FACT CHECK: Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer?

A health claim circulating in communities and online states that:

“Breastfeeding your child reduces your risk of developing breast cancer.”

In Nigeria, including Benue State, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women, often worsened by late detection and misinformation. When health claims like this spread, they can either encourage healthy behaviour, or mislead people if exaggerated.

This makes fact-checking critical, especially in line with the work of the Centre for Democracy and Development in combating misinformation.

CLAIM: Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer

VERIFICATION

A major study conducted among Nigerian women found that breast cancer risk decreases by about 7% for every 12 months of breastfeeding Source

This is strong local evidence directly relevant to Nigerian women, including those in Benue.

Also, the World Cancer Research Fund confirms that there is strong scientific evidence that breastfeeding reduces a mother’s risk of breast cancer.

It explains this happens because breastfeeding reduces exposure to certain cancer-related hormones and helps remove damaged breast cells.

A 2024 meta-analysis of multiple studies found that women who never breastfed had significantly higher breast cancer risk while longer breastfeeding duration provides greater protection  Source

Benue State Context

While state-specific cancer data is limited, Benue shares similar patterns with the rest of Nigeria; low awareness and misinformation affect health decisions, breast cancer cases are often detected late, and preventive practices like breastfeeding can play a supportive role in reducing risk.

This makes accurate health information especially important at community level.

Some versions of the claim exaggerate it to say:,“Breastfeeding prevents breast cancer”  or that “If you breastfeed, you won’t get cancer”. This is FALSE. Research shows that risk reduction is gradual and partial, not total. For instance about 4.3% risk reduction per year of breastfeeding, not total prevention Source.

In Nigeria and Benue, such claims are often simplified during awareness campaigns, Misinterpreted in communities, Spread via WhatsApp and word-of-mouth, which end up turning a scientific fact into an exaggerated myth.

VERDICT: TRUE

The claim that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer is TRUE, but it must be properly understood. It lowers risk, not eliminates it. The effect increases with longer duration while other factors (genetics, age, lifestyle) still matter.

This piece  was produced in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) as part of its Media Fellowship in Benue State.

#CDDWestAfrica #TruthNaPower #fightfakeNews #VerifyBeforeYouShare.