The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has dismissed claims that men suckling women’s breasts can prevent breast cancer, calling the belief false and misleading.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Naghib Bogere, an oncologist at UCI, said there is no scientific proof to support such claims.
Dr. Bogere warned that such myths can stop women from going for proper and timely breast cancer screening, which is important in saving lives.
“We know that breastfeeding is one of the proven ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower her risk. The benefit is greatest when breastfeeding lasts for at least a year,” he said.
He explained that breastfeeding helps because the breast cells fully mature and develop during lactation, which lowers the chance of abnormal cell growth. He added that this process cannot be achieved by a man suckling a woman’s breasts.
Dr. Bogere urged men to support their partners in better ways, such as reminding them to check their breasts every month and to seek medical help immediately if they notice any unusual changes.
He also noted that breast cancer can be cured in about 90 percent of cases when found early. Dr. Bogere reminded the public that men can also get breast cancer, although it is less common. He revealed that at the Uganda Cancer Institute, one in every 25 breast cancer patients is male.
