While on Sunday, November 3, 2024, a pink wave swept through the Étang-Salé forest, the fight to raise awareness of breast cancer continues. If the emphasis is on screening, another protective factor exists: breastfeeding. First form of cancer detected in women, in Reunion, one in four women are affected by breast cancer (Photo www.imazpress.com)
If breastfeeding is most often known for its beneficial role for the newborn, it is much less known for its impact on the breastfeeding mother.
According to the latest data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), more than 1,600 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed could have been avoided with breastfeeding (exclusive or not) and for more than six months per child among women of over 30 years old.
Furthermore, according to the Lancet magazine, “breastfeeding has helped prevent nearly 20,000 deaths each year worldwide from breast cancer”, indicates Erica Moimba, president of the Milk Sisters association.
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– The longer breastfeeding lasts, the more the protective effect increases –
Several French and international scientific expert reports have established a link between breastfeeding and reducing the risk of developing breast cancer.
During breastfeeding, “no periods, therefore less exposure to hormones such as estrogens which can stimulate certain breast cancers”, mentions Tran Phuong Lien, lecturer and hospital practitioner in the obstetrics and gynecology department of CHU Sud.
Feeding the baby which “could induce better differentiation and greater resistance of the cells of the mammary gland and elimination of damaged cells and thus protect against the development of cancer”, adds the health professional.
In addition, “women who breastfeed are often very aware of what is happening to their breasts and usually notice any physical change, even minimal,” specifies Erica Moimba, president of the Milk Sisters association.
However, “certain lumps that form during lactation can alert them and make them fear breast cancer.”
At the same time, the International Cancer Research Fund demonstrates that the duration of the breastfeeding period influences the risk rate for the development of breast cancer. “The longer breastfeeding lasts, the greater the benefits,” says Tran Phuong Lien.
Health professionals advise breastfeeding for at least six months to a year or more after each birth. Each additional 12 months of breastfeeding reduces your risk of breast cancer by approximately 4%.
– Breastfeeding as a source of prevention –
If breastfeeding can protect women against breast cancer, their monitoring is essential. The president of Milk Sisters, a member of the High Authority for Breastfeeding, explains: “this monitoring makes it possible to avoid a long delay in diagnosis in certain cases”.
Each year, breast cancer affects 4,000 women under the age of 40. 10% of them are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If breast cancer is often associated with advanced age, “many professionals avoid the possibility that the pregnant or breastfeeding person may be confronted with cancer”, specifies the association. “Cancer is often confused with natural, hormone-induced changes in the mammary glands.”
In Reunion, breastfeeding awareness affects “at least 13,440 mothers” adds Erica Moimba.
According to her, “talking about breast cancer without highlighting the pharmacy of God made available to us is like saying that we favor a medicine of illness over a medicine of health”.
– Better information –
For Erica Moimba, it is essential to set up multidisciplinary network work to better guide young women, enable early diagnosis and support patients and their future babies.
Offer conferences on breast cancer screening during breastfeeding and pregnancy for midwives.
Furthermore, “in information campaigns on the prevention of breast cancer, breastfeeding has its place and should be highlighted so that women can make an informed choice regarding their health when deciding on the mode feeding their child”, says Milk Sisters.
In addition to protection against breast cancer, “breastfeeding also provides better protection against the risk of osteoporosis in women but also against other diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or even breast cancer.” ovaries.”
However, Tran Phuong Lien recalls the importance of “not blaming mothers who do not want to breastfeed or cannot.”
Read also – Breast cancer: a common disease that is well treatable if detected in time
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News from Reunion Island, Health, Breast cancer, Breastfeeding
