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Santorum Suggests Abortion Causes Breast Cancer

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Sunday suggested that Susan G. Komen for the Cure shouldn't provide grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings because abortions cause breast cancer, a false claim that has been

the institute's website said. "These newer studies examined large numbers of women, collected data before breast cancer was found, and gathered medical history information from medical records rather than simply from self-reports, thereby generating more reliable findings. The newer studies consistently showed no association between induced and spontaneous abortions and breast cancer risk."

In 2002, the Bush administration temporarily altered NCI's website to say that scientific evidence supported a possible link between abortion and breast cancer. After an outcry from the scientific community, NCI corrected its website with an accurate fact sheet.

A study released by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) in 2006 found that the Bush administration also used pregnancy resource centers -- commonly known as “crisis pregnancy centers” -- to falsely inform pregnant teens that the risk of breast cancer increased by 80 percent after an abortion.

"This tactic may be effective in frightening pregnant teenagers and women and discouraging abortion," the study concluded (PDF). "But it denies the teenagers and women vital health information, prevents them from making an informed decision, and is not an accepted public health practice."

Ironically, there are several substantial studies that link breast cancer to BPA, which Komen has ignored in pursuit of corporate donations (and the merchandising income of their pink ribbon water bottles). However, neither Chris Wallace nor Rick Santorum appears to be concerned with actual science over debunked politically-driven pseudo-science.

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