Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer: A call for action in high-income countries with low rates of breastfeeding.

ABSTRACT: Women in the UK have a 15% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Like other high-income countries, women in the UK are having children later in life which increases their risk. The risk of breast cancer is reduced by 4.3% for every 12 months of breastfeeding, this is in addition to the 7.0% decrease in risk observed for each birth. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (20%) and in carriers of BRCA1 mutations (22-55%). The mechanisms of reduced risk as a result of pregnancy are related to changes in RNA processing and cellular differentiation. The UK has a low rate of breastfeeding (81%) and this is contrasted to countries with higher (Sweden, Australia) and lower rates (Ireland). The low UK rate is in part due to a lack of experience in the population, today

SUBMITTER: Stordal B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9972148 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature