When you think about the benefits of breastfeeding, you likely think about the wonderful nutrition it provides your baby or the close bond it helps you form. These things are absolutely true and important. But what you might not know is that breastfeeding also offers powerful, long-term health benefits for both you and your child, specifically in the fight against cancer. The pathways and mechanisms for this protection are only partly known. For children, they likely have a lot to do with breast milk’s immune-enhancing attributes and the microbiome optimisation that breastfeeding ensures. On the mother’s side, it might have a connection to reducing the number of ovulation cycles, which reduces exposure to their hormonal effects.
A Powerful Shield for Mothers
For mothers, breastfeeding is an effective way to reduce the risk of certain cancers, particularly breast and ovarian cancer. Research from major studies has consistently shown this link. For every 12 months a woman breastfeeds, her risk of breast cancer decreases by 4.3 percent. This benefit is cumulative, whether it's with one child or several over time. The longer you breastfeed, the more protection you get.
But how does it work? The primary reason is hormonal. During lactation, a woman's body experiences hormonal changes that can delay the return of her menstrual cycles. This reduces her lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen, which can promote the growth of breast cancer cells. Think of it as a natural, temporary pause that gives your body a break from these hormonal cycles. Additionally, breastfeeding prompts the body to change breast cells as the milk dries, resulting in the death of old cells and the regeneration of new cells. In this process, you may lose some cells that had the potential to become abnormal or cancerous. It’s a cellular reset that helps clean house and reduce your risk.
Beyond breast cancer, breastfeeding also significantly lowers the risk of ovarian cancer. This is also linked to the hormonal changes that prevent ovulation, reducing the lifetime exposure to estrogen. The fewer times you ovulate, the less exposure you’ll have to the specific hormonal fluctuations that can lead to ovarian cancer. This is especially important for women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, as it offers a proactive way to reduce their own personal risk.
The Protective Effect for Your Child
The benefits don't stop with the mother. Breastfeeding has also been shown to reduce a baby’s risk of developing certain cancers later in life. While more research is always being done, studies have found that breastfed children have a lower risk of certain childhood cancers, including types of leukemia and lymphoma.
One of the ways breastfeeding helps is by reducing the risk of a child becoming overweight or obese. Breast milk is perfectly tailored to a baby’s nutritional needs, and breastfed babies tend to be better at regulating their own intake. This can help them maintain a healthy weight as they grow. Since obesity is a major risk factor for more than a dozen different types of cancer later in life, breastfeeding can indirectly provide a protective effect that extends all the way into adulthood. It’s an investment in your child's long-term health, starting from day one.
In addition to its role in weight management, breast milk is packed with immune-boosting factors and antibodies that protect a baby from infections and diseases. A stronger immune system from the start can help a child's body better fight off a variety of illnesses, which may also contribute to a reduced cancer risk.
More Research Every Day
As the body of evidence about the risks of formula feeding grows, so will the support for breastfeeding mothers. Today in the Western world, there are many roadblocks to breastfeeding, and many mothers find it challenging because they do not receive the right support. Hopefully, these and other important findings will result in more support to help breastfeeding happen for every mother who is interested in it.
Hopefully, one day, every mother and baby around the world will be able to enjoy their right to natural feeding in the most sensitive time, for a lifetime of benefits for both mom and baby.
