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Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk

Peer Review Status: Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Information Service
First Published: February 2002
Last Revised: April 2003

Is abortion a risk factor for breast cancer? The theoretical basis for linking these two issues arose from research into new growth of breast cells. In breast tissue, hormonal factors influence new cellular growth. It is known during the first trimester of pregnancy there are a great deal of new breast cells produced, which could mean some of the rapidly dividing cells remain after a pregnancy is terminated. Theoretically this could influence the woman's subsequent risk of breast cancer. When a pregnancy goes to full term, breast cells stop their rapid growth in late pregnancy which may explain the protective effect of the first full term pregnancy on breast cancer risk.

Several studies found increased breast cancer risk after induced abortion in women whose only pregnancy was terminated by abortion. There have been just as many studies that demonstrated no increased risk of breast cancer after induced abortion. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) say they cannot be sure that there is a direct or causal relationship between abortion and breast cancer.

The most common risk factors for breast cancer are:

  • Increasing age
  • Family history of breast cancer
  • Early age at menarche
  • Late age at menopause
  • Late age at the birth of first child
  • Obesity

How can you prevent breast cancer?

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat more vegetables
  • Cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink

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Last modification date: Mon Aug 7 13:09:56 2006
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