You Can’t Prevent Cancer Through Breast Sucking – Expert Clarifies

A urologist, Dr. Sam Adegboye, has debunked the widespread belief that frequent sucking of a woman’s breasts can prevent breast cancer. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr. Adegboye, who serves as the Assistant Chief Medical Officer and General Practitioner at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, stated that there is no scientific evidence to support such claims.

He emphasized that women should focus on proven preventive measures, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and practicing regular breast self-examinations. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that men sucking their wives’ breasts can prevent breast cancer,” he said. “There are many ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer. It starts with a healthy lifestyle. Women should learn self-examination techniques. They can find videos on YouTube showing how to properly examine their breasts at home.”

Dr. Adegboye also noted that using contraceptive pills during adolescence could increase susceptibility to breast cancer due to hormonal imbalances. He explained that these imbalances might lead to abnormal growth or pain in the breast tissue. Additionally, he pointed out that trauma to the breast could contribute to cancer development, further reinforcing the need for early detection.

To monitor breast health, Adegboye recommended clinical breast examinations, mammography, and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (3D mammography). He also mentioned other diagnostic tools such as ultrasound, MRI, and biopsies, which involve removing tissue samples for analysis.

He urged women to maintain a balanced diet, avoid smoking, and embrace healthier habits to reduce their cancer risk. Dr. Adegboye also addressed several misconceptions about breast cancer, including the false beliefs that it only affects older women, is contagious, or that it always presents as a lump. He added that it is also wrong to assume that men cannot get breast cancer or that only those with a family history are at risk.

According to the American Cancer Society and other health organizations, breast cancer risk is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors.