Breast milk used in cancer fight

12:00a.m. 13th January 2009

 

By Kathy Sundstrom

 

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/jan/13/breast-milk-cancer-fight/

 

A Sunshine Coast mother believes the breast milk she has fed her gravely ill
nine-year-old daughter since October has contributed toward substantial
improvement in the youngster's health.

 

The girl was given a bleak prognosis by doctors in October when they found
she had a life-threatening tumour.

 

The mother's close friend, a Sunshine Coast midwife, suggested that they try
breast milk as a treatment option. She said she had recently finished
studying its unique health benefits.

 

"Six months before the child was diagnosed, I was doing research as part of
my midwifery and read that breast milk contains a protein that causes cell
death in malignant tumours," the midwife said.

 

"I thought I would like to research this as an innovative treatment and when
the child was diagnosed, I suggested they try it. There was nothing to lose
and plenty to gain."

 

The midwife went to an Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting in
Maroochydore and asked mothers if they would be prepared to donate their
milk to help.

 

She also advertised for breast milk in the Sunshine Coast Daily classifieds.

 

The child was given 500ml of breast milk each day mixed with fruit in a
"smoothie".

 

"Since those first weeks, donations have grown through word of mouth," she
said.

 

"There are so many generous wonderful breastfeeding mothers on the Coast who
will do anything to help.

 

"We are extremely grateful to all those mothers who have donated their
'magic milk' as we are certain that it has been of substantial benefit."

 

An examination of the child in Brisbane on Friday showed that there had been
a significant turnaround in the girl's condition.

 

She is now looking at going back to school.

 

The breast milk was used with other alternative and traditional treatments.

 

The girl would require ongoing check-ups, but "the doctor was very happy
with her results".

 

The Australian Breastfeeding Association's Lactation Resource Centre manager
Kate Mortensen said no research had been undertaken in Australia on the
medical benefits of breast milk.

 

It was however a documented fact that breast-fed babies were less likely to
obtain a certain form of leukaemia and incidences of breast cancer were less
in mothers who had breast fed.

 

"There have been anecdotal reports (of treating cancer with breast milk),
but no formal research has been undertaken," Ms Mortensen said.

 

"In the laboratory it has been found something in breast milk knocks off
cancer cells. In America, they have donor milk banks and you can get it on
prescription. There could be great potential for research."

 

The midwife encouraged anyone trying breast milk as a medical treatment to
document their results. She can be contacted through the Daily.

 

Last night, the little girl's father thanked the midwife and the mothers who
had given his family help and support. 

 


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