How interesting that the so-called cancer expert's message is that women need
to come for screening when any NORMAL person would say that the message is to
stop taking the pill or better yet - never start!
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Using Pill 'can double cancer risk'
HYPERLINK "http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-7063821,00.html"http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-7063821,00.html
Press Association
Friday November 9, 2007 10:28 AM
Women who use the contraceptive pill can double their risk of developing
cervical cancer, researchers have confirmed.
But the new study also shows that 10 years after ceasing to take the Pill the
cancer risk drops to normal levels.
Previous research has shown that the risk of cervical cancer rises with
increasing duration of oral contraceptive use.
This is confirmed by the new study, which shows that women who have been on the
Pill for five years or more are twice as likely to develop cancer as those who
have never used it.
For the first time, the latest research shows how long the effect persists after
use of oral contraceptives stops.
Dr Jane Green, from Oxford University, and colleagues wrote in The Lancet
medical journal: "The incidence of cervical cancer increases with age and so the
contribution of hormonal contraceptives to the lifetime incidence of cervical
cancer will depend largely on the effects at older ages, when most women are
past users."
They estimated that 10 years use of oral contraceptives from about the age of 20
to 30 increased the incidence of cervical cancer by age 50 from 3.8 to 4.5 per
1000 women in developed countries. In less developed countries, incidence rose
from 7.3 to 8.3 per 1000 women.
The authors pointed out that the contraceptive pill significantly reduced the
risk of ovarian cancer and cancer of the womb lining. This had to be taken
account when weighing up the dangers.
Cancer expert Professor Ciaran Woodman, from the University of Birmingham, said:
"This is an interesting and carefully conducted study which suggests an
increased risk of cervical cancer associated with the use of the contraceptive
pill. In the UK we are fortunate that we have a well organised screening
programme and that deaths from cervical cancer are still falling. The take-home
message should be that all women must come for screening when invited."
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2007, All Rights Reserved.