Does Breast-Feeding Actually Decrease Cancer Risk?

Nursing a baby changes the structure of the breast. Even after breast-feeding ends, microscopic changes in the milk-delivery system protect the breast against precancerous cells, Borges says.

This effect is more common among women who have nursed more children or for longer periods than others.

The older a woman is when she gives birth for the first time, the more likely she is to get breast cancer. But, Borges says, it's not that simple. "I would never want a woman to decide to not have a child because of anything related to breast cancer."

Breast-feeding may moderately offset the increased risk of breast cancer associated with pregnancy: Research has shown that women who breast-feed can cut their risk of some aggressive breast cancers by up to 20 percent relative to women who don't nurse.

So should you plan on nursing to potentially stave off breast cancer?

Absolutely , but "it takes two to tango." Not every woman or baby can successfully nurse, and breast-feeding may not be an option because of cultural, lifestyle and other factors.

If a woman isn't able to breast-feed or chooses not to, lifestyle choices could help stave off breast cancer even without the protective effect of nursing.

Things such as moderating or eliminating alcohol and exercising are strongly linked to protection against pre-menopausal breast cancers. And there's no reason to think they can't help protect against breast cancers in younger women, too.

source : https://www.sciencealert.com/does-breast-feeding-actually-decrease-cancer-risk