Reduce breast cancer risk factors by breast feeding

Since breast cancer is the most rampant of the cancers that can strike a woman, several studies have been conducted to understand the risk factors of breast cancer. These studies have tried to find correlations between aspects like heredity, lifestyle, body type, weight and breast feeding also. One such study has found a relation between breastfeeding and breast cancer. Since then several in depth researches have been conducted in this field and specialists have established that breast feeding may cut risk of breast cancer.
Since ages we have known that breast milk is best for a baby. With medical advancements doctors have found the benefits of breast milk on a baby’s growth. But now doctors have gone one step further to conclude that breastfeeding has a major benefit on mothers in terms of lowering risk of breast cancer.

Hereditary risk of breast cancer

We know that women who have a history of breast cancer in their family are more at risk of developing breast cancer. All women who have a close relative like mother, sister or grandmother being inflicted with breast cancer are at higher risk of getting pre-menopausal breast cancer. Breast feeding cuts the risk of getting breast cancer to almost 59%. Medical scientists consider this as a break through in treating breast cancer.

Breast feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer

Researches to substantiate that breast feeding reduces risk of breast cancer

In UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women with nearly 39000 cases reported every year. The risk of breast cancer in UK is 6.3% against 2.7% in developing countries. This difference in risk is due to the number of children that women give birth to and also the extent to which they breastfeed. In developed countries women give birth to less number of children and either do not breastfeed at all or do it for very shorter periods.
Although it is unrealistic to go back to childbearing pattern that existed in previous centuries but what women can do is to resort to breastfeeding as a means of preventing breast cancer.
This interesting fact about breastfeeding has opened new avenues to understand how breast cancer develops.

The researches reinforce the belief that hormonal and reproductive factors play a vital role in breast cancer.
There is however no relation between breast feeding and breast cancer in women who do not have any family history of breast cancer.

Breast feeding or hormonal treatment?

The reduction in risk of breast cancer in breast feeding mothers was similar to those who took hormonal treatments like tamoxifen for over five years.
This finding has made doctors to stress more on breast feeding as a means of preventing breast cancer in a safe way.

Is there any relation between the amount of breast feeding and risk of breast cancer?

Women in developed countries do not breastfeed their babies due to work patterns. But a study has revealed that there is no relation between the amount of breastfeed and reduction is risk. The decrease in breast cancer risk was similar for mothers who breastfeed for three months or for more than three years. Even the risk remained same for mothers who exclusively breastfed and who combined it with formula feeds.

How does breast feeding reduce the risk of breast cancer?

Doctors are still unable to give any explanation as to how breast feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.
They assume that when women do not breastfeed the inflammation and engorgement of the breasts that occur after birth cause changes in the breast tissues which enhances the risk of breast cancer.
Another theory says that breastfeeding diminishes estrogen levels which is a reason behind lower risk of breast cancer.
Some doctors are of the opinion that in breasts of mothers who breastfeed less of fat-soluble pollutants and carcinogens are stored than in non-breast feeding mothers.

Some other benefits of breastfeeding

Other than lowering risk of breast cancer, breast feeding is also proved to lower risks of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.

What mothers say?

A recent study amongst new mothers has revealed an unfortunate fact that half of the mothers had to quit breast feeding earlier than they desired. They had to take this decision due to lack of support from their workplace and lower paid maternity leaves.

Keeping in mind the menace of breast cancer, it is pertinent to create favorable circumstances for mother to meet their breast feeding goals. Policy changes in paid maternity leaves, better workplace accommodations can actually go a long way in promoting breast feeding and thus reducing the risk of breast cancer.