Study discounts reliable link between abortion and breast cancer

CLAIMS that abortion does not increase the risk of breast cancer were upheld by findings yesterday.

A review of 53 studies involving 83,000 women suggested no reliable link between the disease and either abortion or miscarriage.

The results support those derived from a large-scale investigation by Swedish researchers, published in January. But they are at odds with the claims of a US scientist who argues abortion is the most preventable cause of breast cancer.

Professor Joel Brind, from the City University of New York, spoke of his fears at a meeting in Westminster two days after the Swedish data came out. He said 29 out of 40 global studies indicated women who terminated a pregnancy put themselves at greater risk.

They lost the natural protection against breast cancer they would have had from giving birth.

Pregnancies that result in birth are known to reduce the long-term risk of developing breast cancer, but scientists do not know why.

But the authors of the latest findings suggest they might have been misleading.

Professor Valerie Beral, said: “The totality of the worldwide epidemiological evidence indicates that pregnancies ended by induced abortion do not have adverse effects on women’s subsequent risk of developing breast cancer.”

Of the total number of women analysed, 44,000 had a history of abortion before their breast cancer was diagnosed.

In these cases the figures showed no increased risk of breast cancer after abortion.