Is there a link between breast-feeding and breast cancer?
Women who are breast-feeding are often acutely aware of how their breasts feel so they will usually notice any physical changes. It is common to find breast lumps during lactation, which can lead women to worry about breast cancer. Women who know they have breast cancer are likely to have concerns about the safety of breast-feeding and may wonder whether their cancer treatment could affect the baby. In this article, we provide more information about the relationship between breast cancer and breast-feeding. Can you get breast cancer while breast-feeding? Breast-feeding lowers the risk of developing breast cancer. It is possible to develop breast cancer while breast-feeding a baby, but it is rare. Breast-feeding women account for 3 percent of breast cancer cases. According to the National Cancer Institute , some research suggests that the risk of breast cancer is temporarily higher in the years following pregnancy and childbirth. This increased ris...