SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Dr. Irma Russo of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia found a number of studies around the world have established a full-term pregnancy by age 20 reduces breast cancer risk by half.

Previous studies by Russo and her colleagues suggest breast cells reach full maturity -- a process called differentiation -- only after a full-term pregnancy. Once this process is complete, the cells are less vulnerable to cancer-causing changes and an early pregnancy confers the strongest protection by limiting the time breast cells remain immature.

"A high-susceptibility or high-risk window exists early in life, between the start of ovarian function and the first pregnancy", explained Russo. "During this period, the mammary gland has continuously varying characteristics influenced by ovarian and pituitary hormones. These traits change during pregnancy under the influence of embryonic and placental hormones."

The findings were presented during the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Anaheim, Calif.