As with most things, for every article you find against something, I'll find you one supporting it but you seem to be perpetually SOS!
Should Nuns Take the Pill to Prevent Cancer?
If there’s one group of women who shouldn’t need to worry about birth control, it’s Catholic nuns, who have taken a vow of chastity to better serve the Church. But now researchers in Australia argue that these very women could benefit greatly from being on the pill, not for contraception, but for reasons of health.
Kara Britt at Monash University and Roger Short of the University of Melbourne, writing in the journal Lancet, argue that the scientific evidence is strong enough to consider whether nuns, who do not bear children — a lifestyle that puts them at higher risk of certain reproductive cancers — could be protected by taking the birth control pill. The Catholic Church, however, rejects any form of artificial contraception.
As early as 1713, an Italian physician noticed that nuns had a high incidence of that “accursed pest,” breast cancer. In the past century, researchers confirmed the observation with studies showing that nuns were more likely to die of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers than the general population. It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that a scientist figured out why — the fact that the nuns did not have children during their lifetimes meant that they had more menstrual cycles, and the increase in cycles led to a higher risk of reproductive cancers.
In the case of breast cancers, the hormonal changes of each cycle mean breast tissue is exposed to surges of hormones like estrogen, which can promote cell growth. In the case of ovarian tumors, the physical stress of ovulating once a month can damage tissues enough to prompt abnormal growths to emerge.
The birth control pill works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (without an egg to fertilize, pregnancy can’t occur). But by preventing ovulation, the pill may also protect the endometrium and ovaries from developing runaway growths that could lead to tumors. In two large studies published last year, says Britt, researchers showed that women who used the pill had a 12% lower overall risk of death during the studies’ follow-up period, compared with non-users. They also had a 60% lower risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers, and no increase in breast cancer risk. “The pill reduces the risk of these cancers to a point that’s similar to women who have children early,” says Britt. That means nuns can offset some of the health risks celibacy with a pill meant to curb fertility.
So how does the Catholic Church feel about the data? Britt notes that in the Humanae Vitae, which laid out the Church’s opposition to contraception, as explained by Pope Paul V in 1968, there was an allowance for the therapeutic use of agents that could cure disease, even if they had a contraceptive effect.
“The Church has never opposed using contraceptive medications when they are medically indicated,” said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in an email response to queries about the Lancet commentary. “The issue presented in the Lancet is a medical, not a moral one. … The chemicals found in birth control pills may have a valid medical use, for some conditions and some women. That doesn’t pose a fundamental moral problem if the drugs are not used for a contraceptive purpose.”
Of course, any decision to prescribe medications such as oral contraception to prevent certain cancers requires consideration of the whole patient, as well as the risks and benefits of the drug. “Considerations in making medical decisions obviously include weighing the risks associated with contraceptives, such as blood clots and stroke, against the likelihood of developing illnesses, such as ovarian and uterine cancer. To suggest the church dole out meds en masse to nuns sounds pretty primitive. Family history, lifestyle, the presence of other diseases, environmental factors, etc., all play a part in wellness. A nun’s decision needs to be worked out between the nun and her doctor,” said Walsh.
That’s a sound assessment, and one that Britt hopes is common throughout the Church, including at the highest levels of doctrinal authority. She is planning to present her data at an international conference, which happens to be in Rome, in coming weeks, and attendees are promised an audience with the Pope. She doesn’t know whether she will get an opportunity to broach the subject, but Britt is hopeful that somehow the Catholic Church and the Pope, will be made aware of the data supporting contraceptive use among nuns.
“I’m hoping [the Pope] will understand, and will consider relaxing the Church’s view on oral contraceptive use among nuns,” says Britt, noting that at least one former nun she consulted in Melbourne agreed and thought the Church would even support the use of birth control pills to treat menstrual disorders as well as endometrial and ovarian cancers.
From the Church’s perspective, however, a more ideal solution would be a treatment that protects the endometrium and ovaries without working as a contraceptive. But there’s no evidence to believe it can be accomplished without blocking ovulation, so for now, there’s only the pill. Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/08/should-nuns-take-the-pill-to-prevent-cancer/#ixzz1qMAn269q
About 12% of women develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year in the United States, about 192,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and about 68,000 women are diagnosed with pre-invasive breast cancer. (Although breast cancer in men is rare, about 2,000 American men are diagnosed each year with invasive breast cancer.)
About 40,000 American women die from breast cancer each year. Breast cancer death rates have declined significantly since the 1990s, especially for women younger than age 50. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the earlier the opportunity for treatment. In the United States, there are currently more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors.
Risk factors for breast cancer include:
Age
Most cases of breast cancer occur in women older than age 60. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 cases of invasive breast cancer are found in women younger than age 45, while 2 in 3 cases of invasive breast cancer occur in women age 55 and older.
