GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Megan Kemmis is recovering from a double mastectomy after having stage 4 breast cancer.

Kemmis says part of her morning routine was hindering her fight against cancer.
She explains, "Using the antiperspirant daily was feeding the cancer so I cut out a lot of the aluminum products."

Kemmis says as soon as she stopped using the deodorant with aluminum in it, the cancer activity in her armpits stopped.

The deodorant and shampoo you use could have cancer causing ingredients in them, and a new bill in the Colorado House would make it illegal for companies to put these toxic chemicals in any of your personal products.

House Bill 1248 would make it illegal for any of your personal care products to contain carcinogens and ingredients that are harmful to your reproductive system.

If the bill goes into effect and cosmetic companies that continue to include those ingredients, Colorado citizens would be able to sue the manufacturers.

The ingredients that have been linked to cancer include parabens, formaldehydes, and polyethylene or PEG which are found in a lot of shampoos, conditioners and lotions.

Aluminum has also been reported to cause breast cancer is found in deodorant.

Lawmakers think you should be aware of what you're putting on your skin and that producers shouldn't put those toxins in your hygiene products.

State Senator Betty Boyd says, "We really wanted to help make the people of Colorado aware that across the world and across the country such products in some cases are banned. In many cases, in many countries in Europe these products are not even allowed in the personal care products"

This bill was just introduced to the House, and Boyd says even if it doesn't pass this year, it's a good step to get the word out about these harmful ingredients.

Kemmis agrees, "Horrible things are out there that we're digesting and have chemicals in them that are harmful to us."

Kemmis has changed her lifestyle to exclude some of these dangerous ingredients and hopes no one else has to go through what she has, and she says, "and we need to put a ban from these companies putting them in things for us to use."