Link Between Birth Control and Higher Breast Cancer Risk?

MeghanMc

I read your article, "Is There a Link Between Birth Control Pills and Higher Breast Cancer Risk?" on the August 1st study, and I am concerned about a very important misquote in your piece. The article claims that, "the reports only talked about birth control pills increasing risk and didn’t explain that it was only high-dose estrogen birth control pills," and this is simply incorrect. The research center that released the study, Fred Hutchinson, clarifies that a moderate dose, which as you cited is 78% of birth control users, actually has a risk 1.6 times that of women not on contraception, which is a 160% increase. Granted, I realize that there is still a lot to be confirmed before taking any drastic measures, but should there not be a push to get more women to move to the low-dose contraceptives? 

Moderators

BCO'S Article does state "A study looked at whether recent use of birth control pills is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in women ages 20 to 49. The results found that using high-dose estrogen birth control pills in the previous year was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in these younger women, but using birth control pills with a low dose of estrogen (the type of birth control pills that many women take) WAS NOT linked to a higher risk of breast cancer."

BCO has been tracking research and reporting upon findings in this topic for many years to provide BCO readers with the details so they can make their own decision. This can be seen in some of the articles on BCO such as:

September 2008: Fertility and Pregnancy: Birth control pill increases ...Sep 17, 2012 ... Overall, since birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer it may ...Birth Control Pills Don't Affect Survival - Breastcancer.orgOct 12, 2007 ... Most, but not all, research has found that using modern birth control pills doesn't increase breast cancer risk.Birth Control Pills May Increase Breast Cancer Risk a LittleNov 7, 2006 ... A study combined the results of many different earlier studies looking at breast cancer risk and birth control pills. Alternatives to the Pill « Think Pink Live Green ColumnApr 23, 2014 ... The need for safe, effective birth control is shared by many women around the world. Do birth control pills increase risk? - Breastcancer.orgSep 17, 2012 ... breast cancer medical expert advice on the possibility of an increase in risk for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer caused by birth control ...Birth Control After Treatment

Jan 26, 2014 ... It's generally thought that birth control pills are considered unsafe for premenopausal women with a personal history of breast cancer.

-------- We hope you understand that BCO is concernedv regarding this issue and reports reputable articles as they are released.

The Mods