VALPARAISO | The bright pink billboard across from the Town and Country Market on Calumet Avenue claims abortion is linked to 13,000 new cases of breast cancer each year.

The Porter County Right to Life, which is responsible for the billboard and four others around the county carrying other anti-abortion messages, stands behind the claim.

But the American Cancer Society says, "the scientific evidence does not support the notion that induced abortion raises the risk of breast cancer."

The cancer society backs up its conclusion on its Web site by citing experts in the field and explaining the difficulties in studying the link.

"The public is not well-served by false alarms," the group said.

Jennifer Mathew, who serves as director of the local right to life group, could not cite the source for the claim on the billboard.

Karen Malec, who heads up The Coalition on Abortion Breast Cancer in Hoffman Estates, Ill., said there are numerous studies linking breast cancer to abortion.

She said the risk of breast cancer rises as estrogen surges in the body of a pregnant woman. While the body releases hormones to counteract the risk late in the pregnancy, the benefit is not enjoyed by those who undergo an abortion, she said.

Malec said the risk is not the same for first trimester miscarriages because the pregnancies are abnormal and there is low hormonal exposure.

Betty Cockrum, chief executive officer for Planned Parenthood of Indiana, said the claims involving abortion and breast cancer are nothing new among anti-abortion groups.

She said the claim is harmful because it is both inaccurate and causes alarm for those already suffering with breast cancer.

"It's just really unfortunate that they behave this way," she said of the anti-abortion forces.

Planned Parenthood works to educate women on the importance of regular self breast exams and how to carry them out.