breast feeding

[binsey]

can anyone tell me if you can get breast cancer if you breast feed

[Lily_b]

Hi Binsey,

A quick search on the internet gives quite a few results e.g.

http://www.breastcancersource.com/breastcancersourceHCP/ 6096_18296_2_0_0.aspx

They generally state that breast feeding does not increase the risks of developing breastcancer and may help reduce the risk to varying degrees.

If your questions is whether you can develop breastcancer whilst breastfeeding, I do not know, there is no reference. However if a lump is found whilst breastfeeding I would first eliminate a blocked milk duct or mastitis before worrying.

Hope that helps

[cfb35]

Hello Binsey, I hope you're not in a panic, It won't do yourself or your babe any good. There is a great deal of evidence to support the findings that breastfeeding (and the longer the better) actually reduces the chances of developing female cancers ( Breast, Ovarian, Cervical). As Lily_b says try to rule out the chance of having a blocked duct. You can do this by altering the position in which you hold your baby (its mouth will then naturally massage and drain the duct). I had a few problems like this with my first child with the blocked ducts mainly being on the side of my breast closest to my arm, I found that feeding lying down on my side from the breast which is on top (ie lying on right side , feeding from left breast and vice a versa) worked really well at draining these areas.If you feel any pain or heat or see redening in the area, keep the baby draining it, do not stop as you will become engorged and the pain will become almost unbearable, try and get some support from friends/family/midwife I hope this will help you , most importantly, dont panic All the best Claire

[loudickson71]

mind you, if you're breast feeding you had kids, and having sex increases your risk of cervical cancer.