I have been going back and forth for quite awhile, now, on whether or not to post on this topic. However, an article I recently read has alarmed me enough to put aside my feelings and pass this on to all the women I know.
Due to moral reasons, Daniel and I stopped using the pill and switched to Natural Family Planning. Before a few months ago, I had no idea that this method could be just as effective as the pill, so I’d really encourage every woman to check out this book and website. But regardless of how you feel morally about this issue, the following information may be enough to convince you.
Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, a leading breast cancer surgeon, is attempting to blow the whistle on what looks like a political cover-up. She claims that the federal government and academic texts are denying a significantly increased risk of breast cancer due to oral contraceptives as well as abortions.
According to her article and other research that I did, it is a fact that the pill does increase the risk of breast cancer. That I knew. But I had no idea that the “small increased risk” is actually a 30% increase! On top of that, after you stop taking the pill, it takes 10 years for your level of risk to return to it what it was before!
Despite these scary stats, the National Cancer Institute stated that the benefits of the pill outweighed the risks. Estrogen, a major component, was labeled a carcinogen in 1999, but suspiciously enough, the pill itself didn’t make that list until 6 years later. Also, studies done in 2002 on both the pill and hormone replacement therapy (which also has estrogen) produced opposite results. Researchers thought that the birth control risk wasn’t significant, but that the hormone replacement therapy was too risky…and both treatments have estrogen as a main ingredient!
Stick with me; there’s more.
I had always heard that the abortion breast cancer link was a myth. It appears that this is a lie in itself. Put simply, there are 4 types of lobules in the breast. All women start out with Types 1 & 2, the ones highly susceptible to cancer. When a women gets pregnant, these multiply and turn into Type 3 at 32 weeks and then Type 4 after giving birth; both 3 & 4 are life-long cancer resistant. Premature delivery or abortion before 32 weeks actually increases the risk of breast cancer because there are more places (lobules) for breast cancer to start!
Can you imagine if we actually gave pregnant women this kind of information?! “Well, if you have an abortion you will increase your risk of breast cancer. But if you carry the baby to term, you will help prevent breast cancer.” It makes the “choice” of abortion look very different. Unfortunately, abortion is too political of an issue, especially when the founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation (breast cancer research and advocacy) is also a chairperson for Planned Parenthood! The pill is also a political issue. It is a major pharmaceutical money-maker so “free” birth control (Natural Family Planning) is not likely to be advertised.
Women should have the right to know these facts before giving consent to any type of birth control or medical procedure, especially when there are significant risks involved! Early screening for breast cancer is not enough when things can be done to help prevent its occurrence.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. In case you’d like to look up the hard facts on your own, I’ve linked all of my research above and have also included Dr. Lanfranchi’s article. If anything is unclear or if you have questions , I can do my best to answer them with the research that I’ve done. Your comments are welcomed.
12 comments:
Interesting info. I'm also on the NFP bandwagon. I don't really think that many people considering abortion would be using breast cancer risk as a factor in their decision making, but it's still good info to know.
I knew that having children and breastfeeding reduced the risk of breast cancer so, conversely, abortion increasing the risk makes sense. What is so enlightening and yet disheartening is that the founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation is also the chairperson for Planned Parenthood!!!! How sad that someone who knows the truth, and one would think would be the person to purport the truth, would actually be the person concealing it---and to the ultimate death of thousands of women! I am once again reminded of Isaiah 5: 20-21 "Woe unto them who call evil, good, and good, evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" Another sad truth uncovered. Thanks for your research Anu. I hope everyone on your email list is not afraid to share it.
Mom Briggs, this is definitely a sad situation where the truth is being hidden from those who need to know. Thank you for the spiritual insight.
Morgan, I'm glad you're a fan of NFP too!
I do think though that the breast cancer risk is an important factor in abortion. There is a huge increase in risk even in having an abortion at 30 weeks versus at 20 weeks. I personally am pro-life and against abortion, but as it is currently legal, this is info that someone considering an abortion needs to know.
My mom used natural methods for birth control and became pregnant with both my sister and me. According to her, she and most of her friends, (all of them being everything must be organic and natural type people) got pregnant while using natural family planning methods. There are always risks when you take any medication for an extended period of time. I would much rather ensure that I do not have a child before I am ready than worry about cancer because unfortunately even the air we breathe is carcinogenic these days. They have low estrogen birth control pills or pills like Yasmin. And like 5 years ago or something women facing menopause were told not to use the estrogen replacement therapy because it increases their risk of cancer.
Anu, I am proud of you that you decided to post this. As you know, I am a 'natural freak'. That combined with the dictates of God, makes all the more sense.
Risa, I’m actually really glad you mentioned this example, because I used to think along the same lines. There are actually many NFP methods, most of which don’t work too well because they’re based on faulty medical reasoning. After reading "Taking Charge of Your Fertility", I feel much more confident. The sympto-thermal method is 99% effective with perfect usage (like the pill). This effectiveness decreases if you don’t follow the directions perfectly (also like the pill). With a software program that does the charting for me, it’s really not so bad! I realize that we’re exposed to cancer-causing agents daily, but I don’t mind doing what I can to live a long, healthy life. There’s freedom in having another option.
Anu, Daniel told me about this post, so I hope you don't mind my comments!
GREAT post, first of all. Here is a bit more info:
*AT LEAST 27 out of 38 statistically significant medical studies reveal a DIRECT link between abortion and breast cancer
*In one of the best studies-- led by a pro-choice woman-- the statistics were astounding. In the age group under 18, those who aborted their first pregnancies AND had a family history of breast cancer ALL ended up having breast cancer. The scientists determined the risk "incalcuable" for that age group. Meaning: if you are under 18 and have a family history of breast cancer, you WILL have breast cancer later in life if you abort your first pregnancy.
*Many Catholic churches and leaders are "boycotting" Komen events and fundraising, because of this very issue. Komen actually donates to PP. Komen isn't truly into "awareness," or else it wouldn't be covering up the ABC (abortion-breast cancer) link.
Smith Family Blog, thank you for that great information! It's shocking how such well-established research is still so unknown to most.
From another Blackstone Fellow:
This is not just a woman's issue. Men should know the effects contraceptives have on the women they love. The effects are not just medical, but also physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.
Certainly some natural methods are more effective than others. NFP is not the "rhythm method" nor is it the "calendar method" that your grandmothers were using when they conceived your parents. NFP is more effective because it is based on daily monitoring of biological signs in the female body.
My wife and I have been married for two years and have been very grateful to those who shared information about NFP with us before we were married. We are using NFP to avoid pregnancy until we are both done with school, but if we're blessed with a child before then, so be it! NFP is also helpful to people who are actively trying to have a child. It's been a great blessing for us to have a mutual understanding of these matters from Day 1 of our marriage.
Anon, you're absolutely right; this is not just a woman's issue. Any husband who loves his wife should be very interested in this information.
Though Anu and I did not know enough to go with NFP from Day 1 of our marriage, we are so glad to be able to do so now. As you note, NFP seems to be the right thing to do -- morally, physically, psychologically, and spiritually.
-Daniel
Anu, thanks for sending and posting the article link. This is very interesting and important information for every woman!
Thank you for putting up all this information! It is a post I will come back to in the future.
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