Can cell phones stored in bras cause breast cancer?

 
In 2013, Dr. Oz featured Tiffany Frantz, a young women who believed she had developed breast cancer because she kept her cell phone in her bra. Many experts were unconvinced, but the notion persists today—like in Berkeley, California, where a recent law will soon require electronics stores to warn consumers of the danger of cell phones in bras.
To clear the air: There is no definitive proof for either side of the debate. Cell phones have only been popular for a relatively short amount of time, with the idea that they cause cancer even newer. Meanwhile, a truly effective study on cancer in humans would take decades to complete—as cancer often takes as long to be triggered. Simply put, we haven’t had enough time to really link the two.
What we do know, however, is that the number of new cases of brain cancer hasn’t changed much since the ’90s. If cell phone use was causing cancer, it would be realistic to reason that the amount of brain cancer would significantly increase—as the most common form of exposure is by putting the phone up against your head to call people. Yet, the overall data does not support this notion, according to a 2010 study.
In Tiffany Frantz’s particular case, the evidence given was the location of the tumor (near where she typically left her cell phone) and her young age at the time of her diagnosis (21). It is important to note that, given the size of a normal cell phone, any breast tumor would have a significant chance of developing near where it was placed, regardless of potentially dangerous waves it gives off. Moreover, breast cancer can and does happen in young women and men; in regards to female cases, about 1.8% happen in women between 20-34 years old. If the estimates for 2015 hold true, that means around 4000 young women will be diagnosed this year.
But what do the experts have to say?
According to the American Cancer Society, many scientists studying the power of cell phone radiation do not believe it is strong enough to do damage. Cell phones give off what is known as radiofrequency (RF) waves, a form of non-ionizing radiation. These waves don’t have the energy it takes to damage DNA in cells (which causes cancer). Strong RF waves can heat up body tissues, but cell phones aren’t powerful enough to do this, either.
The World Health Organization, citing the lack of verified negative effects of cell phones, has simply left cell phone exposure defined as a possible carcinogen. They are currently investigating the matter on their own, and plan to finish the study in 2016.
The CDC, likewise, is ambivalent, noting the current lack of evidence: “At this time we do not have the science to link health problems to cell phone use. Scientific studies are underway to determine whether cell phone use may cause health effects. It is also important to consider the benefits of cell phones. Their use can be valuable in an urgent or emergency situation – and even save lives.”
In sum, we cannot say for sure if cell phones may cause breast cancer for several reasons. First, the many short-term studies on the risk of cancer through cell phone use are contradictory in their findings. And second, long-term studies are needed to verify if a link exists—and, as the current short-term ones have shown us—the results need to be replicated many times over.
If you’re still worried about breast cancer from leaving your phone in your bra because of stories like the one on Dr. Oz, Dr. Ted Gansler of the American Cancer Society noted, “Reports of a few young women who developed breast cancer and who had carried a cell phone in their bra do not prove that the cancers were caused by the phones. These cases may all be a coincidence. But, it is possible that some may be a coincidence and some may be linked. Nobody knows, because no systematic studies have been done.”
(Image credit: Thinkstock)