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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in expressing breastmilk for my mother who has cancer

93 replies

weeamoomoo · 17/09/2008 22:10

after watching C4 programme last week i thought i'd never forgive myself if i DIDNT do it. but all i know is from that programme. anyone else know anything about it?
she had her first lot today.

OP posts:
WilfSell · 17/09/2008 22:27

I used the word daft - not about the idea of the BM which I think is up to her and I would too in her position - but about posting the question in AIBU, which as we know, tends to kick off.

lilymolly · 17/09/2008 22:29

Sorry it upset- I am sure it wont do any harm at all, just not sure of any benefits.
You know what, I knew I would get flamed for my opinion.

I really really really hope the OP mother gets better soon, I really do.

My MIL recently had a cancer scare and it would never have crossed my mind to offer her breast milk.

The Op asked the question and I answered.

charchargabor · 17/09/2008 22:30

It's appears that the full paper is only available in Swedish atm. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

LynetteScavo · 17/09/2008 22:34

weeamoomoo - how much milk do you think you will be able to provide for her? How much might she need to drink a day?

onelittlelion · 17/09/2008 22:36

I'm sure your mum must appreciate the fact you can do this for her and are there for her. Hope it does help and with the treatment too she is better soon. So not unreasonable at all imo. Good luck!

trixymalixy · 17/09/2008 22:38

YANBU, I'd do anything for my family if i thought it might help.

solo · 17/09/2008 22:40

Growing Mung Beans and eating the bean shoots are also meant to fight cancer too...

zookeeper · 17/09/2008 22:41

What a lovely thing to do - I really hope she gets better

primigravida · 18/09/2008 00:34

Good on you. My MIL had lymphoma too and is now in remission so there is hope. Best of luck to you and your mum.

Flossish · 18/09/2008 08:07

'My MIL recently had a cancer scare and it would never have crossed my mind to offer her breast milk.'

Few things I'd like to point out 'my MIL' - whole world of difference between a mother and MIL imo!!

also a cancer scare is a very different scenario to a cancer diagnoses where other treatments might not have been totally successful and you will do anything to prevent loosing the person you love.

Sorry but you sound flippant and I really don't think you have thought to take the time to think through your post which when a OP is in such a stressful situation you really ought to try harder.

stitch · 18/09/2008 08:10

its a lovely lovely thought. my mother wouldlove that i had such positive feelings for her, bute her eeewwwwww..... factor would be too high to actually drink the stuff.

jammi · 18/09/2008 08:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

stretchmarkqueen · 18/09/2008 09:04

I'm so sorry you are going through this.

I know it's completely not the same thing, but when my newborn ds had really bad gunky eyes for 6 weeks, I expressed my bm and applied it to his eyes 4 x a day. That cleared it up better and faster than 2 courses of anti-biotics! I think it must have some amazing health benefits, not just the known ones.

My thoughts are with you and your mum.

bamboostalks · 18/09/2008 09:09

I would post this again under geheral health. I usually try to ignore AIBU threads. They are usually full of nonsense.

bamboostalks · 18/09/2008 09:09

general

lilymolly · 18/09/2008 09:14

sorry I sounded flippant and I will try harder next time
Its an internet forum and I was expressing my opinion.

As I have stated very clearly I have upmost sympathy for the OP and her mum and I am really sorry she has to go through this.

But I watched the TV programme about breast milk and the man who had suffered from prostate cancer and thought the whole thing was madness.Prob because I work and have been trained in evidence based medicine and no where is it proven that breast milk will cure cancer- if it was then surely everyone would be taking it?

Again want to reiterate I am not a heartless cow and really hope that the mum gets better.
And if the OP wants to express breast milk for her mum then great but its just not for me and my gut instinct when I read the OP was "You are not unreasonable but would not be something I would ever consider"

Snaf · 18/09/2008 09:20

I think it's an amazing thing to do - good for you. Since it cannot do any harm at all and there is a possibility it may do good, what's not to like?

I hope MNers will be able to restrain themselves from backbiting and nitpicking on this thread, AIBU or not.

Best wishes to your mum, and to you.

debzmb62 · 18/09/2008 09:33

what a lovely thing to do for your mum i,m going to read up on this sound good although i,ve never heard of this it is so pure and good enough for our babies so.....

debzmb62 · 18/09/2008 09:41

very interesting and well worth a try !!

www.nbc11.com/health/7575314/detail.html

Flossish · 18/09/2008 09:48

My last point as I take on board what snaf has said

If you are medically trained and have experience dealing with patients with cancer then you will understand that whatever the patient and their relatives wish to do should be respected and if feasible, facilitated.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 18/09/2008 09:49

i had been wondering about suggesting buying some to sil for nephew who has cancer. but i wouldnt even know where to start and i am worried she might think im a freak.

no YANBU you are being kind. i hope your mum makes a full recovery.

foxytocin · 18/09/2008 09:53

lillymolly don't you also work for a formula company?

chipmonkey · 18/09/2008 09:54

weeamoomoo, I think it's a great idea. It is true that a lot of the evidence seems to be anecdotal, but if there is one study which appears to show that it will kill cancer cells, what are you going to do, wait around until they do further studies or just go ahead and give it to her? I know what I'd do! You are a lovely daughter to have!

morningpaper · 18/09/2008 09:56

Why not, it's only like trying a diet of 'superfoods' etc and when people do that everyone nods as though they are very sensible

Your immune system is better than hers at the mo - so why not try and pass on the benefits?

morningpaper · 18/09/2008 09:58

The California's Mothers' Milk Bank in the US says it has supplied about 28 adults with doctors' prescriptions in the past four years.