Breast Milk & Cancer Treatment
Breast milk contains a wide variety of ingredients. It contains nutrients extremely beneficial to a growing infant and is considered the best choice for the feeding of a newborn baby. The idea of using the milk to treat cancer is something that is still being studied. Some believe the milk can actually kill cancer cells, while others believe it is too early to tell.
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In the Milk
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Breast milk contains carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is beneficial to a newborn because of its nutritious quality. It also has digestive proteins, stem cells, hormones and multiple vitamins and minerals.
Death of Cancer Cells
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In 1989, a study was conducted at Lund University in Sweden. A biologist named Catharina Svanborg mixed breast milk with cancer cells, looking for a way to fight germs. Svanborg quickly realized that the milk was actually killing cancer cells. As of 1999, she was furthering her study, looking for ways to prove the new find to other scientists.
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One Patient's Experience
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One of the first patients who came out publicly to praise breast milk as cancer therapy was a man by the name of "Tim." Tim is a 67-year-old man with cancer who drinks breast milk daily and feels it is helping to improve his immune system. He has even claimed his routine tests have shown that his cancer has improved slightly, but that it is a distinct improvement. His doctors do not directly attribute his improvement to the milk therapy, but Tim has said that the therapy has definitely improved his quality of life.
Where to Get Milk for Therapy
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Many patients receive breast milk from within their social circle. Whether it be a family member or friend, many people are willing to donate milk for the sake of cancer treatment. There are also many milk banks across the United States. While the primary recipients of the milk from banks are premature infants, these milk banks are also willing to donate some milk for milk therapy.
Varying Opinions in the Medical World
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Some doctors believe it is too early to determine if milk therapy works for cancer patients. Other medical professionals believe the milk in banks should only be used to premature infants who benefit greatly from the donated milk. A shortage of milk is feared if therapy becomes a widely used alternative to other treatments.
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References
- Photo Credit patient image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
