An
April 12, 2007, article by Stephanie Simon in the Los Angeles Times
claimed that "national cancer experts" have found no link between
abortion and an increased risk of breast cancer (ABC = "Abortion-Breast
Cancer").
The truth:
- 29 out of 41 worldwide studies reveal an ABC link. (See
"The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link" by Angela Lanfranchi, MD, FACS)
- "There are 17 statistically significant studies that show
a link between abortion and breast cancer, 8 of which were
conducted in the United States." ("Scientists must show with 95
percent certainty that the results in their studies could not have
occurred by chance alone.") (emphasis mine) (From
"The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link" by Angela Lanfranchi, MD, FACS.
A list of the 17 studies are in Dr. Lanfranchi's footnotes.)
- "As of 2006, eight medical organizations recognize that
abortion raises a woman's risk for breast cancer, independently of
the risk of delaying the birth of a first child (a secondary effect
that all experts already acknowledge). An additional medical
organization, the Association of American Physicians and
Surgeons, issued a statement in 2003 calling on doctors to
inform patients about a 'highly plausible' relationship
between abortion and breast cancer." (See
AbortionBreastCancer.com) (emphasis mine)
-
It is "estimated that upwards of 10,000 cases of
breast cancer each year presently, and up to over 25,000 per
year in twenty or thirty years hence, are or will be attributable
to induced abortion." (emphasis mine) ("The
Abortion–Breast Cancer Connection" by Joel Brind)
Many abortion defenders point to a 2003
"workshop" conducted by the National Cancer Institute that denied the
ABC link. However, the NCI meeting has been tagged as a "scam."
Rather than seeking the truth, it was perceived that "eradicating the ABC link was really the sole purpose
of the meeting." (Source)
(See also
these important notes from the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute.)
Recent studies that deny an ABC link have also been found to be
seriously flawed and deficient. (See
here and
here.)
From Stephanie Simon's article in the Los Angeles Times
(emphasis mine):
Minnesota is also among several states that compel
doctors to inform women that abortion may be linked to breast
cancer, though national cancer experts have found no such
connection.
The Times clearly owes its readers a correction.
In addition, this is the second time in recent months
that Ms. Simon has stated her claim, even though we addressed the issue in
this February 2007
NewsBusters post.
[Correction, 4/17/07: I originally wrote above, 'Recent
studies that assert an ABC link have also been found to be
seriously flawed and deficient.' Hopefully, in the context of the
article, you can see that I meant to write, 'Recent studies that deny
an ABC link have also been found to be seriously flawed and deficient.'
Thank you to a reader for pointing out the error to me.]