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.
