Breastfeeding ‘can reduce likelihood of breast cancer recurrence’

New research has indicated that women who breastfeed their babies are less likely to experience a recurrent case of breast cancer.

The Kaiser Permanente study involved 1,636 women with breast cancer who completed a questionnaire that included breastfeeding history and shed further light on the health benefits associated with the practice.

It was found that those with a breastfeeding habit had a 30 percent overall decreased risk of the disease recurring, as well as being 28 percent less likely to die from the condition.

The researchers believe that women who breastfeed are more likely to get the less aggressive luminal A subtype of breast cancer, while also creating a molecular environment that makes the tumour more responsive to anti-oestrogen therapy.

Study leader Dr Marilyn Kwan of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research said: "This is the first study we're aware of that examined the role of breastfeeding history in cancer recurrence and by tumour subtype."

Other health benefits of breastfeeding for the mother include a reduced ovarian cancer risk and greater calorie consumption.