I'm writing in response to letters from Cheryl Manning (10/23) and Fran Hemmer (10/25) concerning the search for a link between abortion and breast cancer. In February 2003, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a workshop of over 100 of the world's leading experts who study pregnancy and breast cancer risk. Workshop participants reviewed existing population-based, clinical and animal studies on the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer risk, including studies of induced and spontaneous abortions. They concluded that having an abortion or miscarriage does not increase a woman's subsequent risk of developing breast cancer. A summary of their finding, titled "Summary Report: Early Reproductive Events and Breast Cancer Workshop," can be found at http://cancer.gov/cancerinfo/ere-workshop-report.
We are all frustrated that the cause of breast cancer has not been found. But we must not be tempted to jump on data that seems to show a connection to something we want to label as a culprit. I would love to know why I have breast cancer. After listening to many top researchers at four national breast cancer symposiums, I have discovered that we are far from knowing the answer because of the difficulty of studying the environmental component. That's why the recently announced major government grant to University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to study the environmental link in breast cancer is a great step forward.
Sara Paxton
Breast Cancer Survivor
Wyoming
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