Breastfeeding linked to reduced risk of aggressive cancer

Women who breastfeed are at a reduced risk of experiencing a certain form of aggressive breast cancer, according to a new study.

The research, published in the Annals of Oncology, examined pre-existing studies and determined that the risk of developing hormone-receptor negative (HRN) breast cancer is 20 percent lower among women who breastfeed.

HRN breast cancers are more likely to be aggressive and life-threatening, with this subtype being more commonly diagnosed in women under the age of 50, while factors such as  obesity and multiple early pregnancies can also increase the risk of this disease.

According to the researchers, this study underlines the importance of removing the barriers to breastfeeding at home, in the community and in the workplace.

Dr Paolo Boffetta, associate director for population sciences at the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said: "Pregnant women and young mothers are highly receptive and motivated to make healthy choices. We need to encourage women who are able to breastfeed to do so for their breast health, in addition to the health of their children."