Tying saree tightly around waist can cause 'petticoat cancer' in women, warns study

It is an uncommon and rare cancer but women who wear sarees need to know this.

Tying a saree underskirt too tightly around the waist can lead to what doctors call "petticoat cancer". The research, which was published on Tuesday (November 5) in the journal British Medical Journal (BMJ) Case Reports, documents this type of malignancy in two women.

The study brings to light "potential health risks associated with traditional clothing practices".

The "petticoat cancer" is  a condition possibly triggered by tying the waist cord of a saree's underskirt or petticoat tightly.

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How petticoat cancer happens

Constant pressure and friction on one's skin from the waist cord can cause chronic inflammation, leading to ulcers and sometimes, progressing to skin cancer, said the doctors. Some of the doctors are from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Uttar Pradesh.

Doctors said that while the phenomenon has previously been described as 'saree cancer', it is the tightness of the waist cord that's to blame.

Case histories

Take the case of one of the women, a 70-year-old, who sought medical attention for a painful skin ulcer on her right flank (present between ribs and hip bone). She had it for 18 months and the wound did not heal, the authors described.

Samples taken from this part of the woman’s body revealed that she had what’s called a “Marjolin ulcer” – a type of “rare but aggressive” skin cancer, researchers said.

The surrounding skin had lost its pigmentation, they said and added that she wore her petticoat underneath her saree, tightly tied around her waist.

The second woman, in her late 60s, was reported to have had an ulcer on her right flank that had not healed for two years.

"A woman in her late 60s presented with a two-year history of an ulcerating lesion on her right flank. She wore a lugda daily for 40 years. A lugda is tied very tightly around the waist without a petticoat," the authors wrote. This woman too was found to have Marjolin ulcer, which had spread to one of her lymph nodes in her groin.

Also read: Cervical cancer in India: Taboos, lack of awareness key factors behind rising cases

Marjolin ulcer

Biopsies done on both women revealed that both the women had Marjolin ulcer, which also known as squamous cell carcinoma (ulcerating skin cancer).

The doctors explained that while a Marjolin ulcer is rare, it can be aggressive. It develops in chronic burn wounds, non-healing wounds, leg ulcers, tuberculous skin nodules, and in vaccination and snake bite scars, they said.

"Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which ultimately breaks down to form an erosion or an ulcer. The ulcer at this site does not heal entirely due to ongoing pressure from tight clothing. A chronic non-healing wound results, which may develop malignant change," the authors wrote.

Her story

The 70 year-old diagnosed with skin cancer, said, "I have been wearing a Nauvari saree, tightly wrapped around my waist, for most of my adult life. Six years ago, I noticed a small area of depigmentation on my right flank, which I initially dismissed as a minor skin issue." With time, the abnormality developed into a non-healing ulcer, causing her concern and discomfort.

Upon consulting a dermatologist, the woman said she was diagnosed with skin cancer, which was made worse, largely due to ever-present friction and pressure from tying saree tightly around her waist.

She said that her psychologically and physically taxing journey showed the importance of paying attention to chronic skin changes and seeking medical advice early.

"I hope my story will raise awareness among women about the potential health risks associated with traditional clothing practices and encourage timely medical consultation for unusual skin conditions," the woman said. 

What can be done to avoid saree cancer?

The doctors, however, advised women to wear a loose petticoat beneath the saree to ease pressure on the skin. Secondly, to wear loose clothing and thirdly, if skin problems were to develop that area should be allowed to heal.

(With inputs from agencies)