A new study from Iceland bolsters the idea that breastfeeding
provides moderate protection against pre-menopausal breast cancer.
In women younger than 40, researchers found a clear inverse
relationship between breastfeeding duration and risk of breast
cancer. Among women of all ages, risk of breast cancer was lower for
those who had ever lactated vs. those who hadn't, but most of this
difference was accounted for by the very significant trend among
younger women.
Here is the citation: L. Tryggvadottir et al., "Breastfeeding and
Reduced Risk of Breast Cancer in an Icelandic Cohort Study," American
Journal of Epidemiology 154(July 1, 2001): 37-42.
The full text of this article is well worth reading as it provides a
nice summary of all the epidemiological evidence to date--cohort as
well as case-control studies--for the protective effect of
breastfeeding. It also includes a well-written section on the
possible mechanisms for this effect, including a description of the
Russos' work, which suggests that the lactating breast undergoes
further tissue differentiation over the course of nursing and thereby
is more able to fend off carcinogenic assaults. (I had been taught
that breast tissue differentiation was completed during the last
trimester of pregnancy.)
For those without access to MedLine, the study was also reported by
Reuters on June 29, "Breast-Feeding Tied to Reduced Risk of Breast
Cancer."
Warmly,
Sandra
p.s. on a personal note, I just weaned my 2.75 year-old last week (we
were down to one nursing session a day before nap time, which we both
cherished) because, at 34 weeks of pregnancy, even 5 minutes of
gentle nursing triggered such intense Braxton-Hicks contractions that
I could hardly move for a good ten minutes. I told my daughter that
"the midwife said mommy's nums need to rest until the new baby
comes." She's accepted this, but sadly. (She knows she can resume
nursing after the birth, if she still wants to.) Surprising to me,
she now asks for bottles. (I mix a little cow's milk with warm
water.) The other day, she was looking sad, and I asked if she
wanted a bottle. She looked up at me and said, "But, Mommy, bottles
don't have areolas!" I think all of you might appreciate just how
poignant a truth that is!
--
--
Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors
110 Rice Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
[log in to unmask]
www.steingraber.com
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