Home > Understanding Breast Cancer > Risk Factors and Prevention > Lifestyle Risks > Breastfeeding

  


Breastfeeding

 

Breastfeeding and breast cancer risk

Breastfeeding protects against breast cancer (especially premenopausal breast cancer) [191-193]. Breastfeeding appears to lower the risk of both estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative tumors [193].  

In a pooled analysis of 47 studies, mothers who breastfed for a lifetime total of one year (combined duration of breastfeeding for all children) were slightly less likely to get breast cancer than those who never breastfed [192]. Mothers who breastfed for a lifetime total of two years got about twice the benefit of those who breastfed for a total of one year. Women who breastfed for a lifetime total of more than two years had even more benefit [192].

Although data are limited, breastfeeding for less than one year may also modestly lower breast cancer risk [192].

Other health benefits of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has other benefits for the mother, including lowering the risk of [194-195]:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Ovarian cancer

And, breastfeeding has many benefits for the child, including lowering the risk of [194]:

  • Middle ear infections
  • Asthma and respiratory infections
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  • Type 1 and type 2 diabetes

 

For a summary of research studies on breastfeeding and breast cancer, visit the Breast Cancer Research section.

Learn about other healthy lifestyle behaviors that may lower breast cancer risk.

Updated 11/22/11

previous  Exercise (Physical Activity)  
Childbearing (Age at First Birth and
Number of Children)
 
next