What are the benefits of breastfeeding? Can breastfeeding prevent breast cancer in women?

Studies have shown that the length of breastfeeding affects a woman's risk of breast cancer, even more than genetic factors.

Breastfeeding for more than 6 months can reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer by 5%. At present, scientists need to further study the reasons for this specific mechanism of breastfeeding. There is strong evidence that breastfeeding protects against premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Mothers who breastfeed their babies for a longer period of time may have a lower incidence of cancer. Breastfeeding can reduce the level of cancer-related hormones in the mother's body. After breastfeeding, the body will also expel cells with damaged genetic genes in the breast, thereby reducing the risk of breast cancer.

If women insist on breastfeeding after giving birth, it can keep the mammary glands unobstructed, thus playing a certain role in preventing breast cancer. Rarely or never breastfeeding can easily lead to breast milk accumulation, thus increasing the risk of breast cancer. In addition, insisting on breastfeeding can also promote uterine contraction, effectively consume fat accumulated during pregnancy, and promote the recovery of body shape.

Women who have given birth to one child have a lower chance of developing breast cancer than women who have not given birth. Breast cancer is also related to the age of first birth. Those who give birth at an early age or those who give birth for the first time over 30 years old have a greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who give birth around 23 years old.