HHS HealthBeat (July 13, 2007)

Breastfeeding versus breast cancer

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Breastfeeding may help moms as well as babies – especially if the moms had their first baby after their 25^th birthday. It seems to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Giske Ursin of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California bases that on data on women over 55 – time enough to develop breast cancer. Her study, presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Breastfeeders who gave birth at age 25 and older had a reduced risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not breastfeed.

Ursin says:

``All women ought to breastfeed their babies, regardless of when they give birth. We know that breastfeeding is healthy for the babies, and it may also protect a mother against breast cancer.’’ (9 seconds)

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 13 2007