Sucking your wife’s breasts doesn’t reduce cancer risk –Oncologist

A Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at the Department of Oncology, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr Sharif Folorunso, revealed that some people have said husbands sucking their wives breasts can help reduce the risk of contracting cancer is not scientific. It can, however, help in early detection, as it may help notice change in breast which could prompt further examination. Breastfeeding babies, however, decreases relative risk of breast cancer by 4.3 per cent for each 12 months of breastfeeding.

The actual cause of breast cancer is unknown. There are, however, some modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that can increase the chance of an individual coming down with breast cancer. Modifiable risk factors are factors that can be changed such as nulliparity (not giving birth), having first childbirth after age 30, hormonal replacement therapy, obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption.

If an individual avoids these factors, the chance of having breast cancer will be reduced.

Non-modifiable risk factors cannot be changed and include female gender, older age, family and personal history of breast cancer, radiation therapy to the chest, early menarche (first menstruation), late menopause.

Individuals with non-modifiable risk factors are advised to avoid modifiable risk factors and also have more frequent screening for breast cancer.