If I Breastfed My Children, Is My Breast Cancer Risk Lower?

— -- Question: If I breastfed my children, does that decrease my risk for breast cancer?

Answer: Having a pregnancy in general is a wonderful protection against breast cancer, perhaps one of the most powerful ways a woman can protect herself against breast cancer; and we think that something about the pregnancy itself helps to protect cells in the breast. There's also some data that if women then go on to breastfeed their babies there's some added protection after the pregnancy, and of course it's always very helpful for the baby as well.

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