Scientists have uncovered a link between using anti-perspirants and breast cancer.

Researchers have detected the preservative chemical parabens - used in some underarm products, make-up and foods - in samples of tumours.

The latest evidence will add fuel to the debate over whether antiperspirants and deodorants are linked to soaring levels of the condition.

Former breast cancer sufferer Elsie Grounsell last night called for more effective deodorant products which don't contain the chemicals thought to contribute to the condition.

Since beating the disease five years ago Elsie, 57, from Whitley Bay, has become chairwoman of the North Tyneside support group.

Like many other sufferers she was aware that doctors thought antiperspirants may be linked to the condition but until now she was not sure enough of a link to change her behaviour.

She said: "When I was undergoing radiotherapy I was told to use talc rather than deodorants but after treatment I switched back - like most people I want to use the most effective products.

"This research is very interesting and I shall certainly be looking around for alternatives for myself and to recommend to other people in the group.

"I would like to see more of this kind of research so that women can take simple precautions to try and protect themselves from breast cancer."

The latest study by Reading University's Dr Philippa Darbre, published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, looked at 20 human breast tumours, measuring the concentration of parabens in the tissue.

Her team found the chemicals were present in a form suggesting that their route of entry was topical - through the skin - rather than oral.

Dr Darbre said: "Parabens are used as preservatives in thousands of cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products, but this is the first study to show their accumulation in human tissues.

"It demonstrates if people are exposed to these chemicals, then the chemicals will accumulate in their bodies."

She added: "Their detection in human breast tumours is of concern since parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen and oestrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumours.

"It would therefore seem especially prudent to consider whether parabens should continue to be used in such a wide range of cosmetics applied to the breast area, including antiperspirants and deodorants."

Dr Darbe has already raised the possibility of chemicals in antiperspirants being linked to cancer some years ago and since then it has been the subject of several studies.

She has previously said aluminium and zirconium in cosmetics could affect hormone levels, raising the risk of cancer.

The cosmetics industry and cancer experts urged the public not to panic over the new research, pointing out scientists had not found any causal link between the ingredients of the products and cancer.

The researchers acknowledged more work needed to be done in this area, including looking at paraben levels in normal tissue rather than tumours.

Dr Chris Flower from the CTPA, the UK cosmetic trade association, pointed out that 96pc of deodorants and antiperspirants used in the UK did not contain any parabens at all.

And he said those products that did contain the chemical were all within set limits, posing no danger to the public.

Dr Richard Sullivan, head of clinical programmes at Cancer Research UK, said: "Although this is an interesting study it should be noted the sample size is very small.

"No causal relationship has ever been found between underarm cosmetics containing parabens and breast cancer.

"Should any notional risk exist it would be insignificant when compared to other avoidable environmental risks for the disease such as obesity."

More than 40,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Numbers increased by 12pc between 1995 and 2000.

Britain has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in the world and the number of cases has more than doubled in 25 years.