Pam, there is a Br CA gene, but it only accounts for a small % of cases,
the kind that you hear about - familial, mother, daughter etc.  Most Br CA
victims have no hx of Br CA in their family until their new case.  Br CA
rate is rising alarmingly IMHO in USA.  I don't know the rates in the rest
of the world.

 Yes, I would think prolonged BF would help be protective, at the same time
I was Bot fed, does that cancel out the protective effect of me BFing?
I've felt for a long time that the increase in Br CA in post menopausal Br
CA was partly due to the fact that all the women who didn't BF from the
40's on (in US) were hitting menopausal age.  Does this now get doubled by
the effect that those who were bot fed AND didn't BF are now hitting that
age group?  Why are women getting Br CA younger and younger?

We are seeing many more cases of premenopausal br CA here in US. We also
know that nutrition, environment , smoking etc. all play a part besides
genetics and BF hx. Probably isn't any one thing, but a group of things
that are interrelated.

Sincerely, Pat in SNJ, USA