11.10.2004
Women Wrongly Warned Cancer, Abortion Tied (Yahoo!--AP)
By LAURA MECKLER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - In several states, women considering abortion are given government-issued brochures warning that the procedure could increase their chance of developing breast cancer, despite scientific findings to the contrary.
More than a year ago, a panel of scientists convened by the National Cancer Institute (news - web sites) reviewed available data and concluded there is no link. A scientific review in the Lancet, a British medical journal, came to the same conclusion, questioning the methodology in studies that suggested a link.
The cancer information is distributed to women during mandatory waiting periods before abortions. In some cases, the information is on the states' Web sites.
"We're going to continue to educate the public about this," said Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (news - web sites), an anti-abortion group. She dismissed the National Cancer Institute's findings as politically motivated and maintained that the link has been scientifically proven.
(More ... Women Wrongly Warned Cancer, Abortion Tied | Yahoo! News | AP) ¶ 20:33
WASHINGTON - In several states, women considering abortion are given government-issued brochures warning that the procedure could increase their chance of developing breast cancer, despite scientific findings to the contrary.
More than a year ago, a panel of scientists convened by the National Cancer Institute (news - web sites) reviewed available data and concluded there is no link. A scientific review in the Lancet, a British medical journal, came to the same conclusion, questioning the methodology in studies that suggested a link.
The cancer information is distributed to women during mandatory waiting periods before abortions. In some cases, the information is on the states' Web sites.
"We're going to continue to educate the public about this," said Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (news - web sites), an anti-abortion group. She dismissed the National Cancer Institute's findings as politically motivated and maintained that the link has been scientifically proven.
(More ... Women Wrongly Warned Cancer, Abortion Tied | Yahoo! News | AP) ¶ 20:33
