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
Learn about other healthy lifestyle behaviors that may lower breast cancer risk.
Updated 11/22/11
