Delaying Child Birth May Reduce Risk of Developing an Aggressive form of Breast Cancer

A recent online medical news story reported that women who delay childbirth by at least 15 years after their first menstrual period could reduce their risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer by as much as 60% According to a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Study. The conclusions by Christopher I. Li, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutch, are published online in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. The author found that the time between the first menstrual period and age at the first live birth is directly linked with the risk of triple negative breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer is relatively uncommon and is an unusually aggressive form of the disease. It does not rely on hormones like estrogen to grow and spread. This type of breast cancer accounts for only 10 to 20% of all breast cancers and does not express the genes for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or HER2/neu and this is why it does not respond to drugs that block hormones like Tamoxifen. This is the first study to look at how reproductive factors and the risk of developing breast cancer among premenopausal women are interrelated. Premenopausal women have a higher risk of triple negative and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer then women who are postmenopausal. The study also reconfirmed several previous studies that encouraged breast-feeding as a protective effect against triple negative disease. Breast-feeding continues to show promise as a potentially strong protective factor against the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. It is important to note that this is an observational study and should be viewed with caution until further studies provide conclusive confirmation. Dr. Seify consults with patients who have had children and are dissatisfied with the shape of their body following childbirth. For many women the choice to breast-feed and have children is one they would never regret; however, the toll that it has taken on their body has left them unhappy. Dr. Seify explains that the popular combined procedure that is come to be known the same as the “mommy makeover “is an excellent solution. The mommy makeover is not the same procedure for everyone. For most patients the consist of a breast augmentation, possibly a breast lift, abdominoplasty, and liposuction. These procedures are performed in one surgery provided the patient is a good candidate. For most patients the results are dramatic and many tell Dr. Seify that they look better than they did before their pregnancy. Patients were considering the “mommy makeover “are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.