Women who have had an abortion are up to twice as likely to suffer from breast cancer, scientists claimed yesterday.
In the first study of its kind in Britain, researchers said the risk of breast cancer is significantly increased if a woman has undergone a termination of pregnancy.
The study, which looked at breast cancer and abortion rates in Britain, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, draws a direct link between rising cases of breast cancer and an increase in abortion since it was legalised.
The research, by the Populations and Pensions Research Institution, an independent group of statisticians, suggests that up to 50 per cent of breast cancer cases in England and Wales over the next 26 years will be "attributable to abortion".
Researcher and author Patrick Carroll said the total number of breast cancer cases is expected to more than double from 35,110 in 1997 to 77,000 in 2023.
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