Study finds no abortion link to breast cancer

[coda]

Friday, March 26, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Study finds no abortion link to breast cancer

By Shankar Vedantam
The Washington Post


Having an abortion does not increase a woman's risk of contracting breast cancer later, according to the most comprehensive and definitive analysis conducted on the controversial issue, scientists said yesterday.

The conclusion was based on 53 studies involving 83,000 women in 16 countries. Researchers for the first time compared all studies according to the quality of their methodology: Better-designed studies found no link between abortion and breast cancer. Studies using weaker designs were inconsistent but on average found a link.

Several states tell women considering an abortion that it might increase their risk of breast cancer. Other states are debating whether to require doctors to warn women of a risk. There is no such requirement in Washington state, said Marcy Bloom, executive director of Aradia Women's Health Center in Seattle.


<snip>


"We have demonstrated that a certain group of studies are unreliable and can't be trusted," said Valerie Beral, an Oxford University professor of epidemiology who coordinated the study. "You could say, if anything, these results suggest the possibility of a slightly reduced risk of breast cancer if you have had an abortion."


more.....

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2001888308_breast26.html



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Study: Breast cancer, abortion not linked
Group backs up institute's earlier findings

By DAVID WAHLBERG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/25/04

Abortion doesn't increase the risk of breast cancer, an international group of researchers reports today, backing up a similar conclusion a year ago by the National Cancer Institute that followed years of controversy.

A few studies in the early 1990s had suggested such a link, theorizing that women who terminate pregnancies are exposed to harmful estrogen levels early in the gestation period without the protective hormonal benefits in later stages of full-term pregnancies.

The National Cancer Institute, an arm of the federal government, had maintained that there were no data connecting abortion to breast cancer — until the fall of 2002, when it changed its Web site to say the evidence was inconclusive. Some said the change was made by the Bush administration, under pressure from abortion opponents, who wanted women considering an abortion to be notified of the possible risk


<snip>


In fact, women with abortions had a 7 percent decrease in breast cancer risk, though researchers downplayed the significance of that finding.


more....

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/health/0304/26breastcancer.html

[lumpy]

1. Another medical research

claim debunked. Government research money is an easy way to make a living. Next week we'll find out that drinking beer encourages hair regrowth in bald men.

[HuckleB]

7. Sorry, but that's just not the way it works.

Health care isn't perfect, nor is any individual study. Knowledge changes with time, and with repeated studies. This is why it's so ridiculous to see the press offer headlines when a single study shows X. Many studies over time must show X, for us to truly understand what is or is not happening. This comprehensive lit review of studies over time showed that one possible health concern was false. It's not about "a medical research claim (being) debunked." It's about the medical research process continuing, moving forward, and learning from the whole.

[Blue_Roses]

2. let me get this straight

no-abortion-link-to-breast-cancer ...*shakes head*...this has to be the most ridiculous "research" I've seen in a long time.

Why don't they spend some time on some REAL research--like stem cell research.

[0007]

3. Because the Christian fear factor must be cleared against

propaganda and superstitions. Stem Cell research is up and running and much time is spent on REAL research.

[Bridget Burke]

6. One study, some years ago,

Indicated that having had an abortion might be a risk factor for breast cancer.

In several states, this study has been used as the basis for telling any woman who wants an abortion that she might get breast cancer. Actually, she could get breast cancer; far too many women do. But other studies have indicated that abortion & breast cancer are not linked.

Further study was necessary to disprove the earlier data. However, I doubt the faulty information will be removed from the package of information each woman must study before getting an abortion. As if a woman doesn't think the situation through rather thoroughly before going to the clinic.

[mulethree]

14. "might" = inconclusive = nobody should care except to devise better study

"Further study was necessary to disprove the earlier data" - so this further study is devised with a specific result in mind - to disprove earlier data.

Maybe the country does need better science education, not because we actually use chemistry or the like in our daily lives or jobs, but as a defensive measure against these people who use pseudo-science to decieve. Ditto some mandatory psychology course might reduce the impact of Madison Avenue and the political "Image Makers"

[HuckleB]

8. Most of these studies were not focused on one possible link.

They considered several possible risk factors or "links" for breast cancer. For example, the studies do continue to show that women who do not have a child are at a higher risk for breast cancer.

And, no, I don't believe that women should have to have children because of this finding. I do think it's valuable information for women who choose not to have children, in regard to their level of vigilance in self-breast exams and annual check ups.

[HuckleB]

9. Regarding stem cell research:

New center at OHSU will study stem cells

Scientists at the $4.5 million public-private venture will focus on the emerging and at times controversial field of research
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/108030627092150.xml

"Oregon Health & Science University is spending $4.5 million of a public-private fund on a new center for studying stem cells, a rapidly evolving area of medical research.

Researchers at the new Oregon Stem Cell Center will focus on finding and purifying stem cells -- a kind of generic cell that can copy itself many times or change into other, more specialized cells. Scientists at the center will initially focus on adult stem cells, not those derived from embryos. They will study basic questions of how stem cells work and also try to create tools that other researchers pursuing stem cell projects could use."

[radwriter0555]

4. this is gonna piss off that freaky freeper chick who thinks the "sin" of

makes her god 'smote' women with that there breast cancer.

[Ilsa]

5. Unbelieveable, how much attention this gets in my small-minded town...

This subject comes up at least twice a year in LTTE in my paper in south texas. It's always the same MEN writing the fear-mongering letters. Usually, someone from the ACS writes in to refute, but they get demonized by the next letter-writer and then it ends.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Now you have ammo to fight back with when they fear monger next time

[TrogL]

10. Isn't there a law somewhere?

I can't remember if it's state or federal, but it says that family planning clinics must mention the link between abortion and breast cancer - even though it doesn't exist.

[Tommy_Douglas]

11. I'm simply shocked...

You mean those wingnut, ideological "researches" employed by Bush were wrong?

Now onto those stem cells... oh wait... nevermind.

[daleo]

12. To be fair

There was discussion about another article that claimed circumcision reduced AIDS was unreliable because it was an observational study, and not a randomized control trial. The same could be said in this case.

Not that I am making a case for abortion causing breast cancer (for the record, I believe in choice in the matter of abortion), just pointing out that people tend be much more tolerant of research designs if the result is in the direction they prefer.

And I am not claiming I am any better.

[mulethree]

13. Study shows : stress induced by study's will kill you

This was a study of, 53 other studies. As usual the predictable outcome is that most studies have some bias that makes them scientifically invalid.