New fact sheet on abortion, breast cancer posted online

The National Cancer Institute posted a revised fact sheet on its Web site Friday denying a link between abortion and an increased risk of breast cancer, reversing a decision made in November under pressure from the Bush administration to post a fact sheet suggesting that there might be a link between the two, USA Today reports. The fact sheet that had been online for several months claimed that current research was inconclusive regarding the connection between abortion and breast cancer, a move some abortion rights activists said was meant to frighten women away from abortion services. However, an NCI panel reviewed four new studies earlier this month and concluded there is no link between the two. The fact sheet was revised to reflect the results of the new research. The revised fact sheet now lists age, family history, early age at first menstrual period, menopause at a late age, late age at time of birth of first full-term infant, obesity in postmenopausal women, and "certain breast conditions" as risk factors for breast cancer.