Induced Abortion and Breast Cancer

A historical overview and up to date synopsis of the Abortion/Breast Cancer controversy by Joel Brind, Ph.D., (a professor of biology and endocrinology at Baruch College of the City University of New York, and is co-founder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute) can be accessed at http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2012/05/four-part-series-on-the-abortion-breast-cancer-link-abc-link/#more-13958 AAPLOG strongly recommends this 4 part series as […]

INDUCED ABORTION AND SUBSEQUENT BREAST CANCER Results of 68 worldwide studies since 1957 on the association of induced abortion and subsequent development of breast cancer: 53 studies show an association, and 15 studies show no association. See specifics at http://www.bcpinstitute.org/epidemiology_studies_bcpi.htm

Papers published by bcpi from 2003 to present can be found at http://www.bcpinstitute.org/publishedpapers.htm These articles will give you a valuable perspective on the basic controversy, a perspective you will not find in writings by the usual “authorities” on this topic.

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PROLIFE OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS INDUCED ABORTION AND SUBSEQUENT BREAST CANCER RISK 2008 Induced abortion and the subsequent risk of developing Breast Cancer The possibility of this association has been persistently and vigorously attacked and denied by the major medical groups in the country since l994. The ACOG, and the NCI have been particularly strong in opposing

This 2007 paper by a Harvard researcher concludes that there is no association between abortion and subsequent breast cance risk. This conclusion appears to be straightforward and unambiguous. However, several serious methodological concerns cast doubt on the validity of the overall result. Article: Brind on Harvard Nurses Study II – 2007

Prospective studies avoid the potential errors that may be a problem in certain interview based studies. However, prospective studies may also be subject to erroneous conclusions. This 2005 article analyzes several recent prospective studies dealing with the abortion/breast cancer association. Article: Brind-Prospective

The results of this study support the inclusion of induced abortion among significant independent risk factors for breast cancer. Although the increase in risk was relatively low (RR 1.3), the high incidence of both breast cancer and induced abortion suggest a substantial impact of thousands of excess cases per year. The 1996 Brind Metanalysis (pdf

The Daling study was specifically commissioned and funded by the United States National Cancer Institute to investigate the abortion/breast cancer link. 845 women with breast cancer were compared with 961 controls. Janet Daling’s group found an overall 50% breast cancer risk increase by age 45 for women who have had an induced abortion. A 12%

The Howe study, done in 1989, was based totally on a prospective data base from the state of New York (both fetal death and breast cancer being mandated as reportable diseases). There is no possibility of “recall bias” influencing the result. The study found a 90% increase in breast cancer by age 40 among women