 News
29th September 2008
Breastfeeding significantly lowers cancer riskA
major study has strengthened the theory that breastfeeding significantly reduces
a mother's risk of breast cancer. Women who breastfeed for a year over
their lifetime are almost 5 per cent less likely to develop the disease than those
who do not breastfeed at all, it showed. The researchers said that while
the reduction may seem small, breastfeeding for longer would cut the risk even
more. Breast cancer is Britain's most common cancer, affecting more than
45,000 women a year and claiming more than 1,000 lives a month. An analysis
of cancer statistics by the World Cancer Research Fund showed that breastfeeding
for a year cut the odds of developing the disease by 4.8 per cent. The
year did not have to be continuous, with breastfeeding two babies for six months
each having the same effect. And the more months of breastfeeding a woman
clocked up, the lower her chances of the disease. The process lowers the
levels of some cancer-related hormones in the mother's blood and, at the end of
breastfeeding, the body rids itself of damaged breast cells that could turn cancerous
in the future. Breastfeeding may also cut the baby's chances of cancer
in later life by reducing his or her odds of obesity. Excess weight is
known to raise the risk of a variety of cancers, including bowel cancer and some
types of breast cancer. Despite the benefits, just one in four women is
aware of the protection offered by breastfeeding, a WCRF poll found. Dr
Rachel Thompson, the charity's science programme manager, said: 'We want to get
across the message that breastfeeding is something positive that women can do
to reduce their risk of breast cancer. 'Because the evidence that breastfeeding
reduces breast cancer risk is convincing, we recommend that women should breastfeed
exclusively for six months and then continue with complementary feeding after
that. 'Reducing your risk by around 5 per cent might not seem like a big
difference but the longer you breastfeed for, the more you will be reducing your
risk.' Breastfeeding's-other health benefits for mothers are thought to
include lowering the risk of ovarian cancer and cutting the risk of heart attacks
by almost a quarter. Breast milk also boosts the baby's health, protecting
them from tummy bugs, asthma, chest infections, asthma and allergies. Despite
this, the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with just two-thirds
of new mothers attempting it, compared with 98 per cent in Sweden. Where
to next? | 
