Contraceptive pill reduces the risk of cancer for women, says report

TAKING the pill does not increase a woman's chances of developing cancer - and actually appears to reduce the risk, researchers said yesterday.

Previous studies have linked the contraceptive to a higher risk of breast and cervical cancer.

But a new analysis of 46,000 women by Aberdeen University found that taking the pill did not lead to an increased risk of cancer during a woman's lifetime.

In fact, it appeared to cut the risk of all cancers by up to 12 per cent, according to the study in the British Medical Journal.

The researchers, led by Professor Philip Hannaford, said the findings should be reassuring to women who were using oral contraceptives.

However, they said the risks of cancer were greater in women who took the pill for longer than eight years.

The new research used data from the Royal College of GPs' Oral Contraception Study, which followed the women for 36 years. Half were using oral contraceptives and half had never used the pill.

The women's health was monitored, taking into account factors such as age, smoking and social class, and cases of cancer were recorded.

Overall, there was a 12 per cent reduction in the risk of cancer among pill-users. This would mean one less case of cancer for every 2,200 women who have used the pill.

Prof Hannaford said the research should be a comfort to women. "My message for women is that if you want to use the pill for contraceptive reasons, then go ahead. It will not increase your lifetime risk of developing cancer," he said.

"If you want to use it for longer than eight years, then the risk increases slightly but that does not mean they have to stop using it. It just means that women should make sure they attend for cervical screening. But I think the pill should be used for contraceptive purposes, and not to prevent cancer."

Maria Leadbeater, a nurse specialist at the charity Breast Cancer Care Nurse, said the findings would be welcomed by the thousands of women across the UK.

"From talking to women on our helpline we know the anxiety that concerns over the pill can cause. This research will be a great reassurance to them."

Toni Belfield, from the Family Planning Association, said: "This study adds to the evidence that as well as providing a safe and effective form of contraception, the contraceptive pill can help protect against the risk of different types of cancer.

"The study further confirms that for the majority the benefits far outweigh any risks."

In the UK an estimated three million women use the pill each year.

BREAST IS BEST CLAIM QUERIED

BREASTFEEDING does not protect children against developing asthma or allergies, a study revealed yesterday.

A trial involving almost 14,000 children found no evidence of a protective effect among youngsters who were breastfed.

Previous studies have shown breastfeeding helps to boost a baby's immune system and can help protect against respiratory infections.

There has also been debate over the past 70 years about whether breastfeeding can protect against allergies, with conflicting results from a variety of studies.

The latest research in Canada followed the children until they were six-and-a-half years old, with tests carried out to see if there was any sign of asthma or allergies.

The researchers, led by Dr Michael Kramer from the Montreal Children's Hospital, found no evidence of a drop in asthma, hay fever or eczema among the children of mothers who were supported to breastfeed for longer.

The researchers said public-health measures to increase breastfeeding seemed unlikely to have had a major impact on reducing the level of hereditary conditions such as asthma or eczema.

They said: "Our results underline the importance of seeking other explanations for the recent epidemic of allergy and asthma."

Dr Geoff Lawson, policy officer at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said breastfeeding had many other beneficial effects.

"There is absolute evidence that breastfeeding reduces rates of stomach infections in babies," he said. "It can also reduce the risk of respiratory infections. There is strong research showing breast-fed babies are less at risk of obesity."