Breastfeeding Cancer Facts

Does breastfeeding reduce the risk of breast cancer?

Yes, breastfeeding has been found to protect moms against uterine, ovarian and breast cancer.

Research shows that if you breastfeed for two years you have a reduced risk of breast cancer of 50%, but breastfeeding for even just two weeks has been found to reduce breast cancer risk.

- Breastfeeding and breast cancer ~ Fat soluble pollutants and carcinogens are stored less in the lactating breast. Breastfeeding also reduces your exposure to estrogen

- Endometrial cancer prevention ~ Less stimulation on the endometrial lining during breastfeeding offers protection and prevents endometrial cancer.

- If a mother does not breastfeed, she will usually experience engorgement and inflammation, this inflammation has been found to be the cause of breast cancer.

Important breastfeeding cancer facts

- Inability to breastfeed does not mean that you might have cancer

- Women who where breastfed as infants have a 25% lower risk of premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer.

- A woman who has a family history of breast cancer will have a 59% decreased risk if she breastfeeds.

Other things that can decrease the risk of breast cancer

- Having more than one child that you breastfed.

- Having your first baby before the age of 25

- If you were breastfed as a baby.

Breastfeeding cancer facts – Breastfeeding and cancer treatment

Breastfeeding while under breast cancer treatment

- Breastfeeding is safe to continue if you are undergoing: mammogram, X-ray, CAT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy.

- Temporary weaning should be undertaken if mom is going through: Radioactive testing or hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. The doctor will need to test your milk afterward to make sure that it is clear.

- Radiation might limit milk production in the specific breast worked on.

- Remember that cancerous cells can never be passed to baby while breastfeeding.

- With some breast cancer treatments mom can continue to breastfeed from the unaffected breast.

- Mom can continue to pump and dump breast milk in order to keep up a good milk supply so she can continue to breastfeed after treatment.

Breastfeeding cancer facts – Breastfeeding after cancer

Breastfeeding after breast cancer

- Breastfeeding is safe and possible after breast cancer as long as mom is not still on chemotherapy or radioactive therapy.

- The breast that was treated for cancer may produce less breast milk than the other one. It is possible to breastfeed baby only on one breast.

- If you are unable to breastfeed at all you can use a breastfeeding simulator which allows baby to continue breastfeeding for closeness…the milk baby receives will then just be received through a little pipe attached to your breast.

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