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Confusion about Link Between Abortions and Breast Cancer

Abortion Raises Breast Cancer Risk By 40 Percent

Over a hundred years ago doctors realized that nuns had a high degree of breast cancer most likely due to lack of child bearing. But valuable information like this is not readily available to our politically correct society where the feminist woman's movement plays a big role. Now in a documented study we have proof that having abortions can increase your chance of getting breast cancer by 40 percent. In addition the study shows taking birth control also increases your chance of getting breast cancer.

Although the study was published nine months ago, observed Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, "the NCI, the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other cancer fund raising businesses have made no efforts to reduce breast cancer rates by issuing nationwide warnings to women."

I really have to wonder at these arguments.  Yes, it has long been known that the more menstrual cycles a woman has, the higher her risk of breast cancer.  This is partly why breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risks.  This is why nuns have higher breast cancer risks: they never get pregnant, so they have more menstrual cycles than women going through pregnancy/breastfeeding cycles.

So, because an abortion shortens a pregnancy, it probably increases the number of menstrual cycles a woman has, thus increasing her risk of breast cancer.

But the risks of later pregnancy and childbirth are higher than the increased risk of breast cancer.

Honestly, if we were only concerned about women's well-being, we would discourage them from ever getting pregnant because of the risks of pregnancy and birth.  They are much higher than the minor benefit of reduced menstrual cycles and reduced breast cancer risks.

Or, since pregnancy is so very beneficial, maybe we should recommend that nuns serve as surrogate mothers to reduce their risk of breast cancer?

From: C-upi@clari.net (UPI)
Subject: Link challenged between abortion, cancer
Organization: Copyright 1996 by United Press International
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 11:41:06 PDT
UPI Science News

The research results were released at a press conference by the report's co-authors at Hershey Medical Center. The report was published by the British Medical Association's Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Other scientists, however, challenged both the methods and conclusions of the researchers.

``There is mistake after mistake (in the report),'' said Marilie Gammon of Columbia University School of Public Health in New York.

The researchers analyzed 23 studies that investigated nearly 26,000 women with breast cancer and nearly 35,000 without the disease. They found a link between abortions and breast cancer in 18 of the 23 studies, which increased the average woman's risk from 12 in 100 to about 16 in 100.

But some of the 23 studies are ``obviously poorly done, with a lot of bias,'' said Gammon. ``Yet those studies are given the same weight. Why should we believe people who are doing poor science?''

Additionally, Gammon said that an increase from 12 to 16 per 100 women over their lifetime is still low, especially when a single answer can influence the conclusion of a small study, and when reporting may or may not be accurate in the first place.

The researchers found no increased risk among women who had experienced spontaneous abortions, or miscarriages.