Maryland Right to Life, Inc.

420 Chinquapin Round Rd. Suite 2-I

Annapolis, MD 21401

Phones: (410) 269-6397
             (301) 858-8304

 

 

 

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Abortion and Breast Cancer — Is There a Link?

 

 

Note: Susan B. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as the Susan B. Komen Foundation, raises millions each year for breast cancer research. However, because of the Foundation's ties to Planned Parenthood, MDRTL does not advocate supporting this Foundation. To learn more about the SBK/PP link, please click here.

Abortion advocates generally deny that there is an increased risk of breast cancer for women who have had an induced abortion. However, there is a great deal of evidence that suggests that there is indeed a link between induced abortion and increased breast cancer risk.

The abortion-breast cancer link has become greatly politicized   — in a word, it is not politically correct to suggest that abortion can increase the risk of breast cancer. Meanwhile, breast cancer has become become endemic in America and Europe, and more and more young women are being affected.

The abortion–breast cancer link has been known since at least 1986, when government scientists in Great Britain wrote a letter to the British medical journal Lancet acknowledging, “Induced abortion before first term pregnancy inreases the risk of breast cancer.”

By 2006, eight medical organizations had recognized that abortion raises a woman's risk for breast cancer. In addition, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) issued a statement in 2003 calling on doctors to inform patients about a “highly plausible” relationship between abortion and breast cancer. General counsel for the AAPS wrote an article for its journal warning doctors that three women had successfully sued their abortion providers for neglecting to disclose the risks of breast cancer and emotion harm, although none of the women had actually developed breast cancer. 

To view this information, choose the link below.

Breast Cancer Causes Explained

Susan G. Komen For the Cure: The Planned Parenthood Connection

In June, the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis issued a well-documented position statement on Susan G. Komen for the Cure. MDRTL is grateful for their research and presents below a revised version of this information for the benefit of those who need to know more about funding for breast cancer research. To read the original document, click here.

Maryland Right to Life acknowledges the beneficial work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in the area of breast cancer detection, prevention, research and treatment. Due to its policy allowing affiliates to offer financial support to abortion providing facilities, its denial of studies showing abortion as a cause of breast cancer, and its endorsement of embryonic stem cell research, MDRTL neither supports nor encourages participation in activities that benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This position is based on the following facts:

1) Public records indicate that Susan G. Komen for the Cure (“Komen”) affiliates (Maryland is not among them) provided grants to local Planned Parenthood chapters for breast health care services as recently as 2009.1

Though Komen’s grants were for breast health care services, Planned Parenthood (the largest single abortion provider in the country) stated in its 2007-2008 annual report that 31,729 fewer breast exams and 15,560 more abortions were provided in 2007 than in 2006.2

Donors cannot control how an organization designates its funds. Therefore, money donated for a specific service, i.e. breast health care, directly frees up funds to support other areas of an organization’s agenda, i.e. contraception services, “safe” sex education and abortion services.

2) The Komen website dismisses the link between procured abortion and increased risk of breast cancer.3 However, multiple studies invalidate a dismissal of the link. Recent studies include those of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center4, Joel Brind, Ph.D., a professor of Endocrinology and founder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute5, and the work of Dr. Janet Daling, a leading cancer epidemiologist. Daling, a pro-choice advocate, said, “I would have loved to have found no association between breast cancer and abortion, but our research is rock solid, and our data is accurate. It’s not a matter of believing, it’s a matter of what is.”6 As part of a comprehensive search for a cure, we encourage Komen to either fund further studies on the link between breast cancer and abortion, or avoid prematurely denying any possibility of a connection.

3) Komen endorses embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of embryonic human life, stating that, “embryonic stem cells are currently considered to have the most potential for use in the regeneration of diseased or injured tissues” for cancer stem cell research.7 The destruction of human life at any stage of development is never morally acceptable. Embryonic stem cell research is also unnecessary since adult stem cell research has a proven record of cures and treatments.

Based on these documented facts, Maryland Right to Life (MDRTL) does not endorse Susan G. Komen for the Cure and encourages you to contact Susan G. Komen for the Cure (5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250 ▪ Dallas, TX 75244) and call for an end to all associations between Komen affiliates and Planned Parenthood, for support of further studies on the link between breast cancer and abortion, and for an end to the endorsement of research that leads to the destruction of any human life. Our hope is that the Komen Foundation will focus all funds on research to find causes and cures for breast cancer and refuse to give financial or other support to any abortion provider or organization that promotes the destruction of human life.

Our heart goes out to the patients and families who are victims of this terrible illness, and we encourage all to support those who are suffering or in need. We believe the organizations listed here support morally licit breast cancer research and prevention. However,, we encourage you to obtain the most current information possible before offering your support.

Notes:

1 Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Research and Grants. Retrieved Dec. 14, 2010 from http://ww5.komen.org/GrantDescription.aspx?CID=29029, and
http://ww5.komen.org/FindAGrantResults.aspx?location=&keywords=planned.

2 Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (2007). 2007-2008 Annual Report (677 KB PDF file). Retrieved Dec. 14, 2010. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/AR08_vFinal.pdf

3 Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Understanding Breast Cancer, See “Factors Not Related to Breast Cancer.” Retrieved Dec. 14, 2010 from http://ww5.komen.org/breastcancer/researchtabletopics.html#riskfactors

4 Dolle, Jessica et al. “Risk Factors for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Women Under the Age of 45 Years.” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers, April 2009. Retrieved Dec. 14, 2010 from http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/18/4/1157.full.pdf+html

5 Breast Cancer Prevention Institute. Online Brochure. Retrieved Dec. 14, 2010 from http://www.bcpinstitute.org/brochure.htm

6 Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer. “The Cover Up.” Retrieved Dec. 14, 2010 from http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/coverup3.htm

7 “Cancer Stem Cell Research Shows Promise (855.41 Kb file).” Frontline: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Newsletter. (Fall 2006). Retrieved 29 March 2007 from website http://ww5.komen.org/News.aspx

Breast Cancer Resources

Bioethics Defense Fund
6811 E. Voltaire Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Phone: 480-483-3597

National Breast Cancer Foundation
2600 Network Blvd., Suite 300
Frisco, Texas 75034

Breast Cancer Prevention Institute
30 Rehill Ave., Suite 3400
Somerville, NJ 08876
Phone: 1-866-622-6237

Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
P.O. Box 957133
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195
Phone: 1-877-803-0102

Support Breast Cancer Prevention and Education
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Breast Cancer Prevention Institute
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer

 

Maryland Right to Life • 420 Chinquapin Round Rd., Suite 2-I • Annapolis, MD 21401 • 410-269-6397 • 301-858-8304• www.mdrtl.org