Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Is it true having kids before 30 lowers risk of breast cancer

Is it true having kids before 30 lowers risk of breast cancer?
I have breast cyst, have had a biopsy, however, my breast specialist indicated that my chances of having breast cancer develop would lower if I had a child before the age of 30? I was not ready to start planning to be a mom. Sure I am married, but have a few years to go for school. Has anyone else heard a similar story. p.s. it is the act of breast feeding that changes the breast development, thus avoiding cancer slightly.
Cancer - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
That's what they say, but who knows really...they also say if you don't have kids you can develop Ovarian Cancer as well...I have breast cancer, and I am 43. I don't have any children...maybe they are right.
2 :
The short answer is yes. HOWEVER, risks are probabilities, you may still get breast cancer if you have a child now, or conversely you may not get breast cancer even if you have a child after 30. Furthermore there are other risk factors for breast cancer. [family history, age at menarche, certain prior breast pathologies, breastfeeding, hormone use, menopause age.] One needs to put into context the background risk compared to the excess risk that the factor in question adds to the background risk. [unfortunately i haven't got the figures at hand right now.] The best thing is to speak to your doctor.
3 :
It's true that having children later in life or not having them at all is a breast cancer risk factor; and having children before the age of 30 and breastfeeding both offer a degree of protection against breast cancer. But it's just a risk factor not a cause, and most women who don't have children or who have their first later than 30 don't get breast cancer. A risk factor is simply something that may increase your risk, it isn't a cause. Insurance companies regard 'being male' as a risk factor for having a car crash, but being male doesn't actually cause car crashes. I really don't think you should let worry about something that may never happen change your plans, or stop you starting a family later in life if that's what you want to do.
4 :
I saw a genetics councilor who also told me that having children when your young can lower the risk of breast cancer. I saw the genetics councilor as my mum developed breast cancer at 36, but she had me at 17 and my sister at 20, she's never smoked, has a very healthy diet & is not overweight, she has never been on the contraceptive pill (some say this increases a risk), she has no family history of breast cancer and the tests they did showed it wasn't hormonal. The doctors could never explain why my mum developed breast cancer. I have 2 children that i had at 19 & 21, but i honestly dont believe the theory. I am at a moderate risk of developing breast cancer as my mum developed a very vicious cancer at such a young age. Carry on with your education, dont rush into having children, plan your family when your ready, doctors aren't always right, im sure if every woman had children before 30 and breast fed their babies, there would still be the same breast cancer diagnosis's as there are now.

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