No definitive cause for breast cancer

In response to Karen Malec's July 6 Fence Post letter, I am writing to remind her and all women (and men) that there is no known cause of breast cancer. To suggest that abortion causes breast cancer is untrue.

As an 18-year survivor of breast cancer, who has never had an abortion, I can assure you that I have struggled to find the cause of this dreadful disease. Despite years of careful research and study, and many advances in detection and treatment, there is simply no known direct cause of breast cancer.

Until there is absolutely confirmed evidence of a cause, no one can say with certainty what causes breast cancer. Until we do have a definite cause, please do not scare women with information that is simply not proven to be true.

While the intentions of Ms. Malec may be noble, misinformation from either side of a heated debate does little to further women's health - a goal everyone should support.

Suzanne Coughlin

Oak Brook