American Academy of Pediatrics – Women who breastfeed have lower chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer according to the findings of a latest US research. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists conducted this study that recommends women to breastfeed.
Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the research has found that even the women who had breast cancer can benefit as well. For this study, the team of researchers examined questionnaires filled by 1,636 women having breast cancer.
Findings of the Study
They found that breastfeeding formed a protection from the strain caused due to the cancer and worked best in evading stress caused due to hormonal changes. The results were even better for women who breastfed for a period of six months or more.
Marilyn Kwan from Kaiser Permanente, who is the lead researcher for the present study, informed that this was the first time that a study analyzed the connection between feeding and recurrence of cancer and reactions against the various type of tumors.
“Women who breastfeed are more likely to get the Luminal A subtype of breast cancer and breastfeeding may set up a molecular environment that makes the tumor more responsive to anti-estrogen therapy,” she said.
The study co-author Bette Caan further added that the breastfeeding process accelerated the creation of the ductal cells in the breast that help fight carcinogens and push them out of the body, which results in slow down of the growth of the tumors. The women can then take medication to help fight the cancers.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Not only is breastfeeding beneficial for women, but the breast milk provides all the essential nutrients that a baby needs. It helps make the immunity of the baby stronger and keeps him at bay from all infections and diseases.
For the mother, feeding is an excellent way to lose the excessive weight caused by the pregnancy as it helps burn the calories. Oxytocin hormone is also released in the body and this helps in bringing the uterus back to its normal size and also lowers bleeding from uterine after the birth of the baby.
