Women Who Breastfeed Reduce Their Risk of Breast Cancer, Study Shows
A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles suggests that by breast feeding, women can reduce their risk of breast cancer, even if they have their first child at a later stage in their life.
Data on women who had participated in the Women’s Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study – which had results published in 2003 – was analyzed by researchers to. The current study involved data for 995 women who previously had breast cancer and 1,498 of whom did not; all of which were over the age of 54. The women’s risk of acquiring breast cancer was compared with their history of breastfeeding and their age when they gave birth to the first child.
Each year, 200,000 new cases of breast cancer surface in the United States. It is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the country. Two main types of breast tumors are associated with this form of cancer: those that contain hormone receptors, and those that don’t.
Previous research has found that a woman’s chance of acquiring hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer is increased by having a first child after the age of 25. Even lower risk of breast cancer risk is evident among women who have their first child before the age of 25.
According to researchers, the findings of the current study suggest that a woman’s risk for both receptor-positive and receptor-negative cancers was decreased by breastfeeding, regardless of the age at which she had her first child.
“As more women may choose to delay pregnancy until after 25, it is important to note that breastfeeding provides protection against both estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and negative tumors,” said Giske Ursin, an associate professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.
“Breastfeeding may have a protective effect that negates the increased risk of breast cancer associated with late pregnancies,” he added.
Frank Mangano’s Commentary:
When it comes to breastfeeding, I’m all for it. First off, it’s the natural way a mother can feed her child in place of cow’s milk or formulas containing artificial ingredients. In fact, in my opinion, breastfeeding may represent the most natural act of all human kind.
Secondly, it can help a women shed any excess weight gained during pregnancy.
Third, infants who suffer from acid reflux (as a result of the sphincter not being fully developed) digest natural breast milk easier. It also prevents constipation, reduces the risk of food allergies and protects the baby from numerous infectious diseases.
And last but not least, as this study confirms, breastfeeding can even reduce risk of breast cancer. For some women however, breastfeeding is easier said than done. For the sake of you and your child, take whatever steps necessary to breastfeed.
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Posted: October 31st, 2007 under Breast Cancer, Breastfeeding.
