A medical expert, Mrs Abigael Shona, has said that contrary to popular belief that breast cancer could be prevented when a man sucks his spouse’s breasts, only actively breastfeeding a baby can achieve the goal.

Mrs Shona told newsmen on Monday that breastfeeding a baby where the baby draws out milk can prevent breast cancer in women.

She said breast sucking by men could only help detect cancer, but it can’t prevent it the way breastfeeding would.

She said women, who breastfeed, lower their risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer.

“Most women who breastfeed experience hormonal changes during lactation that delay their menstrual periods.

“This reduces a woman’s lifetime exposure to hormones such as estrogen, which can promote breast cancer cell growth.

“What sucking the breast by a man can only do is to detect breast cancer by feeling the lumps early enough, so the woman can seek medical help,” she said.

She, however, encouraged women to allow their spouses to massage and fondle their breasts to help them detect breast cancer early.

“We are encouraging women not to deprive their husbands the pleasure of breast sucking and fondling, as this is also beneficial to them.

“This is because, inasmuch as we advocate self-examination by women for early detection, most women don’t do it.

“So, if they allow their husbands help them with it, it will help a lot because early detection is the major panacea to addressing the scourge.

“If breast cancer is detected early before it gets to an advanced stage, the patient can survive it,” Shona said.

The medical expert, however, noted that men could also have breast cancer, advising them to also be on the lookout.