'No breast cancer-abortion link' BETHESDA, Md. -- At a government-sponsored workshop ending Wednesday, researchers concluded that scientific evidence does not support the notion that having an abortion increases a woman's risk of breast cancer later in life. A report on the workshop findings will be presented Monday to a panel of scientific advisers at the National Cancer Institute. If the panel approves the findings, the institute will review and update its materials. Until recently, the institute's Web site had said there was no evidence linking abortion and breast cancer. In late November, though, the institute revised its site to say the evidence is inconclusive. Critics charged that the Bush administration had given in to abortion opponents, many of whom argue that women considering an abortion should be told it will raise their breast cancer risk. At least three states already require that, and legislators in several others have proposed similar "right-to-know" laws. "The anti-choice activists have the ear of some people in the administration," says workshop participant Cynthia Pearson, executive director of the National Women's Health Network, based in Washington, D.C. True, some studies suggest a link and others don't. But most experts say studies that found a link were flawed. One reason: Breast cancer patients, eager for an explanation, would be more likely to report having had an abortion than healthy women in a comparison group. Scientists view a study of 1.5 million Danish women, published in 1997, as the last word on the subject because of its size and design. That study found no association. Mads Melbye, lead author of the Danish study, presented unpublished follow-up data at a workshop session that was closed to the press. [02/28/2003; USA Today] Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.