Breast Cancer / Abortion link inquiry

[helpthewolves]

I work a lot in women's health, particularly with abortion and pre natal care. I have heard the rumors about the breast cancer and abortion link, which were claimed as myths by the American Cancer Society and other national organizations.

I had an anti abortion activist explain the theory of the breast cancer link, and I was wondering if you could give me some insight into these claims. They explained the types of lobules and their development. That throughout the first trimester, the number of Type 1 and Type 2 lobules rapidly increase, resulting in the breast having more sites for cancer to start. In the second trimester, the lobules start maturing into Type 4 lobules, which are cancer resistant. By the end of the third trimester, 85% of the breast has fully matured. After birth and weaning, Type 4 lobules regress to Type 3, and they claim there is evidence of permanent changes in the genes of Type 3 lobules providing life long cancer resistance.

They then claimed that a premature delivery before 32 weeks doubles the risk of breast cancer because it leaves more places in the breast for cancer to start. They said abortion also stops the progression of breast lobule development and prevents the development of Type 4 and subsequently Type 3 cancer resistant lobules. When I asked about miscarriage, they said approximately 90% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester, but because pregnancy hormones are lower than those of a normal pregnancy due to fetal or ovariun abnormality. Therefore a breast might not have grown more Type 1 and Type 2 lobules (sites where cancer start) in response to pregnancy hormones, or at least very few.

I would just like a professional input so that I can more accurately answer questions my clients and patients may have.

[BJSaws]

     If I am reading your statements correctly, a woman who has given birth after the third trimester will have Type 4 lobules which will regress to Type 3 cancer-resistant lobules.  Is that what your source is saying?  If, indeed, that were the case, there would be no women on this forum who have had both full-term children and breast cancer.  I think there is a ton of anecdotal evidence that would show this not to be the case.  There are many women who have had full-term children, breast-fed those children, and still developed breast cancer.  This is just another example of groups trying to use scare tactics to force their views on others.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear helpthewolves:  I have not heard anything about types of lobules.  It is known that breasts do not fully mature (leaving cells that are susceptable to changes) until a woman has given birth.  This information gives rise to the fact that women who give birth before age 20 have a reduced risk or breast cancer and women who give birth after 30 or who never give birth at all have more risk than their counterparts with children.  In all women, there is a slightly higher risk of breast cancer immediately after birth and this returns to normal risk after a couple of years.  There is no evidence that abortion or miscarriage increase the risk of breast cancer.  Here is a link to the National Cancer Institute fact sheet.  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage.  Your best resources for information remain national organizations that have no vested interest in political matters and simply review data and report facts.