Abortion/breast cancer linked

[hutchibk]

Oh, I know this is bound to be a hot topic, but I don't intend it to be a political or philosophical debate at all. I just want to share info that many may not have ever heard before, me included. (I personally don't fall in lockstep with either philosophical viewpoint, I have my own value system and beliefs that are gray area/independent of the two distinct paradigms.)

Following are 3 good links that offer the science and biology behind this risk factor, as well as birth control pills. Admittedly, the links tend to have a bit of a philosophical point of view, but are not heavy handed. Ignore any judgment and just read the whys and wherefores and biology of how it all creates a higher risk environment for breast cancer to develop.

http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/The_Link.htm

http://www.lifenews.com/2009/01/01/nat-5850/

http://www.drwalt.com/blog/?p=3790

(Other than a few specific programs that I trust within Komen, I have become pretty wary of them in recent years. My new sticky points I have learned through this research is: 1. Why Komen affiliates donate over $750,000 a year to Planned Parenthood for providing mammograms, when PP doesn't provide mammograms. They only provide a phone # and address that women can go to for mammograms. 2. Why Komen contributes $3.3mil annually to their abortion services when they know about the connection to risk factors and they know that PP doesn't warn or council of the increased BC risk caused by abortions and birth control pills. )

Why do the NCI, the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other cancer fundraising businesses make no efforts to reduce breast cancer rates by issuing nationwide warnings to women? It's a statistically significant 40% risk increase for women who have had abortions and is listed among "known and suspected risk factors.

"Obviously, more women will die of breast cancer if the NCI fails in its duty to warn about the risks of OCs and abortion and if government funds are used to pay for both as a part of any healthcare bill."

[Jackie07]

Brenda,

I have a 'wild' thought - perhaps those orgnizations are aware of the raised breast cancer risk of abortion and try to offer their services to those who are running the 'high' risks?

[Lani]

gives reasons studies are hard to do, summarizes results of best studies done to date:
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastC...-breast-cancer

[Lani]

a few more studies reviewed:
Swedish Study

Since 1994, several exhaustive studies have found no tie between abortion and breast cancer. A 30-year Swedish study of 49,000 women indicated no link between abortion and breast cancer. Furthermore, the Swedish study did not suffer from an inaccurate reporting of medical histories because it was based on a national medical registry in Sweden and not based on interviews.

Largest Study Ever in Denmark, 1997

Published in 1997, a study from Denmark indicates no increased risk for women who had abortions when they analyzed medical histories of more than 1.5 million women. This larger more comprehensive study is persuasive because it does not rely upon interviews. Data came from Denmark's national health records, thereby eliminating the possibility of "recall bias." The study showed that even women who had two or more abortions were no more likely than those who never had an abortion to develop breast cancer.

The Danish study analyzed the abortion histories of 10,246 women with breast cancer among 1,529,512 women. A total of 370,715 abortions occurred in 280,965 women. Among the 2.3% of women who had abortions after the first trimester (after 12 weeks), the researchers found a gradually increasing risk of breast cancer as the stage of pregnancy advanced. However, researchers concluded that the actual number of women with second trimester abortions was too small to warrant a firm conclusion. In Denmark, abortions are both legal and free, so there are fewer reasons for women to have abortions after 18 weeks unless there are other medical problems. These other problems might themselves be the cause of the increased cancer rate.

Interestingly, women who had abortions prior to seven weeks of pregnancy actually showed a slightly decreased risk of developing breast cancer. But again, the actual number of women in this category is very small.

Also in January 1997, a Netherlands Cancer Institute study documented the existence of "recall bias" and concluded it was a significant factor affecting early studies on the link between abortion and breast cancer.

Other Published Reports: According to findings published in the January 2000 issue of Epidemiology, women who have had an induced abortion are at no more risk for breast cancer than their counterparts who did not have an abortion. Researchers at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health-Division of Epidemiology and the Mayo Clinic examined a study sample of 1986-1995 data from 37,247 Iowa Women's Health Study participants ages 55-64, who, at the 1986 baseline, reported no history of breast cancer. Through 1995, 653 women underwent an induced abortion. The authors found that the age-adjusted relative risk of breast cancer among women with prior induced abortion was no greater than those who had never undergone an abortion, nor did the risk increase with increasing numbers of induced abortions. There were 438 cases of breast cancer per 100,000 person-years among women who reported they did have an abortion, compared to 392 cases of breast cancer per 100,000 person-years for women who did not have abortions. (Lazovich et al., Epidemiology, 1/00 issue). As reported by the Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, Jan. 25, 2000.

[Lauriesh]

regarding the concern that no one is warning women of the risk, do you really think it would matter?

