Time to read the newest version of the GRTL e-newsletter.
by Hannah Carter, Director of Education
October 16, 2009
With every season comes a new array of colors. While fall brings about shades of red and orange, during the month of October pink becomes the in vogue color: yogurt, hair, clothing,cupcakes and even NFL football players’ shoes suddenly emerge in all shades of pink. While this effort to raise awareness about breast cancer is a notable cause, Susan G. Komen and the American Cancer Society shortchange women when they choose not to tell women about one of the greatest risk factors for breast cancer: Abortion.
What happens to the breasts during a pregnancy?
Estrogen is a carcinogen (a cancer causing agent )which is one of the hormones the female body produces. During the first trimester of her pregnancy, her body begins to produce estrogen 2000% higher than what she normally would. Her immature breast cells are being developed and prepared to be able to feed the baby.[i] As the pregnancy continues, the estrogen production goes down, and the breasts are maturing. In the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, other hormones transform these immature breast cells into milk-producing cells. Once the cells have been differentiated in the last 8 weeks of pregnancy, the woman’s breasts are now less susceptible to cancer.
What happens during an abortion?
However, when a woman chooses to stop that natural process through abortion, the breasts do not get to fully develop into a mature state. Those breast cells are left in an immature state and are more susceptible to cancer. The estrogen that was meant to take care of the developing baby now has no purpose. The body did not send a signal to stop the estrogen production and continues to produce it at a high level. The excess estrogen can cause abnormal cells to grow thus making her more susceptible to cancer.
What about a miscarriage?
During a miscarriage, the body signals to the mother that she is going to lose the baby even before she is aware of it. She does not produce as much estrogen as a normal pregnant mother would. Studies have shown consistently that most miscarriages, at least first trimester miscarriages do not lead to an increase risk of breast cancer.[ii] (90% of miscarriages take place in the 1st trimester.)
Is there any support for the Abortion Breast Cancer Link?
Dr. Joel Brind professor of biology and endocrinology at Baruch College of the City University of New York compiled almost every cancer-risk study taken since 1957. His conclusion: breast cancer risk is 30 percent higher for women who have had induced abortions.[iii]
Over 40 world-wide studies have been completed to date, and 27 of those studies show a link between abortion and an increased risk for breast cancer.[iv] Yet, the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen foundation refuse to recognize the link between abortion and breast cancer. And not only does Komen refuse to recognize it, they openly say that no such link exists. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that politics and money have trumped the well being of society. In the 1920s the link between tobacco and lung cancer was published. However, political pressure from the tobacco lobby kept groups like the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Medical Association from acknowledging the link. It was not until the 1960s that the tobacco and lung cancer link was recognized.
Today, the same game is being played. Groups like the Susan G. Komen foundation and the American Cancer Society choose political correctness over scientific truth. Sadly, while this game is being played, 1.3 million women have an abortion every year in the United States and very few of them are told about the link between abortion and breast cancer. So this month as you see all the pink proudly displayed, take another step to tell women about the truth of the link between abortion and breast cancer.
For more information on the link between abortion and breast cancer:
Watch this video clip about a woman who suffered from breast cancer after having an abortion. http://www.facinglife.tv/episode/season_1/episode_1/episode_1.html
Learn more about Susan G. Komen in this Documentary: Komen’s Dark Side
[ii] Brin J. Chinchiili VM, Severs WB, Summy-Long J. (1996), Induced Abortion as an Independent Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis, J Epidemiol Community Health 50:481-496.
[iv] Lanfranchi, Dr. Angela. The Science, Studies and Sociology of the Abortion Breast Cancer Link. The Research Bulletin. 2005.