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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows yet another benefit of breastfeeding: a lower risk of breast cancer for moms who do it.
Researchers from the University of Southern California found breastfeeding can offset the higher risk of breast cancer among women who have their first full-term pregnancy after age 25. Yes, waiting to have a first child until after age 25 increases a woman's risk of invasive breast cancer later in life.
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Researchers studied data for women aged 55 and older who are part of the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study. The group included 995 women who had invasive breast cancer. Researchers were looking to better understand the links between reproductive factors and breast cancer risk in women who have their first child after age 25.
Of note, previous research shows women who have a child before age 25 have an increased protection against breast tumors that express estrogen and progesterone. However, they do not have increased protection against rarer tumors that do not express estrogen and progesterone. Giske Ursin, M.D., Ph.D., from USC, was quoted as saying, "Breastfeeding may have a protective effect that negates the increased risk of breast cancer associated with late pregnancies. As more women may choose to delay pregnancy until after 25, it is important to note that breastfeeding provides protection against both estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and negative tumors."
The take-home message is simple. Dr. Ursin says, "Evidence suggests that women who have children after age 25 can reduce their risk of breast cancer by choosing to breastfeed."
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 178,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year. More than 40,000 women will die from the disease this year.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles, April 14-18, 2007
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