Chapter J1. Mexican Women 'Maul' BC with Milk
A 1996 study reported that Mexican women who breastfeed their babies
3-5 years (total for all babies) reduced their BC risk by 67%. This was
reported by the very well regarded American Journal of Epidemiolgy.
(Breast Cancer and Lactation History in Mexican Women, AJE, Isabelle
Romieu, et al, 1996; 143:543-552) Those who breastfed 13-24 months had
a 48% reduced risk. These durations are totals for ALL babies (not each
baby). If a woman only had one birth, would she be denied substantial
BC protection via breastfeeding? Not according to this study:
BF (months) during Per cent reduction
FIRST live birth in Breast Cancer risk
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4-12 38% (95% CI=0.42-0.91)
over 12 72% (95% CI=0.17-0.47)
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If this was the only study reporting that breastfeeding cut BC risk,
then it could be slighted. This Mexican study is simply confirmation
of other reports (see breastfeeding in chapter R).
Are Mexican women smarter than 'Gringo' women? - In the area of
preventing BC, Mexican women have been smarter. However, "Because of
changes in women's lifestyles, lactation is decreasing in Mexico, and
young women tend not to breast-feed or to shorten the duration of
lactation." In Mexico, poor women (low 'Socio-Economic Status') are
more likely to initiate and more likely to do long-term 'nursing' than
affluent women. This is the opposite to the situation in the U.S.; how-
ever, affluent U.S. women average a later age of first birth than poor
women.
'Short and Sweet' - Can women do everything possible to slash BC risk?
Some can not. However, if a woman can do the following two, she has
helped herself 'bigtime':
1. 'Early' first full-term birth (before age 24 very good; before
20 even better); see chapter F1
2. Breastfeed that 'early' first birth baby a minimum of 24 months
(exclusively breastfeeding for at least 6 months, if possible)
The longer you breastfeed your baby, the stronger 'her' immune system
will be. There is some evidence that breastfed girls will have a
reduced BC risk themselves (about 26%). Thus, if your long-term breast-
fed baby is a girl, your are 'fighting' BC for two. With a stronger
immune system, your baby is likely to have fewer illnesses and when she
is ill, shorter durations (on average). Breast milk, according
to medical researchers, is by far the best food your baby can
receive ('Breast is Best'). If you are a vegetarian, your breast milk
will likely be much 'cleaner' (lower toxin levels) than if you had
been eating red meat (or pork).
"The prolonged low levels of breast fluid estrogens following full-term
birth and lactation [breastfeeding] may, in part provide a mechanism by
which parity [birth] reduces breast cancer risk." (International
Journal of Cancer, Petrakis, et al., 1987;40:587-591)
copyright Brent Rooney ( [email protected] )