The relationship of breast cancer risk with parity and breast feeding in Thai women.
An investigation was carried out in 1265 Thai women around the Phyathai area in Bangkok to find out the relationship of breast cancer risk with parity and breastfeeding. The patients studied included individuals who had no clinical evidence of breast disease, those who had benign disease, and those who had breast cancer. With regard to marital and pregnancy status, the finding is in agreement with earlier reports that marriage, pregnancy, and early delivery have a protective role against breast cancer. Breast cancer patients had a higher number of children, a higher percentage of mothers who nursed them, and a longer period of nursing than did normal individuals. These findings differ from earlier reports. Breastfeeding may have a protective role in this disease. It is, however, inconclusive whether a long period of nursing gives protection from breast cancer.