dark colors and layering can help. I agree with the memer above who figures anti-persperant is bad for us.


I really, really wish I could go braless in public, but nothing is going to cover me and look nice. I so wish I could. You are lucky in that respect, larknm. I was very small chested before I had kids, but after that I became a really ample size.... I so wish I was small again. I liked being small. I just always avoid wearing bras at home though. First thing I do when I get home is pull the dang thing off!

And I avoid deodorants, unless it's a heat wave and I am going to be sweating with other people near me...

[pony mom]

Today I bought myself two Genie bras (as seen on TV) in Target and OMG I LOVE them!!! So comfy! I'll try it out tomorrow and see how one feels at the end of the day but I think I'm in love.