is it true that tampons can cause cancer?

Answer 1

I have never ever heard that before.

Answer 2

I've heard that before. Your question got me thinking. So I researched:

http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/f/cancertampons.htm
This site says no, that it is a rumor.

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3172_369449__langId-en,00.html
This site agrees.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_6_1x_Tampons.asp?sitearea=MED
This site also agrees.

http://www.earthisland.org/journal/tampons.html
This site seems to give the full facts on the case, stating that tampons in 1989 were found to contain dioxyn (which other sites claim was small amounts and I think one said they no longer do) but you can buy tampons that are safer and made from cotton.

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/breastcancer/99021
I am copying much of this for your interest:
Here we go with the latest group of rumors about cancer...
1) BRAS cause breast cancer. (This one shows up every 6 months or so). Wearing an underwire bra, or any type of bra 24/7 or a few hours a day or not wearing any bra does NOT cause breast cancer.
2) ANTIPERSPIRANTS cause cancer. (Again, this one gets emailed to me at least once a month) Sweating/perspiring is part of your body's natural functions. Toxins are not released via the armpit (axilla). Using underarm products does NOT cause cancer.
3) SHAMPOO ingredients cause cancer. There is an ingredient in many shampoos, called sodium laureth sulfate, which is also found in household cleaning products. It does NOT cause cancer. The worst case scenario is eye irritation.
4) TAMPONS cause cancer. This one started with a fact, taken out of context. Some tampons contain a trace (really small amount) of dioxin, which is possibly a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). The FDA (Federal Drug Amdministration) conducted studies and decided that the amount of dioxcin in tampons does not pose a health threat. TSS (toxic shock syndrome) which IS linked to tampons is extremely rare. In the early 1980s, there were 500+ cases of TSS; the statistics from the late 1990s show only 5 confirmed cases of TSS related to tampons.
5) BIG BREASTED women have a greater chance of getting breast cancer. WRONG. Breast cancer is an equal opportunity disease. It doesn't matter what size your breasts are. Larger breasted women may have more difficulty examining their breasts, due to size. That's why it is important to have an annual clinical breast exam (by your doctor) and learn to do a proper breast self-exam (BSE) monthly.
6) Breast cancer is CONTAGIOUS. You can NOT "catch" cancer from someone else. The tumor grows from cells within your body that have gone haywire and are not behaving the way they should. You can't get it by touching, kissing or sharing anything with anyone else.
7) Men are IMMUNE from breast cancer. Sadly, men too can get breast cancer. Not as often as women, but about 1500 men in the USA get breast cancer each year. Men have to know how to exam their breasts also.
8) LIVE healthy and you can prevent breast cancer. While avoiding alcohol, not smoking, eating a low fat diet and exercising regularly is good for you, there are no guarantees against breast cancer. MOST women who get breast cancer don't fit into the known risk patterns.
9) ABORTIONS cause breast cancer. (This myth shows up in my email a lot). There are no studies that give any credence to this.
10) IF your MOM had breast cancer, you will get it too. Again, most women have no family history of breast cancer. Only about 10% of breast cancers are inherited, through the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. IF you have a family history, you are at slightly higher risk, but that does not mean you will get breast cancer.
How do you separate the fact from fiction?

Frankly, I am uncertain of the truth, but it seems that most agree that tampons are largely safe and it is even safer to use cotton tampons. Personally, though, I'll stick with "pads."

Answer 3

No. Tampons alone cannot cause cancer, but there is a high risk of TSS. But, tampons can cause certain types of infection if not used properly and certain types of infection have been known to lead to cancer.

Answer 4

Not sure about cancer, but you CAN die from having them in too long. A family member got REALLY sick from TSS.

Answer 5

No, you can not at least what I know of.

For the record...LMAO @ Firespider!!!

Answer 6

Well, if it is, I'm a goner!