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Prolactin Levels

Prolactin is a hormone mainly produced in the pituitary gland (a small gland near the brain). It plays a role in breast growth and the production of milk during breastfeeding.

Women with higher blood levels of prolactin have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than women with lower levels [319-320].

Measures of prolactin blood levels may one day help estimate breast cancer risk [69-70].

For a summary of research studies on prolactin and breast cancer risk, visit the Breast Cancer Research Studies section.

Updated 03/07/22

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