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Use of Human Milk as Cancer Therapy

Breast Milk Helps Reduce Cancer-Related Symptoms

Apr 27, 2009 Megan Doyle

The use of human breast milk as an alternative therapy for cancer patients can reduce symptoms of disease and improve patient quality of life.

Human milk is an ideal food for infants because it contains a unique blend of carbohydrates, protein and fat that is perfect for a baby’s development. Additionally, breast milk contains digestive proteins, minerals, vitamins, hormones, antibodies, and stem cells that allow children to thrive and resist infection. These immune-building properties also make human milk a promising alternative medicine for adults with chronic diseases like cancer.

Human Milk Kills Cancer Cells

It is unclear how human milk provides relief for cancer patients, however many people believe that it is actually capable of killing cancer cells. This is supported by a study published in 1995 from Lund University in Sweden that showed that human milk could cause cultured cancer cells to undergo programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Since that groundbreaking discovery, other groups studying human milk have observed similar responses in a variety of cancer cell lines. While no studies have tested the ability of human milk to stimulate cancer cell apoptosis in human patients, many people that have been diagnosed with cancer are encouraged by these results and choose to use breast milk as a complement or alternative to conventional cancer treatment.

Breast Milk Treatment Improves the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

A recently published qualitative study in the Journal of Human Lactation assessed whether cancer patients that had taken human milk as part of their therapy experienced any benefit. Men and women with various stages of cancer were asked to evaluate their cancer symptoms before and after commencing human milk therapy. Patients reported the following improvements after beginning human milk treatment:

Reduction of chemotherapy symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, fatigue)
Drop in PSA levels after one month (prostate cancer)
Improved respiratory function
Improved appearance
Fewer colds

Results from this study give credence to the idea that human milk can have “healing” effects in people who are ill. While this study did not find that breast milk was able to kill cancer cells or extend overall survival, patients were able to live more productive and comfortable lives.

Obtaining Breast Milk for Cancer Therapy

Many people with cancer obtain breast milk donations from friends or relatives. There are also several human milk banks across the United States and in Canada that will supply donated breast milk to cancer patients. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) has milk banks in California, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New England, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and British Columbia. The first priority of these organizations, however, is to use the donations to help premature infants in neonatal intensive care units.

Mounting evidence suggests that human milk therapy can have a positive impact on the quality of life of cancer patients. Breast milk could prove to be a very useful treatment in cancer and other chronic diseases since an improvement in quality of life can have a considerable impact on a patient’s ability to combat illness.

References

Rough M, et al. Qualitative Analysis of Cancer Patients’ Experiences Using Donated Human Milk. J Hum Lact. 2009;25(2):211-219.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Warnings and Disclaimer

The statements of this article are not meant to substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. Its contents are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or provide relief for any condition. Please seek the guidance of a qualified physician before implementing the approach to health detailed in this article.

The copyright of the article Use of Human Milk as Cancer Therapy in General Medicine is owned by Megan Doyle. Permission to republish Use of Human Milk as Cancer Therapy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Human Milk Kills Cancer Cells