Can breastfeeding reduce the risk of breast cancer?
Studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of a woman developing breast cancer. During lactation, most women experience hormonal changes that lower the amount of estrogen they are exposed to. This reduces their overall lifetime exposure to estrogen, which in turn reduces the risk of developing breast cancer. For every 12 months a woman breastfeeds, her risk of breast cancer decreases by 4.3%. Generally, the longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the health benefit.
Source:
MD Anderson Cancer Center