Laura, 

I did a health science module earlier this year with the Open Univeristy (UK) - part of the module was breastcancer screening. One of the chapters was calculating risk factors for breast cancer and breastfeeding and no. of pregnancies is mentioned multiple times.

From the section on oestrogens and breast cancer; "Experiencing more menstrual periods during a lifetime, because menstruation started at an 'early' age or ceased 'later' at the menopause, is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. It is presumed that this is because breast tissue is exposed to oestorgens for longer.....Multiple pregnancies and long periods of breast-feeding reduce the number of menstrual cycles a woman experiences in her lifetime.....fewer menstruations decreases their lifetime exposure of breast tissue to oestrogens".

Later there is a comparison of Ecuadorian women who have an average of just over three children  and a breast cancer incidence of 27 cases per 100 000 per year, compared with Canadian women who have, on average, half as many children and 77 cases of breast cancer per 100 000 per year.

Breastfeeding and number of pregnancies was presented amongst the possible influences on breast cancer, along with age, BMI, gene mutations, etc. I'm not sure which of the references backs up what the book says (which is dated 2007 http://www.amazon.com/Screening-Breast-Cancer-Introducing-Sciences/dp/0199237336/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1382082613&sr=8-7&keywords=screening+for+breast+cancer).

Unfortunately there wasn't a mention of breastfeeding during the actual screening process, as I imagine that influences the quality and readability of the mammagram, but the message was certainly brought home that breastfeeding is something to consider as a health benefit as regards cancer. Perhaps the UK is more on board with this than the US?

Alice Farrow
Rome, Italy
www.cleftlipandpalatebreastfeeding.com
www.languageofinclusion.com


 		 	   		  
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