Breast-Feeding May Counter Some Effects of Childhood Cancer


By Robert Preidt

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 [image: HealthDay Logo]


Related MedlinePlus Pages

   - Breast Feeding
[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html]
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html>
   - Cancer in Children
    [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancerinchildren.html]
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancerinchildren.html>

 TUESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding may help reduce some
long-term negative side effects of cancer treatment in women who survived
childhood cancer, according to a new study.

The findings suggest that making women aware of the benefits of
breast-feeding should be part of routine recommendations for a post-cancer
healthy lifestyle, said Susan W. Ogg and colleagues from St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

The researchers reviewed studies that examined whether women can
successfully breast-feed after treatment for childhood cancer, how childhood
cancer treatment affects women's health in general over the long term and
whether breast-feeding might reduce both the risk and impact of
treatment-related toxicity in cancer survivors.

The analysis revealed that breast-feeding can have a positive impact on a
mother's bone mineral density, metabolic syndrome risk factors,
cardiovascular disease and secondary tumors -- health factors that are all
negatively affected by childhood cancer.

"Alongside advice to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, abstain from
smoking, use suitable sun protection, practice safe sex and take part in
regular physical activity, women who have survived childhood cancer and are
physically able to breast-feed should be actively encouraged to do so to
help protect them against the many lasting effects of cancer treatment," the
researchers concluded.

The study findings were released online in advance of publication in an
upcoming print issue of the *Journal of Cancer Survivorship*.

About 80 percent of U.S. children and teens diagnosed with childhood cancer
now survive, but many face major health challenges stemming from the cancer
itself or its treatment. These challenges include impaired growth and
development, organ dysfunction, reproductive difficulties and risk of cancer
recurrence.

SOURCE: *Journal of Cancer Survivorship*, news release, Jan. 20, 2011
HealthDay
Copyright (c) 2011 HealthDay [http://www.healthday.com/]
<http://www.healthday.com/>.
All rights reserved.

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome