Australian scientists have made a breakthrough discovery in why breastfeeding and pregnancy reduces the long-term risk of breast cancer in women.

It is widely accepted that childbirth and breastfeeding can protect women against the deadly disease – but until now, the biological reason has been linked to hormones.

Researchers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Victoria, led by Professor Sherene Loi, have found that childbirth develops infection-fighting T-cells in the breasts, which continue to "live" in breast tissue for decades.

Loi and her team discovered that patients who had these T-cells had a better outcome of fighting cancer and generally had healthier breast tissue.

"These cells act like local guards, ready to attack abnormal cells that might turn into cancer," Lo

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