Contact: Karen Malec, Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, 847-421-4000

MEDIA ADVISORY, March 31 /Christian Newswire/ -- A spokesperson for the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer announced today that the group agrees with a decision made by the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana to discourage support for the cancer group, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. [1]  The Coalition supports the diocese's decision and applauds the courage of its officials.

"First, Komen does not tell women the truth that abortion increases breast cancer risk in three ways," asserted Karen Malec, the Coalition's president.

i) By delaying a first full term pregnancy (a risk recognized by all experts) the woman loses her chance to mature 85% of her cancer-susceptible breast lobules into fully cancer-resistant lobules at a younger age.  Full maturation of the lobules is a process that takes place throughout the last months of full term pregnancy.

ii) Almost all of the childless woman's breast lobules are cancer-susceptible Type 1 and 2 lobules.  Up to 95% of all breast cancers arise in these lobules.  In a normal pregnancy, the breasts grow under the influence of an increased level of estrogen (a hormone and a cancer-causing agent), thereby causing the lobules to multiply.  The woman (who aborts before lobule maturation is completed) is left with more places in her breasts for cancers to start.

iii) The Institute of Medicine lists abortion as a risk factor for premature birth. [2]  Research shows that premature birth before 32 weeks gestation increases the mother's breast cancer risk. [3,4,5,6] The biological reasons are the same as for the abortion-breast cancer link.  Through the abortion-premature birth link, the woman is left with more places in her breasts for cancers to start.

In late October, an article in the National Catholic Register by Susan Wills of the USCCB charged that cancer groups have kept women in the dark about the risk of breast cancer due to hormonal contraceptive use and abortion. [2]  Similar accusations have been made in other medical journals. [3,4,5,6]

The Diocese's decision is in line with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) 2007-2008 Respect Life Program, which includes an article explaining how abortion increases breast cancer risk and offering reasons why the evidence has been suppressed. [7] 

Mrs. Malec said, "Komen perpetuates the breast cancer epidemic by giving funds to Planned Parenthood.  As a seller of hormonal contraceptives and abortions, Planned Parenthood is the primary cause of the breast cancer epidemic."

Although the funds are supposedly intended for breast cancer screenings, Komen has no way of ensuring that the funds are used exclusively for that purpose, instead of its cancer-causing activities.

"Planned Parenthood's personnel have no respect for human life," added Mrs. Malec.  "What would cause people, who don't care about children's lives, to care if women die of breast cancer? 

"We encourage Komen to end its love affair with Planned Parenthood and give funds for breast cancer screenings to legitimate health care organizations that will use the money for its intended purpose.  We also call upon Komen to tell women the truth that abortion increases breast cancer risk."

The third reason for the withdrawal of diocesan support for Komen is its endorsement of experiments on embryonic humans.

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer is an international women's organization founded to protect the health and save the lives of women by educating and providing information on abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer.

References are available online