We all know there is increased risk from smoking, drinking, being overweight, etc, and yet, how many people heed those warnings.

If someone is in the position of deciding whether to have a baby or have an abortion, I can't imagine telling them they may have an increased risk of breast cancer in the future would really matter. It is such a life altering decision, and most of the women are so young, I can't imagine a nineteen year old who has gotten pregnant and has decided to have an abortion, changing her mind and deciding to carry the baby, with all the ramifications of that decision, because she may have an increased risk of breast cancer in her lifetime.

Laurie

[hutchibk]

This is the 2009 abstract that the data was confirmed... specifically in the first chart (you have to click on the chart to view it within the abstract).

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/18/4/1157.full

It is curiously coauthored by Louise A. Brinton of the NCI.
Brinton was the chief organizer for the 2003 NCI (U.S. National Cancer Institute) ‘workshop’ on ‘early reproductive events and breast cancer,’ a panel which reported that the lack of an ABC link had been established.
While the NCI maintains no abortion-breast cancer link exists, Brinton is the co-author of a study that appears to prove otherwise. Very curious.

[hutchibk]

I personally believe that it must become a part of the vernacular, starting with adding it to sex-ed for girls. I think perhaps an entire section of sex-ed or health class at an appropriate age should be about breast cancer. Much like how we are taught that cigarette smoking is linked to lung cancer from the minute we find out what cigarettes are. I know it doesn't prevent all from smoking cigarettes, but it does create the overall sense that you are making a choice that can be a major health issue in your future.

I also believe the information should be given to women/young women by GYNs when counseled about oral contraceptives and whenever by whomever counsels women/young women about an abortion. You are right, it may not change their mind in the moment, but the info must be offered and NOT ignored by society. Abortion has become accepted enough to talk openly about, this must not be one of the "dirty little secrets" of abortion that is only muttered under one's breath.

Lani, looking at the biology behind it, and Dr. Dolle's study from 2009, it's pretty far fetched for me personally to consider data from the 80s to 2000. And the link you posted to the American Cancer Society's take on it (a 2003 report/study reference to the NCI panel) predates the new issue of this 2009 study, and the NCI research activist, who in the last year has backpedaled and now admits the link between abortion and breast cancer does exist.
More current research proving the connection: Age and induced abortion significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk. Researcher Vahit Ozmen from Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Surgery, and Public Health Department; and Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, USA http://www.wjso.com/content/7/1/37

A fantastic source for current research and links is Dr. Walt... this one is from 2010 titled: National Cancer Institute Researcher Admits Abortion-Breast Cancer Link True http://www.drwalt.com/blog/?p=1419

[KDR]

I once read somewhere that the hormones stimulated during pregnancy and left "suspended" via abortion are suspected to ignite breast cancer as much as any other risk factor. I couldn't tell you where I read it, or quote it even; however, I do believe it.
Karen

[Debbie L.]

I have learned that there is no point to discussing abortion. At least for we "mature" women -- we have figured out by now where we stand on this one. I honor each individual stance. I have my thoughts, and you have yours, and we each want the best for those who come after us. Let's let that be.

As far as breast cancer risk factors, there is really no need to even talk about this -- abortions MAY be just one more "risk factor", whether valid or not -- another one that is SO damn small that it would not be even worth mentioning, if we had some stronger risk factors to talk about, imho. And I doubt that at this point, we're going to find one single (or even a few) risk factors that are reliable causes of breast cancer. It's a crap shoot.

So far, ALL risk factors are in that same miniscule category (BRCA+ or strong family hx excepted). Those miniscule risk factors are so often quoted in the media that most people think they are important (no childbearing, late childbearing, not breast feeding, blah-blah-blah).

But I'd wager that the majority of us on this list, with a diagnosis of HER2+ BC, and many with mets -- had NONE of the most-often-noted risk factors. That's what statistics show -- that breast cancer is mostly totally random. The "risk factors" that we know (BRCA+ and strong family history excepted) are so minor as to be barely worth mentioning.

Debbie Laxague

[Jackie07]

I do not know about the 'philosophical' point of view of this journal. But here's an abstract of the latest European research on the subject - There's 'no link':

Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2011 May 11. [Epub ahead of print]
Misinformation on abortion.

Rowlands S.
Source

Institute of Clinical Education , Warwick Medical School, Coventry , UK.

Abstract

Objective To find the latest and most accurate information on aspects of induced abortion. Methods A literature survey was carried out in which five aspects of abortion were scrutinised: risk to life, risk of breast cancer, risk to mental health, risk to future fertility, and fetal pain.

