Abortion-cancer link is highly doubtful

As usual, pro-lifers and pro-choicers promote different beliefs about a possible abortion-breast cancer (ABC) linkage.

Most pro-life groups assert that an ABC link exists, or in other words, that if a woman has an abortion, her chance of contracting breast cancer increases. They rely primarily on the results of case-control studies that are known to be heavily biased and unreliable.

Most pro-choice groups state that an ABC link either does not exist or is unproven. They rely primarily on cohort studies that are known to be much more reliable and accurate.

Most anti-cancer health-promotion groups believe that an ABC link has not been proven to exist. The best studies, cohort studies, all report no link, at least for the 90 percent of abortions that are performed during the first trimester. One Danish study reported in 1997 found that a link might possibly exist for very late-term abortions; however, the conclusion is not statistically significant. A much larger subsequent worldwide meta-study confirmed that no ABC link exists.

Nancy Dukewich, R.N.

Arlington Heights