Breast-Feeding May Lower Breast Cancer Recurrence, Death: Study
Breast-Feeding May Lower Breast Cancer Recurrence, Death: Study
Strongest benefit seen in most common types of tumors, researchers say
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Women who breast-feed their babies and later develop breast cancer are less likely to have the cancer return or to die from it than women who do not breast-feed, new research shows.
"We found in this study of over 1,600 women with breast cancer that those who previously breast-fed had a 30 percent overall decreased risk of their breast cancer recurring," said study leader Marilyn Kwan, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente division of research in Oakland, Calif. "We also found those who previously breast-fed had a 28 percent reduced risk of dying from their breast cancer."
The study was published online April 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Previous research has found that breast-feeding is linked with a lower risk of developing breast cancer in the first place, the researchers said.
"If a woman breast-feeds, she reduces her risk of developing breast cancer by about 5 percent to 10 percent, although other factors come into play," Kwan said, such as the number of children she has had. "We think this is one of the first [studies] to examine the role of breast-feeding and breast cancer outcomes -- prognosis and survival," she added.
"Overall, our study confirms that breast-feeding is not only good for the baby, but has potential health benefits for the mom," Kwan said.
Her team found that breast-feeding's protective effect in lowering the chances of recurrence or death from breast cancer was strongest against the most commonly diagnosed breast cancers.
The study builds on previous evidence about the link between breast-feeding and breast cancer, said Dr. Joanne Mortimer, director of Women's Cancer Programs and co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at City of Hope Cancer Center, in Duarte, Calif.
The message that's reinforced in the new research, Mortimer explained, is that ''women who breast-feed get less aggressive breast cancer." While that has been known, the new study adds detailed findings about tumor types, she said.
Kwan's team looked at two groups of women, some diagnosed from 1997 to 2000 and others diagnosed from 2006 to 2013. Most were patients at Kaiser Permanente, a large health maintenance organization.
Breastfeeding May Lower Breast Cancer Recurrence
Strongest benefit seen in most common types of tumors, researchers say
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Women who breast-feed their babies and later develop breast cancer are less likely to have the cancer return or to die from it than women who do not breast-feed, new research shows.
"We found in this study of over 1,600 women with breast cancer that those who previously breast-fed had a 30 percent overall decreased risk of their breast cancer recurring," said study leader Marilyn Kwan, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente division of research in Oakland, Calif. "We also found those who previously breast-fed had a 28 percent reduced risk of dying from their breast cancer."
The study was published online April 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Previous research has found that breast-feeding is linked with a lower risk of developing breast cancer in the first place, the researchers said.
"If a woman breast-feeds, she reduces her risk of developing breast cancer by about 5 percent to 10 percent, although other factors come into play," Kwan said, such as the number of children she has had. "We think this is one of the first [studies] to examine the role of breast-feeding and breast cancer outcomes -- prognosis and survival," she added.
"Overall, our study confirms that breast-feeding is not only good for the baby, but has potential health benefits for the mom," Kwan said.
Her team found that breast-feeding's protective effect in lowering the chances of recurrence or death from breast cancer was strongest against the most commonly diagnosed breast cancers.
The study builds on previous evidence about the link between breast-feeding and breast cancer, said Dr. Joanne Mortimer, director of Women's Cancer Programs and co-director of the Breast Cancer Program at City of Hope Cancer Center, in Duarte, Calif.
The message that's reinforced in the new research, Mortimer explained, is that ''women who breast-feed get less aggressive breast cancer." While that has been known, the new study adds detailed findings about tumor types, she said.
Kwan's team looked at two groups of women, some diagnosed from 1997 to 2000 and others diagnosed from 2006 to 2013. Most were patients at Kaiser Permanente, a large health maintenance organization.