Findings Abortion is clearly safer than childbirth. There is no evidence of an association between abortion and breast cancer. Women who have abortions are not at increased risk of mental health problems over and above women who deliver an unwanted pregnancy. There is no negative effect of abortion on a woman's subsequent fertility. It is not possible for a fetus to perceive pain before 24 weeks' gestation.

Misinformation on abortion is widespread. Literature and websites are cited to demonstrate how data have been manipulated and misquoted or just ignored. Citation of non-peer reviewed articles is also common. Mandates insisting on provision of inaccurate information in some US State laws are presented.

Attention is drawn to how women can be misled by Crisis Pregnancy Centres. Conclusion There is extensive promulgation of misinformation on abortion by those who oppose abortion. Much of this misinformation is based on distorted interpretation of the scientific literature.

[hutchibk]

When I see conclusions to studies and researchers stating that "These findings suggest that age and induced abortion were found to be significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk" and "Daling studies from '94 and '96 showed between a 20 and 50 percent increased breast cancer risk for women having abortions compare to those who carried their pregnancies to term" and "Dolle’s team reported in Table 1 a statistically significant 40% risk increase for women who have had abortions and listed it among “known and suspected risk factors" and a researcher from the NCI recanting a previous pronouncement and stating there is a known risk factor... ~ I personally can't write it off or down play it to protect a philosophy or avoid philosophical differences. As I said in the initial post, I didn't post this to create any political or philosophical debates. I posted it to share even further info about an avoidable risk factor.

Aren't we preached to day in and day out these days to personally practice preventative medicine to stay as healthy and dire diagnosis free as possible? That to me includes sharing ALL of the known risk factors that can lead to a disease. One key is knowing all of the avoidable risks. If not having an abortion is a way to avoid a risk, then I would say girls, young ladies and women need to know about it.

Considering the 'often noted' risk factors... being over ideal weight, conventional hormone injected diet, no regular exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, exposure to estrogen, stress and anxiety, age, family history, no pregnancies or breastfeeding, DES esposure... then I had the conventional diet, lack of exercise, extra exposure to estrogen and no pregnancies risk factors, and I don't know about DES exposure, but I suspect it was entirely possible, being born in 1959. Add those together and I am definitely in a higher risk category. And my onc agrees.

I am betting that most of us didn't know much about conventional dietary concerns much before diagnosis, or the risks of dietary estrogens that we probably consumed tons of unknowingly, or that our bodies are programed to have a child and breastfeed before we are 30, or that we needed to continue exercising regularly beyond our teens/early 20s, or the ramifications of partying in college and/or drinking 2-3 glasses of wine 3-4 days a week... that all of these things added together would increase our risks of one day being dxed w/ breast cancer. And there is no guarantee that being extremely smart and knowledgeable about everything that is a risk factor and avoiding every single one of them will protect us from ever getting a diagnosis... but then why follow through with BRCA testing. Not everyone who is BRCA positive gets breast cancer. And not everyone who smokes their whole life gets lung cancer. And not everyone who gets lung cancer ever smoked. So then, why even tell folks about the risk factors?

Just saw heading and have not had time to read all info but was wondering if having a miscarriage would be classed the same? I've has 3 miscarriages...

Sue

[hutchibk]

Once you read the biology, it seems to me to indicate, sadly, that interrupted pregnancies can be one risk factor involved in contributing to an environment for breast cancer. I could be reading it wrong, but I don't believe so. I don't know the statistical difference between induced interruption or natural interruption... you can probably find it somewhere.

[KDR]

Brenda,
This is exactly what I read, maybe two years ago, or so. It seems an interrupted pregnancy, intentional or unintentional, does create yet another risk for breast cancer. To what degree? No one yet knows but data suggests a link. I think breast cancer rates are the highest in countries where abortion rates are also high? Can't remember, but I for one, regardless of my stance on abortion, believe this data could be sound.
Also, anyone privy on HPV strains and breast cancer association?
Thanks for posting.
Karen

[bejuce]

Actually I remember reading a while back that the highest abortion rate is in Vietnam, where breast cancer rates are low...

[hutchibk]

Admittedly, there are many characteristics to be taken into account... and potentially ethnicity plays a role first before other risk factors kick in.

[LoisLane]

Debbie excellent post, well said. Love and good wishes to all. Lois

[sarah]

Maybe it's the dairy!

[hutchibk]

I absolutely agree and believe that the hormones in conventional milk and dairy products are contributors in the dietary risk factors.

[Rich66]

Before my mom recurred, she was mainlining coffee and regular milk... Too bad giving birth to me didn't prevent this crap (on a crapstick).