The attack of the killer bras!

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http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... r#comments

So, some people say that they have evidence that wearing bras (especially underwire bras, and especially when worn for more then 12 hours) contribute to breast cancer. Others say this is just a myth.

Fashionable "support wear for women" has caused much damage to women's bodies in the past - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1125928/

Are bras just another example of fashionable wear and societal pressure endangering women's lives, all due to the fear of a swaying boobie sighting?

Maybe, but for more endowed women (like myself) it really HURTS to not have support. Back when I was a B I went w/o a bra all the time, but now I am quite bigger (mostly due to having a baby- I feel like stating just how ginormous is a little embarrassing. Just know that I cannot buy my bras off the rack. I have to get them specially made. That should give you an idea ). There is no way I could not wear one and be comfortable. I even wear a sports one to bed. Maybe they are around for some chauvinistic reason...all I know though is I wear them for practical reasons.

It doesn't sound like they addressed this--one big factor that would have to be controlled for to study this is body weight. Heavier women have an increased risk for breast cancer. Heavy women are also likelier to have bigger boobs and thus be less likely to go braless for obvious reasons.

Personally, I think underwire bras should go the way of the corset and only be worn be people who enjoy it as a fetish. If I could wear a tank top with shelf support every day for the rest of my life, I would.

I'm also bigger rather then smaller, and can't go through a day without wearing a bra - but it makes sense to me to avoid the underwire kind, just in case.

And on the "if I lived alone" list, I have, "would take off bra alot earlier at night,"

As it is, my step-grandfather already spends a distrubing amount of time staring at my body...
thank goodness he has to use a walker and can't make any sudden moves!

EWW. Creepy o.0

Yes, I too try to not wear underwires. With as huge as I am it's hard to wear those anyway. Not that I am bragging. I think women who want huge ones are out of their minds. And I notice they are usually small-chested. I don't think they understand how uncomfortable it is. Well, I'd trade them any day! I have terrible backaches and can't ever go braless. Plus it's hard to wear some of the things I like (like vests! Oh how I miss those!) I'm hoping when I stop breastfeeding it will go back to a D (I am currently several sizes larger), but honestly I doubt it. I've already weaned quite a bit and haven't shrunk much at all. I may just have to get surgery because, IMO it makes me look like a circus freak and causes horrible pain. It really isn't worth it. well, at least my husband likes it

it's not really a walker, it's a playpen

When I saw the title of the thread, I knew I needed to get here to see what the convo was. When I was 34 I went from a braless A cup to an astounding C cup. I was fascinated at this late blooming and would sometimes just look down my chest marvel at the swelling line where there was a breast on a chest I knew so well.

But in my later years my C's turned to DDs and although that doesn't break your back, you gotta reign them in or men can't help themselves but watch the pitch and roll if they are without strong support of some sort.

I like the firmness of the underwire, but I like a good sports bra, too. I once paid for a correctly fitted bra (an Olga) and I was entranced.

Merle

That's right, with too small cups and wires cutting breasts, you have more chances to get a cancer.
UNDERwires should lie UNDER breast, not on them. They also shouldn't hang in the air, but lie flat on chest and don't move.
Bras are made for support, not for cover.

There are cups available to M with band from 28. If they are, use them and don't complain something hurts you.
I wrote many posts how to fit right bra size in BRAS thread.

Exactly! This why I DO wear bras, to prevent pain. It seems strange to me that someone would rather go w/o one (unless they are lucky and have a smaller chest). The reason I do prefer non-wire though is because I prefer the softness and flexibilty of them.
I'll check out that thread you mention.

I have always been big busted (naturally)

I am a 16E.

I can't go without wearing a bra (I need support)

Mum thinks I might need a reduction one day.

I kinda want one. I'm not sure. (Size 32D here.)

It's nice to not get a sore and overtight upper back and shoulders.

On the other hand, I don't wanna get cut open.

I had been in the habit of wearing bras without underwires...and either all-natural or no deodorant for a long time...I did buy a wonder bra not too long ago...it goes with my current addiction to shapewear...and alas, it has turned out to be one of the most comfortable and well-fitting bras I own, and I am not really sure why...My boobs feel sorta slogged down in the wireless bras and sorta lifted and out of the way in my front-closing wonderbra....which does have underwires...I have sorta floppy wide spaced boobs...and I don't like the feeling of them being smushed or of no support, even though they are not very big...I maybe need to look into better-quality no-wire bras..so I am not so lured into resorting to my nice comfy wonderbra....I am not even sure whether wonderbras were intended to be so darn comfortable. I am a 38B by the way....or I have an unusual size...and 38b (american sizing) seems to be the closest fit...I might actually be someplace between a B and a C...but I have a rather large ribcage for my body,...and there aren't many standard-sized bras that seem to work for me.

Wonderbra isn't good quality. Their bras are fleeeeeeeeeeexiiiibleeeeeeeeeeeeee. They also have poor sizing. We tried and we don't have positive opinions.
Wonderbra doesn't make my size 30J, but I tried fitting with other women.

Tweetyfan wears 101% wrong size. See Bras thread.
Poopylungstuffing too.

I have some fun - in another window I have discussion about bikinis available in sizes 28-42 A-KK and America, the Bra Desert here

b I am finally wearing the right size, thanks to Valoyassa. I found I was wearing a cup size too small and number size too big. Now I can wear an underwire all day. I prefer them, actually. I have a small chest though.

Bra-vado topic

I wear second hand ones from the time when there were no wires. I am glad I am small, and it must be awful to be laege and possibly get rashes underneath.

Most bra discomfort is caused by either wearing the wrong size, or wrong style bra. A womans breasts change throughout her life, and its quite common to have to change your bra size to match
I dont wear underwires either, I do not find them comfortable at all (I have small breasts though, so I do not need the support of an underwire)
I didint find a good one untill I started working for Victoria's Secret, (and was introduced to the Very Sexy wireless line.)
I also do not sleep in anything other then a sports bra at night.

If you are curious of wether you are wearing the right size/style for you, you can always hop into a local Victoria's secret store, where an associate will help you find the right fit. (its ok, they just figure out your size and then leave you with a box of bras and a dressing room. Most of the girls are very nice. and you can ask them to show you how to measure your size yourself If you are not comfortable with strangers touching you. It is company policy to see to every coustomers request regardless of age, gender, or ability.

I'm sorry I just couldn't go without wearing a bra. For one thing I love the support the twins get when they're in one. If I move about a lot when I'm not wearing a bra I ache like no tomorrow.
For another I have really sensitive nips. I honestly can't stand the sensation of them rubbing agains material. Because of this I always go for something with decent padding.
If you're uncomfortable in your bra, you're not wearing the right one.