Exclusive Breastfeeding Solution To Breast Cancer, Expert Tells Mothers

Nursing mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months to reduce the risk of breast cancer, says Dr Nwachukwu Ugwuanna, of Community Health Department, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

The health expert, who spoke on Friday in Enugu, also advised women to afterwards embark on about two years’ complementary feeding of their babies for their wellness and that of their babies.

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He said the increasing cases of uterine and breast cancer is a result of women’s refusal to abide by common medical tips.

In his words, “Exclusive breastfeeding has been established to be an effective way of averting breast cancer. It is the best natural way to avert it, and does not cost anything, except discipline.

“Women should also avoid breast enlargement as that distorts nature. They should avoid putting currencies and coins in their breasts as such could introduce agents that could cause breast cancer.”

He advised women to self-examine their breasts regularly, and report any lump to health experts for proper examination. In his words, “At stage one, the option is surgery because it has not spread to tissues or organs of the body. Health experts will determine if chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery should be applied at various stages.

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“Breast cancer has no connection with virus or bacteria. Men can also suffer it, and theirs is deadlier. In all, early detection is the solution. It is not a death penalty as people tend to believe.”

He mentioned the symptoms as lumps in breasts, reddening around nipples, thickening of some parts of the breast, wounds, and disfiguration of the shape of breasts, adding that it is not communicable.

He however said that about ninety percent of such lumps are not symptoms of breast cancer as other minor ailments do manifest with such symptoms.

He said, “To avoid it, women should avoid smoking, including secondary smoking where they are exposed to inhaling smokes from other sources; avoid harmful use of alcohol, tobacco; observe regular exercises, control of weight, avoid prolonged use of hormones, reduce exposure to radiation, avoid bleaching creams, and also eat healthy food, and treat any infections. Again, regular screening should be encouraged and always seek services of expertise.”

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