Breastfeeding May Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk

JAKARTA – An international study involving researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute found that women who are breastfeeding the baby can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by nearly 25%. The research also shows that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the risk reduction.

The study has been published in the journal JAMA Oncology. Senior Australian author and head of the QIMR Gynecological Cancer Group Berghofer Professor Penelope Webb said breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of developing all ovarian cancers, including the most deadly type called high-stage serous tumors. (Read Also: Changing the Color of the Nails Becomes a Sign of Your High Blood Sugar)

“Overall, the risk is high cancer ovaries fell 24% for women who were breastfeeding, and even those who breastfed their children for three months or less had an 18% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer, “said Professor Webb.

“Mothers who breastfed their children for more than 12 months each had a 34% lower risk. Importantly, this benefit of breastfeeding lasts at least 30 years after a woman stops breastfeeding,” adds Webb.

Only about 45% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive at least five years after diagnosis.

Professor Webb explained that the international study involved researchers from the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium which examined data from 9,973 women with ovarian cancer and 13,843 control women from studies conducted around the world.

“Some research previously linked breastfeeding with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, but others have found no link, so we wanted to look at this in a much larger study to clarify the link, “explained Professor Webb.

“The study results show a link between breastfeeding and reduced ovarian cancer rates, as well as reinforce the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation that mothers should exclusively breastfeed for at least six months if they can and continue to do so, with the addition of complementary foods for two years,” he continued. (Also Read: Neurological Symptoms of Corona Virus Markers)

On the other hand, according to the Times Now News page, this study also shows that breastfeeding for a short time can help reduce cancer risk. The study builds on previous research conducted at the institute which found that breastfeeding was also associated with a lower risk of endometrial cancer or uterine cancer.

More research is needed to identify how breastfeeding affects cancer risk.

(tsa)

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