Breastfeeding is not just vital for a child’s nutrition it also presents a crucial opportunity to educate women about their own health, especially regarding breast cancer. Integrating breast cancer awareness into breastfeeding counselling sessions can significantly contribute to early detection and long-term prevention. Firstly, adequate and prolonged lactation is associated with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer. This is because breastfeeding lowers a woman’s lifetime exposure to estrogen, a hormone linked to breast cancer development.
Additionally, lactation helps the cells of the milk ducts where most breast cancers begin mature and stabilise, reducing their chances of abnormal growth. Women who have never had children (nulliparous women) or who haven’t breastfed are known to face a higher risk of breast cancer, making this discussion even more relevant during postpartum care. In a conversation with The Daily Jagran, Dr. Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Director of Surgical Oncology at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi explained why breastfeeding check ups should include breast cancer conversation.
Importance Of Breastfeeding Counselling?
Breastfeeding counseling is also a key moment to assess a woman’s family history and identify potential high-risk factors. If there’s a pattern of breast or ovarian cancer in the family, healthcare providers can recommend genetic counselling or additional monitoring. Lifestyle-related risks like obesity and substance use can also be addressed. Breastfeeding supports postpartum weight loss, helping optimise BMI which is another important factor in reducing breast cancer risk.
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Importantly, this setting is an ideal time to introduce women to the practice of self-breast examination (SBE) and encourage regular clinical breast exams. Even without access to advanced screening tools like mammography or ultrasound, SBE can help detect lumps as small as 2–2.5 cm enough to prompt early intervention and improve outcomes.
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Awareness can also help differentiate between benign breastfeeding-related conditions like galactoceles or fibroadenoma and more serious concerns. Rare but aggressive cancers, such as pregnancy-associated breast cancer (1 in 3,000 cases) can be caught earlier if women are educated about warning signs and encouraged to speak up about changes.
Incorporating a breast cancer risk conversation into breastfeeding check-ups is not just beneficial it’s necessary. It empowers women with knowledge, reduces fear through clarity and fosters habits that can ultimately save lives.