Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 15% of all cancersImperial College London (ICL) researchers have been awarded £150,715 by Breast Cancer Now to investigate the links between breast cancer and breastfeeding in women.Currently the most common cancer in the UK, breast cancer affects around 55,000 women every year and accounts for 15% of all cancer cases in the UK.
The disease occurs when abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours.
Previous research has already shown that breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Data analysis has shown that the risk of developing the disease decreases by 4% for every 12 months of breastfeeding.
Researchers have estimated that this is due to breastfeeding altering the balance of hormones in the body, protecting breast cells and making them less vulnerable to changes that cause cancer.
In addition, ICL researchers previously found that breast milk sometimes contained cells with potentially cancer-causing changes in their DNA in women who had been breastfeeding for less than four months.
Using breast milk samples donated by 300 women from the Breastmilk Epigenetics Cohort Study co-ordinated by the Human Milk Foundation, researchers intend to determine whether breastfeeding for longer periods of time removes these cancer-causing cells and whether factors, including weight, exercise or smoking, can be linked to their presence.
Researchers will screen the samples for cancer-causing cells and will continue to collect samples every few months to detect any changes.
Dr James Flanagan, reader in epigenetics, ICL, commented: “We believe that preventing breast cancer is the best way to reduce the number of deaths from the disease” and “we hope to use the knowledge from this study to prevent as many breast cancers as possible”.
Dr Simon Vincent, director of research, support and influencing, Breast Cancer Now, said: “We’re delighted to fund more research in this area, as it will help us continue to improve the information and advice that we provide to women on breast cancer risk.”

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/254358/150000-study-will-explore-links-between/