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Quick Fact: Dr. Limbaugh promotes false notion that abortion is linked to breast cancer

November 19, 2009 4:56 pm ET — 7 Comments

On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh told a caller that "there are studies that say abortions increase the chances of breast cancer." In fact, the American Cancer Society says that "research studies have not found a cause-and-effect relationship between abortion and breast cancer," and the National Cancer Institute states that it found that "having an abortion or miscarriage does not increase a woman's subsequent risk of developing breast cancer."

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From the November 19 broadcast of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:

CALLER: You did a story awhile back on women that take the birth control pill. I don't, because of the high risk of breast cancer in my family. Now they want to take away my mammogram, but I want you to know what kind of woman I am. I like a manly man. I've never taken the pill in my life. Do you remember that story?

LIMBAUGH: Fr-- the last time you called?

CALLER: No, no, no. The birth control --

LIMBAUGH: Oh, you mean the news story -- oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. The birth-- not only birth control, but there are studies that say abortions increase the chances of breast cancer, as well.

CALLER: Right, right.

Fact: American Cancer Society and Nation Cancer Institute say abortions do not increase the risk of breast cancer

On a page titled "Is Abortion Linked to Breast Cancer?" the American Cancer Society's website states that "research studies have not found a cause-and-effect relationship between abortion and breast cancer." Similarly, the website of the National Cancer Institute, Cancer.gov, states on a page titled "Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk":

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 findings, titled Summary Report: Early Reproductive Events and Breast Cancer Workshop, can be found at http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/ere-workshop-report.

— T.G.
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    • Author by DAWUSS (November 19, 2009 5:04 pm ET)
        2
      Make that conflicting report #3 on abortion and breast cancer that I've heard. The first was abortions reduce the risk of breast cancer, the second was what Limbaugh promoted, and the third is what Media Matters promoted...
      Report Abuse
      • Author by LarryE (November 19, 2009 5:31 pm ET)
        2  
        Perhaps so. But given the choice between Limbaugh "remember[ing]" a news story on the one hand and the judgment of the ACS and the work of the NCI on the other. I'll take the latter.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by ScienceBuff (November 19, 2009 7:12 pm ET)
        2 1
        It's now been studied in depth. There is no detectable connection. The scientific debate is over and all that remains is the political debate of people who dearly want there to be a link.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Sonick (November 19, 2009 6:03 pm ET)
      3  
      How about the report titled "Induced abortion does not increase breast cancer risk", from the World Health Organization? Check it out: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs240/en/index.html



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    • Author by wesley (November 20, 2009 8:05 am ET)
        1
      -- there are studies that say abortions increase the chances of breast cancer -- Limbaugh

      The statement is absolutely correct...just google up breast cancer and abortion and the first entry you find is:

      -- As of 2006, eight medical organizations recognize that abortion raises a woman's risk for breast cancer --

      You can debate the validity of those studies...but you cannot debate the fact that they are out there...making Limbaugh's statement 100% correct.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bintx (November 20, 2009 10:12 am ET)
           
        Yeah, and there's reports out there that George W. Bush was involved in the attacks of 9/11, too. Are you going to say that people who cite those reports are 100% correct?
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        • Author by wesley (November 20, 2009 2:53 pm ET)
             
          (braille tag on) You can debate the validity of those studies (braille tag off)

          (braille tag on) but you cannot debate the fact that they are out there (braille tag off)

          Please try to keep up.

          Report Abuse

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