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| - Last Updated on July 8, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
A video on social media claims that COVID-19 vaccine increased the cases of breast cancer. We fact-checked and found the claim to be False.
The Claim
A recent Instagram video distorted a report published by the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) by misinterpreting the number of projected new cases and conflating it with expected mortality. The post’s caption expressed distress and suggested that the outcome was predicted by those who paid attention. It included various hashtags related to cancer, breast cancer, health, and conspiracy theories about lying and natural healthcare.
In the attached video, a woman claimed that the cancer.org website provided statistics indicating a significant increase in breast cancer deaths among women under 45. She stated that there were approximately 26,000 deaths in 2019, 2020, and 2021, but in 2022, the number rose to 47,000, and for 2023, it was projected to be 297,000 deaths. She then made the assertion that these statistics were related to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact Check
Has COVID-19 vaccine increased the cases of breast cancer?
No. With the available evidence it is difficult to suggest whether COVID-19 vaccines have increased the cases of breast cancer. There is no scientific evidence or credible research suggesting a direct link between COVID-19 vaccines and an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The development of breast cancer involves complex interactions between genetic, hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors, which are unrelated to vaccination against COVID-19.
We researched and found no evidence on the numbers as mentioned by the woman in the claimed video on the Cancer.org website. However, we found Cancer Facts & Figures 2023 report published on this website that talks about various epidemiological trends. In this report, the estimated number of new breast cancer cases and deaths by sex in the U.S.A 2023 given is 297,790. We also found that the number of projected new cases of breast cancer in 2023 among women is 43,170. While the estimated number of deaths from breast cancer is significantly lower. Also, the report claims that invasive female breast cancer rates have been rising by approximately 0.5% per year since the mid-2000s, partly due to factors like excess body weight and older age at first birth. However, the death rate for breast cancer among women peaked in 1989 and has since declined by 43% as of 2020. This decline can be attributed to earlier detection through screening mammography, increased breast cancer awareness, and improved treatment.
Likewise, the Cancer Facts & Figures 2022 recorded 10,000 more cases in comparison to 2023 report and a slightly higher number of deaths. An increase in the number of new cases might be due to population growth.
The available evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation in large-scale clinical trials involving tens of thousands of participants. These trials have focused on assessing the safety, efficacy, and potential side effects of the vaccines. The data from these trials, as well as real-world evidence, have consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing COVID-19 infections and reducing the severity of the disease.
Furthermore, regulatory agencies and health organizations, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and others, carefully review the clinical trial data before authorizing or approving COVID vaccines for public use. They consider the available scientific evidence to ensure the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. In the case of COVID-19 vaccines, the primary goal is to protect individuals from the potentially severe health consequences of the COVID-19 disease, which has claimed millions of lives worldwide. The available evidence only suggest that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, including the reduction in hospitalizations and deaths, far outweigh potential risks.
One of the fake posts also informed people that women should avoid vaccinations 5 days before and after their periods. However, there is no evidence that the vaccine has anything to do with periods in women.
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