§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the findings of Patrick Carroll of the Pension and Population Research Institute that "the main cause of the fast increase in post-menopausal breast cancer since the late 1980s can only be the increased availability of induced abortion"; and [HL1892]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 November (WA 25), whether they regard it as satisfactory that the forthcoming Imperial Cancer Research Fund report on the link between abortion and breast cancer should be the first such study undertaken in the United Kingdom, whereas in the United States there have been 15 studies on breast cancer and reproductive history since 1982. [HL1891]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere are many factors that could increase the numbers of woman diagnosed with breast cancer, for example, developments in breast screening, women living longer, more women being obese, along with women having fewer children and later on in life. The study by Patrick Carroll does not provide evidence of a causal link between abortion and breast cancer, and the Royal College of Obstetricians' view, published in its evidence-based guideline on induced abortion, is that the potential link is unproven.
The evidence on the possible link between abortion and breast cancer is conflicting and at least some of the studies carried out are methodologically flawed. The Imperial Cancer Research Fund's work will evaluate the international evidence and its report should clarify the situation.