The Brassage for Wellness?

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Guest Blogger

Any woman who's ever shopped for a bra would probably think it sounds too good to be true, but perhaps be interested anyway. So, there's a bra that looks sexy, lifts, and claims to massage you and improve breast health by flushing away toxins? Never mind the $59 price tag, where is it?

That was the promise, anyway, behind The Brassage--the brainchild of Christina Erteszek, daughter of the famed Olga Erteszek, the lingerie maker. She appeared on television's "Good Morning America" Monday to talk about her bra. But when the questioning turned tough, she got up and abruptly walked off. She returned to finish the interview, emphasizing that she is making no medical claims.

Later Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the bra-under-fire had been taken off the market. That could not be confirmed, though, because the telephone number for the company's North Carolina headquarters, Intimate Health, now carries a recording that the number has been disconnected.

The Federal Trade Commission, as is its policy, refused to comment.

"The Federal Trade Commission has not concluded any investigations against the marketers of the Brassage," says press officer Betsy Lordan. As a matter of policy, however, FTC doesn't comment on ongoing investigations, she says.

Meanwhile, what about the claims that the bra's massaging bumps sewn into the side "stimulate lymphatic flow," which promotes healthy breast tissue, according to the company's website.

Erteszek is also quoted in other media outlets as saying the "wellness bra" helps to prevent breast disease.

Not so fast, says an expert from the American Cancer Society. "There is no credible evidence to suggest that local accumulation of toxins has a role in breast cancer risk," Ted Gansler, MD, director of medical content for the American Cancer Society, tells WebMD.

"And there is no scientific evidence that this type of bra or any other has any impact of women's risk of developing breast cancer."

What about the bra's claim of stimulating lymphatic flow? "Unless you have had surgery or a treatment that damages lymphatic vessels, your lymphatic flow will be just fine, regardless of what bra you wear or even if you wear no bra," Gansler says.

On its website, the American Cancer Society also addresses the topic of bras and breast cancer, posting information in response to a previous email rumor that claims wearing a bra for the entire day compresses the breast's lymphatic system, resulting in toxin accumulation that cause breast cancer.

In respond, the ACS says: "There are no scientifically valid studies that show wearing bras of any type causes breast cancer."

Debating whether to buy a $59 bra that bills itself as the "wellness bra" is distracting and takes attention away from productive measures to maintain breast health, Gansler says.

"It's important for women not to be distracted by unsubstantiated claims and to learn about things they can do to lower breast cancer risk and to find it early," he says. Among the ways to lower breast cancer risk: maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, drink alcohol in moderation or not at all, get regular mammograms, be aware of breast changes and seek medical help if they occur.

Posted by: Valarie_WebMD at 5:36 PM