Breastfeeding protects against breast cancer, women told

Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Chris Agboghoroma, has revealed that breastfeeding mothers are at lower risk of developing breast cancer and other health conditions.

Agboghoroma, in an interview, said that most women that breastfeed experience hormonal changes during lactation which he described as delaying their menstrual periods.

Lactation according to experts, is the production of milk by a woman or other female animals.

According to him, breastfeeding reduces a woman’s lifetime exposure to oestrogen, a hormone that can promote breast cancer cell growth.

His words: “Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop cancer of the breast than those that do not breastfeed, so in terms of the mother’s health, breast feeding is generally better.

“During pregnancy and breastfeeding, women shed breast tissue and this can help remove cells with potential DNA damage; thereby helping to reduce the chances of developing breast cancer.

“DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses.

“Breastfeeding can also help to lower women ovarian cancer risk by preventing ovulation and the less you ovulate the less exposure to oestrogen and abnormal cells that could become cancer,’’ he said.

Agboworoma further identified other benefits of breastfeeding to women and family in general to include reduction of family cost of living and protect mothers against unwanted pregnancy.

He noted that it is cheaper to breastfeed a child than buying formulae at the detriment of other members of the family.

The consultant who reaffirmed that breastfeeding gives babies a healthy start, added that it also goes a long way to protect mothers against all forms of diseases.

He therefore advised women to imbibe the culture of breastfeeding to guard against exposing their body to cancer and other related diseases in future.