This survey conducted by a team from Ohio State University, the results of which will be published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine, shows that a large number of women have not received this information from their doctor or midwife: yes, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of cancer. Thus only 60% of breastfeeding mothers know the link between breastfeeding and the reduction of the risk of breast cancer and only 16% claim to have learned it from a health professional.
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A worrying finding, comments the lead author, Dr Bhuvana Ramaswamy, as it can be an important motivating factor in favor of breastfeeding, and its benefits for the health of the child, but also in favor of the mother's health. Previous studies suggest that breastfeeding reduces the overall risk of breast cancer in women and more recent data indicate that breastfeeding specifically protects against triple negative breast cancer. African American/Black women have a disproportionately high rate of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, as well as higher birth rates and lower breastfeeding rates. This association is thus particularly relevant for African-American women,
The survey was conducted among 724 women who had had at least one live birth. Survey respondents were recruited through Primary Care Services at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Specifically, its main results are as follows:
- 92% of participants say they have chosen to breastfeed,
- 56% be aware of the link between prolonged breastfeeding and the reduction of the risk of breast cancer, before making their decision;
- among those who had not breastfed, 59% said knowing about this reduced risk would have affected their decision to breastfeed.
The message is clear, to better inform future mothers of this key advantage of breastfeeding: “we have a duty to ensure that our patients have reliable knowledge. When this information is delivered by a professional, it is much more likely to influence the choice of future mothers. When it comes to breast cancer in particular, prevention is the best strategy”.
The team is continuing its work and will test the hypothesis that a global biological mechanism of altered activation of the STAT3 gene triggers a proliferative/inflammatory environment in the breast tissue in certain women in the event of non-breastfeeding. The insights gained from this study should lead to a better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the link between breastfeeding and breast cancer risk, especially for difficult-to-treat triple-negative breast cancers.
This should also contribute to the development of new prevention strategies for mothers unable or struggling to breastfeed.
