To the person who posted a request about whether or not breastfeeding
protects children against cancer (father was dying of cancer at a young
age), the answer is "yes, breastfeeding does provide some protection against
at least several forms of cancer" -- specifically against lymphoma and
breast cancer.  In addition, many types of cancers have been linked to high
fat diets, and it is thought that breastfeeding gets the child off to the
best start in life nutritionally, and may affect many physiological
processes over the entire lifespan, such as cholesterol metabolism.  If you
send me your regular mail address, I will send you a copy of Marc Micozzi's
review chapter on breastfeeding and cancer.

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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352