Can Breastfeeding Reduce Cancer?
Most women are knowledgeable about some of the benefits of breastfeeding. You may know a few yourself, like for babies having fewer colds and overall illness. And we all know it is one of the best ways to bond with babies, especially when done skin to skin.
But there is one lesser known risk, and October is the best time to highlight it. One potentially life saving benefit of breastfeeding is a reduced risk of Ovarian and Breast cancers. There is a lot of research that supports this link, but there is still some amount of confusion around the matter. So we decided to go through all the scientific details and jargon to give you straight and easy to comprehend answers.
Breastfeeding and its Link to Breast Cancer
Can breastfeeding reduce cancer? The answer is yes. There are multiple studies that support this, but today we will touch on just four.
One study published in 2002 in The Lancet covered the analysis of approximately 150,000 women. It was concluded that for every year of breastfeeding, whether it was one child or multiple children, the risk of breast cancer was decreased by 4.3%. This was, of course, compared to women who did not engage in breastfeeding any at all.
One study published in 2009 in the Archives of Internal Medicine included over 60,000 women. The women in this study had a family history of breast cancer. They were able to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by almost 60% by menopause by breastfeeding.
A study published in 2014 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute titled “What All New Moms Need to Know About Breast Cancer” found that women of African descent had the highest risk of developing the hardest to treat and the most aggressively developing types of breast cancer. This type is called estrogen receptor-negative and triple negative. The risk of this type of breast cancer actually increases after a woman gives birth. But when it comes to women that breastfeed, there is the marked evidence that their risk is negated by breastfeeding.
The last study we will touch on was published in 2015 in the Annals of Oncology. This covered approximately 37,000 breast cancer cases and found a 20% reduction in women who breastfed in developing the hormone receptor negative breast cancer variant. This study also showed that this variant is especially prevalent in populations where women are least likely to breastfeed. These include mother’s of multiples, obese mothers, mothers with their first pregnancies, African American mothers and mothers of Sub-Saharan African descent. The study concluded, noting that more needed to be done to encourage women in these groups to breastfeed more and for longer.
Outside of these four studies, there is a growing body of evidence that supports breastfeeding as an effective way to lower a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers. If you are a woman, a mother, and you want to breastfeed, we recommend you do it! Breastfeeding can be hard, but with the right support, you can get over all the hurdles and smash through all the roadblocks that may come along the way. And remember, each woman and each birth will be a different experience. If you have a family member, whether it is your mom or sister that has or had breast cancer, it is even more important for you to foster breastfeeding, as it could just save your life later on in life.
How Does Breastfeeding Reduce Breast Cancer Risk?
Though none of the theories have been proven, the research points to a few.
Women who breastfeed have less menstrual cycles. This means a woman in this category would have a lower exposure to estrogen, which is a fuel for some types of breast cancer.
Breastfeeding causes the breast cells to be more resistant to mutations that are often responsible for cancer.
Breastfeeding women tend to give up smoking and drinking and take better care of themselves. These simple behavior changes can make a noticeable difference when it comes to reducing one’s risk of breast cancer.
How Much Breastfeeding will Reduce One’s Risk?
While there is no conclusive answer to this, the information from the study published in The Lancet which we referenced above, would suggest the longer women breastfeed, the better it is. But if you cannot breastfeed exclusively for whatever reason, know that it is perfectly find to supplement with formula. (Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding a baby only breast milk, no solids, no water, no juice, etc.) Remember “Fed is Best”. If you are struggling with supply issues, get the help of a professional lactation consultant. And remember not to be too hard on yourself, breastfeeding of any kind will be beneficial to you.
Women who have children when they are younger have a higher chance of reaping the anti-cancer benefits of breastfeeding. But women of all ages can still enjoy the benefits, even if not exclusively breastfeeding for the recommended 6 months, according to the CDC.
What About Women Who Can’t Breastfeed?
If you stopped breastfeeding, you can attempt to re-lactate. Relactating has a higher chance of success if you haven’t stopped breastfeeding for too long. You can have your milk supply back in a matter of weeks, but sometimes it can take months. The benefits, however, may make the process worth it. If you have support through this part of your journey, it will make it even easier on you.
If you simply can’t breastfeed, try your best not to stress. Not breastfeeding is not a definite damnation to the curse of Breast Cancer. In the same way, breastfeeding doesn’t guarantee that you will never get the disease.
Always remember that there are other ways to cut your cancer risk. Engaging in healthy lifestyle habits is one of the easiest ways to cut your risk of any type of cancer, and breast cancer is included. A report published in the National Institutes of Health in 2008 stated that only 5 to 10% of all cancers are caused by genetic defects. The remaining 90 to 95% was found to have roots in lifestyle and our environment. Lifestyle factors to consider that can help reduce your risk of cancer include;
A diet high in red meat content
High consumption of fried food
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
Limited or a complete lack of physical activity
So no, breastfeeding is not the only way you can reduce your risk of breast cancer. You can also reduce your risk by eating a well-rounded healthy diet and by engaging in regular exercise.
How Many Women Breastfeed in the United States?
Most infants get some amount of breast milk, but most babies in the United States are not exclusively breastfed. Some may be exclusively breastfed in the beginning, but this does not continue for as long as recommended. The recommendation is that mothers should exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of a baby’s life.
The data collected across the nation indicate that 4 in 5 infants start out breastfeeding, but only 1 in 4 infants are exclusively breastfed up to 6 months of age. There are also a lot of differences among different groups. For example, the statistics show that black infants are 15% less likely to be breastfed than Caucasian infants. Since this report, there has been some improvement in this disparity.
Other Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Infant
We know that breastfeeding is beneficial to baby and mommy. It allows for that bond to be formed between mother and child, while providing the baby with essential nutrients. Breastmilk has the major advantage over formulas that it is made specifically to meet your baby’s health needs. As such, as your baby grows, your milk changes, it also changes if they are sick, etc. But breastfeeding not only benefits baby, but also mom.
Outside of those benefits, breast milk offers your baby resistance to asthma, ear and respiratory infections, obesity, GI infections, and lowers your baby’s risk for sudden infant death syndrome. For mothers, the added benefits include a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
The Bottom Line
By the time babies turn 6 months old in the United States, a mere 1 in 4 infants are still being breastfed. Annually, low breastfeeding rates add over $3 billion to medical costs for both mother and baby all across the United States. ¾ of black infants are never breastfed, a statistic that is below the national average, which sits at 83%.
Think of breastfeeding as an investment in health, into your health and the health of your child. It's not just a lifestyle choice, it has the potential to be so much more than that. If you can breastfeed, do it mama. If you are struggling and need support, there are people out there who can help you. And if it turns out that you simply can’t have a successful breastfeeding experience, try not to worry about it or beat yourself up about it. How is your breastfeeding journey going?