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Lactation and breast cancer risk
H Furberg1, B Newman, P Moorman
1Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA.
International Journal of Epidemiology
|July 16, 1999
Summary
Breastfeeding, regardless of duration or timing, is linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer in women. This study highlights the protective effect of lactation for both younger and older women.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Investigated the Carolina Breast Cancer Study, a population-based case-control study.
- Focused on African-American and white women in North Carolina.
- Examined the association between lactation and breast cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if specific lactation factors reduce breast cancer risk.
- To analyze the impact of breastfeeding on cancer incidence.
- To provide insights into breast cancer prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Included 751 parous cases and 742 parous controls.
- Frequency-matched analyses based on age and race.
- Collected data via personal interviews on lactation, reproductive history, lifestyle, and family history.
Main Results:
- Women who breastfed showed reduced odds of breast cancer compared to those who never breastfed (OR 0.8 for ages 20-49, OR 0.7 for ages 50-74).
- Inverse associations were consistent across various lactation durations (1-3, 4-12, 13+ months).
- Factors like number of children, age at first/last lactation, and lactational amenorrhea did not alter the observed inverse associations.
Conclusions:
- Any duration or timing of lactation is associated with a slight reduction in breast cancer risk.
- Findings suggest a protective effect of breastfeeding across different age groups.
- Highlights the potential role of lactation in breast cancer prevention.