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Breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk: a case–control study in Tunisia

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Abstract

In this report, we examined the relationship between mother’s breastfeeding history and her risk of breast cancer, in a case–control study in Tunisia between 2006 and 2009. About 400 breast cancer cases and 400 controls were included. Cases and controls were interviewed using a standardized structured questionnaire to obtain information on breastfeeding and other risk factors. Mean duration of breastfeeding per child was significantly associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer for women who breastfed for >24 months per child. The OR was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.28–0.76) when compared those who breastfed for <6 months. The test for trend was significant (p = 0.01). A significantly reduced risk of breast cancer was found for those whose lifetime duration of breastfeeding was 73–108 months (OR = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.36–1.18) and for those who breastfed for ≥109 months (OR = 0.42, 95% CI, 0.20–0.84). Stratification by menopausal status showed a reduced risk of breast cancer associated with a longer duration of breastfeeding for both pre- and postmenopausal women. The risk reduction was more consistent for lifetime duration of breastfeeding, the test for trend being significant for both pre- (p = 0.03) and postmenopausal (p = 0.01) women. These results support an inverse association between breastfeeding and breast cancer risk.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the research unit “oncogénétique clinique” University of Medicine of Sousse. We would like to thank Mrs Kassab Asma for English revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, CHU Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia

    Msolly Awatef, Gharbi Olfa, Mahmoudi Kacem, Chabchoub Imen, Chafai Rim, Bibi Mohamed & Ben Ahmed Slim

  2. Department of Epidemiology, CHU Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia

    Harrabi Imed

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  1. Msolly Awatef
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  2. Gharbi Olfa
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  3. Harrabi Imed
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  4. Mahmoudi Kacem
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  5. Chabchoub Imen
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  6. Chafai Rim
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  7. Bibi Mohamed
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  8. Ben Ahmed Slim
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Correspondence to Msolly Awatef.

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Awatef, M., Olfa, G., Imed, H. et al. Breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk: a case–control study in Tunisia. Cancer Causes Control 21, 393–397 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9471-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9471-3

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