Long term use of the Pill increases women's chance of developing breast cancer, according to a report presented to the Third European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona (Spain) by Norwegian epidemiologist Dr Merethe Kumle. This large study covering 100,000 women concluded that:

• women who had ever taken the Pill were 26% more likely to develop breast cancer
• women who took the Pill during their 30s and early 40s were 58% more at risk
• women who carried on taking the Pill past age 45 increased their risk by nearly a half (144%)

Ed.- It is thought that the oestrogen the Pill contains triggers cell division, creating cancers.

Whilst many studies have shown that the Pill is remarkably safe for women who start to use it in their twenties, girls who start to use it in their teens increase their risk of breast cancer by 50%.

This confirms the findings of several studies - the first by Dr. Malcolm Pike in 1983 - but the Department of Health does not consider this worth pointing out to GPs, and the Chief Medical Officer's position is that the benefits of the Pill greatly outweigh the risks. If GPs were properly aware of the increased risk, would they so easily prescribe the Pill to girls under 16 years old for recreational purposes on the grounds that it is not their job to change society's morals and unwanted pregnancies should be minimised?

When a campaign to stop this practice finally reached the House of Lords in 1985, it was defeated as a result of st rong medical pressure. Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent disease, so the longer the length of reproductive life from puberty to menopause, the higher the risk. However, in the early years of puberty ovulation does not occur in every cycle so the breast tissue is not exposed to peak levels of oestrogen. This protective effect of non-ovulatory cycles is abolished by the Pill. Hence, starting it when young might increase the risk of breast cancer whilst starting it in later life should have no discernible effect. The CMO has written that doctors need not change prescribing protocols.