Drinking breast milk as a complementary treatment for cancer

[MNettersknoweverything]

Does anyone know if the wonderful stuff found in breast milk would have any impact for a cancer patient, both in terms of the tumour, but also general immunity and wellbeing?

An oncologist has told us that breastmilk is designed for babies and would not have much/any effect on adults....does anyone have any contrary evidence, experience or opinion if any sort?

[PhilPhilConnors]

I seem to remember reading an article about it, and breastmilk has benefits whatever the age.
I'll see if I can find it.

[PhilPhilConnors]

Actually if you google breastmilk and cancer patients, quite a lot comes up.

[specialsubject]

perish the thought that the guy with the medical degree and the years of specialist experience should be believed...

[tormentil]

colostrum? you can buy bovine colostrum - said to have numerous health benefits.

[PhilPhilConnors]

Special, it's very, very common for medics not to have up to date knowledge beyond the field they work in.
Research into breastmilk is relatively new, and most Drs I know are quite closed minded when it comes to anything that doesn't involve big pharma.

[MNettersknoweverything]

special your tone was unnecessary given the sensitive subject matter.

Scientific (indeed any type of) progress comes from people questioning the status quo, being open minded about results and investigating new things in a scientific fashion, not from blindly accepting everything any one particular doctor says as gospel.

[dementedpixie]

I am sure a thread like this has been on here in the past

[MNettersknoweverything]

Thank you for your input Phil and tormentil. I will look more thoroughly on the net for reliable and non-anecdotal info.

Meanwhile, any further input from anyone gratefully received.

[MNettersknoweverything]

If you can point me to it demented that would be great. I did find some related threads but not exactly the same, or a few years old.

[blamethecat]

I was pointed towards this study when I asked
www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~andersh/research/milkcancer.asp
as my DP was diagnosed in Sept and I am still BF our son, so far his conventional treatment has worked so he hasn't had the delights of trying my milk yet ! but he seemed open to it if things deteriorated. I hope you find some answers to your questions.

[Purplecan4]

Am no expert.

However, some cancers have hormone receptors (eg oestrogen can help some types of breast cancer grow). Oestrogen can come through into breast milk and it seems that components in breast milk are designed to enhance the effects of the oestrogen the baby received from mother during pregnancy . So I'd be cautious giving breast milk to a patient with a hormone positive cancer for example .

Can you say what type of cancer it is?

[firesidechat]

My husband had cancer for years and is at serious risk of it coming back. We see the consultant every few months.

I totally support specialsubject's right to say what she did. Lots of people (us included) are happy to stay mainstream and that's fine. I don't think it was insensitive at all.

I dare say if there is any foundation to this treatment it will become available in some form at some point.

[firesidechat]

Sorry that was a bit sharp, but it's a bit of a sore point.

[rogueantimatter]

hamlet a folding variant of alpha-lactalbumin from human milk that induces tumour cell death

Lund university Sweden

[MNettersknoweverything]

Thanks all, it's certainly an interesting topic.

firesidechat would you mind saying a bit more about why it is a sore point for you and your reasons for staying mainstream? I hope that doesn't sound like a stupid question. I completely appreciate that science is science and arguably the only thing to be trusted and also that trust in huge medical profession is key. I also agree that if there is anything to all this then it will become available through the appropriate channels and licensing etc.

I guess I am (perhaps stupidly) trying to get a step ahead as I am aware drugs take years and years to come to market even once it is known that they "work".

Thank you rogue that is exactly the sort of info I was after.

[rogueantimatter]

You might be interested in milk thistle - one study on child leukemia patients on chemotherapy - sorry I can't link.

Also turmeric.

A private nutritionist - not a dietician - would be knowledgeable about other supplements such as reishi mushrooms, green tea etc. And would advise on what not to waste your money on.

Budwig protocol might be worth looking at too.

Oncologists aren't academics so they don't always know about the latest research into 'alternative' treatments. And they aren't allowed to recommend anything that hasn't been proven.

My oncologist and surgeon were happy for me to take several supplements provided they were stopped a few days before surgery as some of them have slight blood thinning properties.