Diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors affect multiple pathways that may reduce breast cancer risk: immune function, hormones, inflammation, and epigenetics. In our study we want to learn about factors that are associated with inflammation in breast tissue.

We will use breast milk to look for signs of breast inflammation. Breast milk gives us non-invasive access to the breast microenvironment and to breast epithelial cells so we can assess the effects of lifestyle factors directly in the breast.

We also want to learn how these factors can affect the health of breastfed babies.