Protein Called AFP May Prevent Breast Cancer

New studys show that pregnancy protects against breast cancer, and the discovery may lead to a new way to treat the breast cancer. Researchers from the University of Albany have proved the pregnancy protein alpha-fetoprotein (referred to as AFP) slowed down the growth of breast cancer in rats exposed to pregnancy hormones. Often, there are no symptoms of breast cancer, but signs of breast cancer can include a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram, please get tested asap if you haven’t done so, breast cancer kills millions of women each year. Most women know to check for lumps, but redness and thickening of the skin on the breast, could also indicate a very rare but aggressive form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer.

Research also shows that women who get Pregnant, before the age of 30, lower there risk for developing breast cancer, and having more than one child is also good for preventing breast cancer.

What we know is alpha fetoprotein is made by the women’s fetus, and doctors can take measurements of the protein during a women’s pregnancy to screen for birth defects. Hormones in pregnancy, such as estrogen, all induce alpha-fetoprotein AFP, which directly inhibits the growth of breast cancer in women.