My cousin has cancer. I've written about her before a while ago. She had surgery to take out one ovary, did chemo, thought she was cancer free, then they found cancer in the other one.
Since I had my baby in May, I am exclusively breastfeeding him. I went back to work 6 weeks after he was born, and I work 3 days at work and 2 days at home every week. I have to pump for him, and well, I think I'm part Holstein because, damn. I only have to pump once in the morning to get all he needs, so I have quite the freezer stash going.
I read an article saying that a man who had prostate cancer who was a doctor decided to try to drink breastmilk to see if it would do anything to help get rid of the cancer. He tracked his PSA (? I think that is the relevant number) and when he was drinking 2 oz breastmilk from a family friend every day (in a smoothy, to get over the ick factory), the PSA number was steady or went down, but when his donor decided to wean her child, he had to get the milk from a milk bank. When he got the pasteurized stuff, it didn't work, but when he got the stuff barely pasteurized, it did.
I have since done more research, and the reason he even thought of it was that some researchers in Sweden showed that human breast milk kills cancer cells. When it is exposed to an acid, one of the proteins unfolds and becomes a cancer fighting machine.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100419132403.htm
I've read other articles saying babies that are formula fed have 9 time more incidences of cancer than breastfed babies. Also, even if breastmilk doesn't kill the cancer, the protein and carbohydrates in breastmilk, along with antibodies and everything else, etc., help those who drink it feel better after chemo.
I went over to her house 2 weeks ago with 32 oz of milk, and started pumping more to replenish. I just have to add one more 15 minute pumping session in the afternoon, and have plenty.
I called her house today, and got ahold of her mom (my aunt). I asked if she needed more, because by now she should be about out. Aunt told me she hadn't tried it yet 
I totally understand the ick factor. But if it could work!?! Why not try it?
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Edited to add:
Here is the original study:
http://www.pnas.org/content/92/17/8064.full.pdf
Trying to convince my cousin...
November 16th, 2011 at 03:48 pm
November 16th, 2011 at 04:36 am 1321418178
I think you are very kind to read up about this and to offer you're baby's lunch to your cousin.
November 16th, 2011 at 02:00 pm 1321452018
Let us not forget the story of "Grapes of Wrath" and Rose of Sharon's act.
I guess having worked inpatient pscyh unit, my "ick" moments have been far more "ickier", because this doesn't seem too awful to me. I would assume anything of possible value might be considered.
November 16th, 2011 at 03:27 pm 1321457226
Heck yes, I'd try anything if I had cancer. Hope she comes around. But at least you tried.
Laura, NT had to read Grapes of Wrath for college shortly after AA was born. He read the last few pages on lunch break at work, and had to put his head down and sob for a while. The poignancy of that scene with the old man, coupled with high emotion and exhaustion of new-fatherhood, was just too much for him.
November 16th, 2011 at 03:28 pm 1321457320
November 16th, 2011 at 03:47 pm 1321458469
November 16th, 2011 at 03:48 pm 1321458500
November 16th, 2011 at 07:33 pm 1321472039
November 16th, 2011 at 07:38 pm 1321472329
If she needed blood or a kidney, I would offer and I think she would accept, so I don't see what the difference is...
November 17th, 2011 at 12:05 am 1321488347
November 17th, 2011 at 01:39 am 1321493971
November 17th, 2011 at 05:29 am 1321507792
You are a good friend to offer. That'll be some smoothie recipe.
November 21st, 2011 at 05:05 am 1321851938
November 21st, 2011 at 07:42 pm 1321904569