How Endocrine Disruptors Cause Breast Cancer
In 2025 there are over 900 known Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals in various daily use products. This means there are likely triple that number in existence that we have only occasional contact with. Learn to protect yourself and your family.
EDCs mimic, block, or alter our natural hormones, leading to breast cancer.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances that interfere with the body’s hormonal system. They mimic, block and alter hormones, leading to various health issues, including breast cancer. Here’s how EDCs contribute to breast cancer:
- Hormone Mimicry: Some EDCs mimic estrogen, a hormone that can promote the growth of certain types of breast cancer cells.
- Hormone Blockade: EDCs can block hormone receptors, disrupting normal hormonal functions that leads to breast cancer.
- Hormonal Imbalance: EDCs cause an imbalance in hormone levels, which increase the risk of hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
- Genetic Changes: Long-term exposure to EDCs can leads to genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer.
The most common sources of EDCs include personal care products, cookware, plastic food containers, plastic bottled beverages, daily use paper products, UPF’s, food packaging and cleaning products. Reducing exposure to these chemicals will lower the risk of developing breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence.
Their harmful effects are numerous but primarily cause breast cancer. The pervasive presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals disrupts the delicate balance of women’s endocrine systems, causing significant quality of life problems at best and a death sentence from breast cancer at worst. The impact of these chemicals is profound and far-reaching, making it crucial to address their presence in our environment and take action now to minimize yours and your family’s risk.
Let’s Break It down Into Specific Products
Personal Care Products
How and why are EDCs in these products? The obsession with cleanliness and beauty in America has spilled over into the rest of the world, leading to the widespread use of products containing hidden toxic chemicals. Manufacturers have been able to mask harmful ingredients under deceptive labels like “natural” and “fragrance.” These seemingly innocent terms often conceal a plethora of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that pose serious health risks.
This widespread deception allows manufacturers to include dangerous chemicals in everyday items without clear labeling, exposing consumers to hidden EDCs that can interfere with hormonal functions, cause reproductive issues, and increase the risk of cancers, such as breast cancer. The drive for beauty and cleanliness should not come at the cost of our health.
It’s crucial to be vigilant and informed about the products we use. Opt for those with transparent ingredient lists and avoid those with vague terms that could hide toxic EDCs.
The following categories fall into this area:
- Soaps – bar & liquid: Dish, hand, laundry, shower, all purpose
- Lotions
- Face Products
- Makeup
- Eyelash glue
- Sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Shampoo & Conditioners
- Hair Spray – contains Bezenes & Propellant 152b
This list here is by no means exhaustive, its just the beginning. The links below will help you find SAFE non-toxic product brands & DIY recipes. We will be adding more products to our lists as time goes on. If you have SAFE brands or DIY receipes to share email us [email protected]
Household & Cleaning Products
Limiting your exposure to toxic chemicals in your cleaning products immediately is critical component to your breast cancer recovery and avoiding a recurrence. It
Is also crucial for the rest of your female family members to avoid getting breast cancer and other cancers. At BCA we believe that re-exposure to these chemicals in our everyday products is the most likely cause of recurrence.
We aren’t saying making these changes will be easy, we ARE saying It will be worth it!
In Your Kitchen
Pots & Pans
Teflon/non-stick coating has PFAS cancer causing chemicals in it that leach into your food when you cook in those pans. THROW THEM OUT IMMEDIATELY. Whatever you have to do to afford this do it. Thrift stores are a great option.
Replace them with ceramic coated cookware, stainless steel or cast iron. All three of theses options are safe. Give up whatever you have to purchase safe cookware – otherwise every time you cook a mea you are killing yourself – and your family. Yes it IS that critical.
Cooking Utensils
The safe options are wood, stainless steel. Silicone says its safe but it is a form of plastic and when you are cooking you are heating the utensil. In our minds here at BCA its better not to take that chance – and when wood or stainless steel are readily available at a reasonable price BCA recommends them over silicone. And again, thrift stores are a great option.
Food Containers & Storage Bags
THROW THEM OUT IMMEDIATELY. NEVER USE THEM AGAIN. Replace every food container in your kitchen with glass or stainless steel. Hit up the Thrift stores if you need to. The temperature change – including the freezer activates BPA in the plastic and causes it to leech into the food that is in it. Buy glass freezer containers, stainless steel works too. Thrift stores have tons of kitchen items at very low prices.
Plastic Utensils
NEVER USE THEM, EVER – they are full of BPA. every time you eat off a plastic fork you are eating a mouthful of EDCs.
Counter Top Canisters
Replace with glass or stainless steel – you can never go wrong with either of these.
Cutting Boards
THROW OUT THE PLASTIC ONES IMMEDIATELY. Using these is putting BPA directly in your food from the plastic pieces that break off when you cut on them. Replace with wood or titanium. There is some information out there that says wood cutting boards harbor bacteria, however recommended sanitizing is to wash them with hot soapy water and let them completely air dry before storing & this keeps them safe to use.
The bottom line is this: For a healthier and safer kitchen, insist on using only ceramic, glass, wood, stainless steel, cast iron, and BPA-free silicone for your cookware and utensils. Nothing else should be allowed. By doing so, you ensure that your food preparation is free from harmful chemicals and contaminants.
Furthermore, prioritize buying food products in glass containers whenever possible. If glass isn’t an option, make it a habit to transfer your groceries into glass or BPA-free food-grade silicone containers as soon as you get home. This extra step is crucial for maintaining the purity and safety of your food.
By embracing these practices, you significantly reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors and other harmful substances, ultimately contributing to a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.
Your kitchen is the heart of your home – keep it safe and toxin-free!
Paper products
These are another big category of endocrine disruptors: toilet paper, bathroom wipes, paper towels, facial tissues and paper plates & cups are the most common. Think about how often you use these and where you encounter them. And this is just the beginning of this
Category!
