Breastfeeding Reduces Breast Cancer Risk For Older Moms

(NaturalNews by: David Guitierrez, staff writer) Women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by breast-feeding, even if they have their first child later in life, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles.

Researchers analyzed data on women who had participated in the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study, the results of which were published in 2003. In the current study, researchers looked at the data for women over the age of 54, 995 of whom had breast cancer and 1,498 of whom did not. They compared the women's risk of acquiring breast cancer with their history ofbreastfeeding and their age at first birth.

There are 200,000 new cases of breast cancer in the United States every year, and it is the third most common cause of cancer death in the country. There are two main types of breast tumors: those that contain hormone receptors, and those that do not.

Researchers have previously found that having a first child after the age of 25 increases a woman's chance of acquiring hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Among women who have their first child before the age of 25, those who have many children have an even lower breast cancer risk.

In the current study, researchers found that breastfeeding decreased a woman's risk for both receptor-positive and receptor-negative cancers, regardless of the age at which she had her first child.

"As more women may choose to delay pregnancy until after 25, it is important to note that breastfeeding provides protection against both estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and negative tumors," said Giske Ursin, an associate professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California."

"Breastfeeding may have a protective effect that negates the increased risk of breast cancer associated with late pregnancies," Ursin said.

http://www.naturalnews.com/027746_breastfeeding_mothers.html

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to More Aggressive Breast Cancers

Study supports notion that maintaining healthy levels of the nutrient is key to patient outcomes

FRIDAY, April 29, 2011(HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer patients with low levels of vitamin D have more aggressive tumors and poorer outcomes, a new study finds.

Experts say the new findings support what many oncologists have long suspected.

"There has been suspicion that vitamin D is related to breast health in some way, although the particular pathway is still unknown," noted Dr. Laurie Kirstein, a breast surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "Many oncologists are already following vitamin D levels in their breast cancer patients, and recommending supplements for low levels," added Kirstein, who was not involved in the new study. "To link vitamin D levels to the aggressiveness of a particular type of breast cancer is an interesting finding; one that should be validated with a controlled trial."

In the study, to be presented Friday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, a team from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) tracked 155 women who had surgery for breast cancer between January 2009 and September 2010.

The team examined blood tests that provided vitamin D levels for all the patients in the one-year period before and after surgery. They also analyzed relevant patient breast cancer data, such as age, race, cancer stage at diagnosis, menopause status, gene expression, and estrogen and progesterone status.

The researchers found an association between low vitamin D levels (less than 32 milligrams per milliliter of blood) and poor scores on every major biological marker used to predict a breast cancer patient's outcome.

"The magnitude of the findings was quite surprising," lead researcher Luke J. Peppone, research assistant professor of radiation oncology, said in a URMC news release. "Based on these results, doctors should strongly consider monitoring vitamin D levels among breast cancer patients and correcting them as needed."

Another expert said the findings do raise a red flag, but more study may be needed.

"There appears to be increasing evidence linking vitamin D levels and breast cancer," said Dr. Sharon M. Rosenbaum Smith, a breast cancer surgeon at the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Medical Center in New York City. "This study certainly shows another link between the two. However, a direct cause and effect relationship has not been proven. This study certainly suggests that continued optimization of a patient's vitamin D level may be advantageous."

Vitamin D is found in certain foods, but humans synthesize most of the nutrient they need via the action of sunlight on exposed skin. Supplements can also boost levels of vitamin D.

The Rochester team said their study is one of the first to look at the link between vitamin D levels and breast cancer progression. Previous studies have concentrated on vitamin D deficiency and the risk of cancer development only.

According to study leader Peppone, further research is required to learn more about the biological basis of the association between vitamin D and breast cancer outcomes, but this study shows the importance of checking vitamin D levels in breast cancer patients.

Experts note that research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until it is published in a peer-reviewed journal.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCES: Laurie Kirstein, M.D., breast surgeon, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City; Sharon M. Rosenbaum Smith, M.D., breast cancer surgeon, Comprehensive Breast Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Medical Center, New York City; University of Rochester Medical Center, news release, April 29, 2011

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