Does breastfeeding reduce risk for breast cancer? A short lesson in evidence-based practice.

Breastfeeding has been promoted by some healthcare providers and childbirth educators as having a protective effect against breast cancer. In an effort to use the best evidence available for teaching patients, this article was written to summarize the literature about the protective effects of breastfeeding. The studies examined consistently demonstrated a mild to moderate protective effect from breast cancer; however, many variables including age, medication use, smoking, and family history affected the risk. While nurses and childbirth educators are in key positions to disseminate information to women concerning their choice in feeding their newborns and how that choice affects their health in general, it is essential that the information they impart is based on evidence.