British Journal of Cancer: Legal Abortions Are "Best Predictor of British Breast Cancer Trends" 7/2/2004
From: Karen Malec of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, 877-803-0102, http://www.AbortionBreastCancer.com PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill., July 2 -- The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer notes a report in the British Journal of Cancer (BJC) concerning a presentation in Manchester on "Trends and Risk Factors in English Breast Cancer." It shows that legally induced abortion is the best predictor of British breast cancer trends. (1) The author, Patrick Carroll, director of research at the London based Pension and Population Research Institute, presented his findings this week at the British Cancer Research Meeting 2004 in Manchester. The presentation included three graphs showing disease trends for birth cohorts of English women and corresponding incidence of breast cancer within ages 50 to 54. Graph No. 1 shows that incidence and mortality rates climb with social class, unlike other cancers where the lower social classes show the higher incidence. This reverse gradient is becoming steeper. Graph No. 2 demonstrates that the incidence of breast cancer among all English women in successive birth cohorts is correlated with the parallel abortion rate. Graph No. 3 reveals that the increasing incidence of nulliparous abortions -- abortions before first full term pregnancy (FFTP) -- among women passing age 50 implies a further increase in cancer incidence and an increase among upper class women who have more nulliparous abortions. Abortions before FFTP are more common among upper class women, resulting in a higher risk. Carroll said fertility was a useful predictor of breast cancer trends, but other recognized risk factors by themselves don't explain British trends as well as nulliparous abortion does. Carroll's research is free of "recall bias," a hypothetical problem used by some scientists to disparage the abortion-breast cancer (ABC) link. Despite evidence that recall bias is non- existent (2-7), proponents argue that breast cancer patients are more likely to accurately report their abortions than are healthy women. Carroll used national data reporting breast cancers and abortions in England and Wales. England & Wales are unusual in having good registration of breast cancers and legal abortions. Nearly all are captured by official statistics. Carroll says nulliparous abortions are "highly carcinogenic." Researchers have found that only one mechanism matures breast tissue into cancer-resistant tissue -- a third trimester process in pregnancy called "differentiation." (8,9,10) Carroll's earlier research gave forecasts for the increased numbers of English breast cancers anticipated in future years using mathematical models where abortion and fertility were the explanatory variables. (11) "Women are dying because scientists have covered up evidence of an abortion-breast cancer link for 47 years, said Karen Malec, president of the coalition. "It's time to tell women the truth." The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is an international women's organization founded to protect the health and save the lives of women by educating and providing information on abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer. References can be found on the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer webpage with this press release at: http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/press_releases/040702/index.htm |