Breastfeeding can reduce breast cancer risk – but it does not rule out the disease

She called for stronger breast-health services at primary level, improved diagnostic and pathology capacity, better referral systems, wider access to surgery and cancer treatment, and efforts to reduce the financial burden on patients.

The warning comes amid concern about late diagnosis in West Africa, where cost, distance, misinformation and limited access to diagnostic services continue to affect breast-cancer outcomes.

Breastfeeding can lower a woman’s risk of breast cancer, but it does not make her immune to the disease, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President of Breast Care International, has said.