Can motherhood help prevent breast cancer?

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, pregnancy and breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

In fact, women who’ve carried at least one pregnancy to term are less likely to get this type of cancer, especially if they bore a child before the age of 30. And mothers of large families are even more insulated as each additional pregnancy further reduces long-term risks.

During pregnancy, mammary cells are no longer exposed to estrogen, a hormone that promotes the development of breast cancer.

How it works

When a woman is pregnant, her mammary cells are no longer exposed to estrogen, a hormone that promotes the development of several breast cancers.

The same thing happens during breastfeeding. In fact, some studies indicate that breastfeeding can protect you from getting breast cancer, and that the longer you breastfeed, the greater the protective effect.

Breastfeeding and cancer

Are you undergoing treatment for breast cancer and fear that breastfeeding might harm your baby? While cancer cells definitely can’t be passed on through breast milk, chemotherapy drugs and other medications can. This is why breastfeeding is usually not recommended for mothers with cancer. But for advice that’s specific to your case, speak with your doctor.