Women who breastfeed their babies for prolonged periods have a lower risk of developing breast cancer in later life than comparable women who do not breastfeed.

The longer a woman breastfeeds, the more she is protected against breast cancer. The reduction in risk is about 4% for every cumulative 12 months of breastfeeding (i.e. obtained by summing up the periods a woman has breastfed each child), in addition to a reduction in breast cancer risk directly due to having had a baby. In addition, it is important to stress that breast milk is the best food for babies and brings them many health benefits.