Race and Ethnicity
Breast cancer is slightly more common among white woman than African-American, Asian, Latina, or Native American women. However, African-American women tend to have more aggressive types of breast cancer tumors and are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other races. It is unclear whether this is mainly due to biologic or socioeconomic reasons. Social and economic factors make it less likely that African-American women will be screened, so they are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage. They are also less likely to have access to effective treatments.
Breast cancer is also more prevalent among Jewish women of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) descent (see Genetic Factors, below).
Family and Personal History
Women who have a family history of breast cancer are at increased risk for developing breast cancer themselves. Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer doubles the risk for developing breast cancer.
Women who have had ovarian cancer are at increased risk for developing breast cancer. And, a personal history of breast cancer increases the risk of developing a new cancer in the same or other breast.
Genetic Factors
About 5 - 10% of breast cancer cases are due to inherited genetic mutations.
BRCA Genes. Inherited mutations in genes known as BRCA1 or BRCA2 are responsible for most cases of hereditary breast cancers, ovarian cancers, or both in families with a history of these cancers.
BRCA gene mutations are present in only about 0.5% of the overall population. However, certain ethnic groups -- such as Jewish women of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) descent -- have a higher prevalence (2.5%) of BRCA gene mutations. BRCA gene mutations are also seen in some African-American and Hispanic women.
Screening Guidelines for BRCA Genes. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women at high risk should be tested for BRCA genes, but does not recommend routine genetic counseling or testing in low-risk women (no family history of BRCA 1 or 2 genetic mutations). Risk assessment is based on a woman’s family history of breast and ovarian cancer (on both the maternal and paternal sides).
In general, a woman is considered at high risk for BRCA genes if she has a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, or sister) or several second-degree relatives (grandmother, aunt) diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. Women who do not have a family history of breast cancer have a low probability of inheriting BRCA genes and do not need to be tested.
The relevance of the inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations to survival is controversial. Some studies have suggested that these mutations are linked to less lethal breast cancer. Others suggest that they do not change prognosis or may worsen it. Women with these genetic mutations do have a greater risk for a new cancer to develop. Patients with BRCA1 mutations tend to develop tumors that are hormone receptor negative, which can behave more aggressively.
Other Genetic Mutations. Other genes associated with increased hereditary breast cancer risk include p53, CHEK2, ATM, and PTEN.
Exposure to Estrogen
Because growth of breast tissue is highly sensitive to estrogens, the more estrogen a woman is exposed to over her lifetime, the higher her risk for breast cancer.
Duration of Estrogen Exposure . Early age at menarche (first menstrual period) or later age at menopause may slightly increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
Pregnancy . Women who have never had children or who had their first child after age 30 may have a slightly increased breast cancer risk. Having children at an early age, and having multiple pregnancies, reduces breast cancer risk. Scientific evidence shows there is no association between abortion and increased breast cancer risk.
Studies have been mixed on whether breast-feeding decreases breast cancer risk. Breast-feeding reduces a woman's total number of menstrual cycles, and thereby estrogen exposure, which may account for its possible protective effects. Some studies suggest that the longer a woman breast-feeds, the lower her risk, and that breast-feeding may be most protective for women with a family history of breast cancer.
Birth Control Pills . Although studies have been conflicting about whether estrogen in oral contraceptives increase the chances for breast cancer, the most recent research indicates that current or former oral contraceptive use does not significantly increase breast cancer risk. Women who have used oral contraceptives may have slightly more risk for breast cancer than women who have never used them, but this risk declines once a woman stops using birth control pills.
Hormone Replacement Therapy . Many studies have reported a higher risk for breast cancer in postmenopausal women who take combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which contains both estrogen and progesterone. Combination HRT is used by women who have a uterus, because estrogen alone can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy is prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy.
According to the most recent studies, long-term use (about 5 years or more) of combination HRT increases the risk of developing and dying from breast cancer. This risk then decreases within 5 years of stopping combination HRT.
The North American Menopause Society recommends that women who are at risk for breast cancer should avoid hormone therapy and try other options to manage menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. Most doctors recommend that women use HRT only for short-term relief of menopausal symptoms. In recent years, rates of breast cancer have decreased as fewer women have opted for HRT.
Women who take HRT should be aware that they need regular mammogram screenings, because HRT increases breast cancer density, making mammograms more difficult to read.
Infertility and Infertility Treatments . Despite some concerns that infertility treatments using the drug clomiphene may increase the risk for breast cancer, most studies do not show an association. Some studies indicate that ovulation induction with clomiphene may actually decrease breast cancer risk. (Clomphine is related to tamoxifen, a drug that is used for breast cancer prevention in high-risk women.)
.........NOTICE the WORD SLIGHTLY and NOTICE that WHEN you stop taking Birth control pills EVEN that 'SLIGHTLY' risk .... completely goes away every year and is NOT applicable AFTER 5 years
.......You need to put things in perspective .. BCs & HRTs are NOT EVEN the top risks for breast cancer ... now WISE UP! .. and read
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