Recycled paper products tend to be high in endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because of the contamination from thermal receipts and other printed materials that contain the chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and alkylphenols. During the recycling process, these chemicals transfer to the recycled paper products.
Additionally, the paper production process itself introduces EDCs. Paper mills using recycled fibers often release higher concentrations of EDCs compared to those using virgin fibers These chemicals can persist through wastewater treatment and end up in recycled paper products.
BCA RECOMMENDS THAT WOMEN & GIRLS DON’T USE ANY RECYCLED PAPER PRODUCTS
Toilet Paper: Most toilet paper brands may contain BPA due to the use of recycled paper, which can include thermal receipts and other paper products that contain BPA.
You have to check your brands before buying. To be safe you have to switch to a non-toxic brand. See the links for safe products below.
Bathroom & Baby Wipes – Most have PFAS & BPA in them due to fragrances & lotions. Switch brands to safer products for yourself and your family.
Paper Towels: Similar to toilet paper, recycled paper towels can also contain BPA from the recycling process. Buy PFAS & BPA free products.
Paper Cup Lining: Many paper cups, especially those used for hot beverages, have a lining that contains BPA to prevent the liquid from leaking through the paper. Take your stainless steel tumbler with your to your favorite coffee shop when you go.
Coffee Filters: These are a big culprit of EDCs due to recycled paper. Buy a stainless steel filter and skip the chemical laden contaminated coffee!
Everything Else
Thermal store receipts – Beware of Thermal Receipts: A Hidden Threat to Your Health
Thermal receipts are not just ordinary paper—they contain BPA (or similar chemicals), which are potent endocrine disruptors linked to breast cancer. Doctors are now advising people against handling these receipts! Breast Cancer Awareness Organization research confirms that these chemicals are significant contributors to breast cancer.
How can you eliminate or at least significantly reduce your exposure to these dangerous chemicals?
Opt for Digital Receipts: When paying with a credit or debit card, you already have an electronic record of your payment in your account. For detailed receipts, request an email copy or take a photo of the printed receipt—this way, you avoid direct contact with the harmful chemicals.
Use Safer Alternatives: If you must handle a receipt, immediately wash your hands thoroughly. Additionally, make a habit of avoiding products that contain BPA, such as certain plastic containers.
By adopting these practices, you can significantly lower your risk of exposure to BPA and protect yourself from its harmful effects. Let’s take proactive steps to safeguard our health and well-being.
Follow Roxann’s Journey, which includes her medical records: Her estrogen levels increased by 265% in less than four years, from Bartending, she was handling thermal receipts every day, leading to her diagnosis of Stage 3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC).
HER ADVICE: DON’T EVER TOUCH THEM
This paper has been illegal in Europe for more than 10 years for this very reason – so why is it still legal and so prevalent here in the USA??
Other EDC Laden Products
Clothes – most of our fabrics contain plastics and other chemicals. While its not reasonable to replace all of our clothes you can buy chemical free clothing going forward. Search for brands online that make chemical free clothing.
Upholstery – these can contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These chemicals can be present due to the use of certain dyes, treatments, and flame retardants applied to the fabrics. For example, some synthetic fabrics and treatments used to make upholstery stain-resistant or flame-retardant may include EDCs. here also its not reasonable to buy all new furniture – however when you are replacing furniture keep this in mind. And skip the water resistant chemicals
Carpet Shampoo – BCA recommends you buy a home carpet cleaner and make your own carpet cleaner. Its really easy – DIY Recipes has a good one – and much cheaper than hiring a commercial carpet cleaning company and you can surely reduce your exposure to those toxic chemicals.
Car Interiors – the chemicals in the upholstery again are the initial culprit and then the cleaning products continue problem in your car being toxic. Take your own cleaning products to the car wash with you and ask your detailer to use your products on the inside of your car. The same recipe for carpet cleaning is great for your home and car upholstery.
How do I avoid EDCs?
Change Brands of products you buy to non EDC brands. This is ESSENTIAL to protect your breast health – in preventing breast cancer – in healing from breast cancer and preventing a recurrence. BCA believes that most women who have a recurrence do so because they unknowingly re-expose themselves to the chemicals that originally caused their breast cancer in the first place.
BCA research has shown that changing brands of products to Non-Endocrine Disrupting Brands (link to Non-toxic Products page) is critical to your breast, and overall health.
How Do I Avoid PFAS & Other Dangerous Chemicals When I go Out?
Take your own Stainless Steel BPA Free Tumblers with Stainless Steel Straws when buying coffee and other beverages on the go.
At BCA, we see the issue as multifaceted. Only 5% of breast cancer cases are genetic, that means that 95% of breast cancer is environmental caused by endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. EDCs are the most common culprit because we are so greatly exposed by the sheer number of products that contain them. Increased exposure to these toxins correlates with more women being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Younger women are now being diagnosed with breast cancer at at rate that is higher than ever before.
This trend emphasizes that 95% of breast cancers arise from our environment.It is the most critical risk factor in your life. If you are diagnosed with breast cancer and want to survive and thrive, immediate lifestyle changes are essential!
Roxann, BCA Founder & BossLady says: “It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.”
BCA is here to guide you in making these transformative lifestyle choices. We simplify finding safe alternatives across various product categories so you can focus on what matters most.
Decision fatigue is real. At BCA we know it’s difficult to make all these product changes in the midst of everything else on your plate, we’ve done it! This is why we have provided links to BCA Approved Non-Toxic Brands and DIY Recipes for you – to make this essential transition easier!
References
- Environmental Working Group (EWG), EDC Research, 2025
- Mamavation, (2025). Non-Toxic Living & Product Investigations