Why cancer patients will not find a cure by drinking human milk that they buy online

Scientists at Lund University, Sweden, made a lucky discovery in 1995 while searching for new antibiotics. The scientists found that altering the protein in human breast milk to produce a complex called HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumour Cells) could kill some cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.

Since then, HAMLET’s tumor-fighting properties have been shown through several animal studies. It was shown that it could limit the progression of brain tumors, bladder cancer, and colon cancer in mice.

The popular press only caught on to these developments last year. Human milk was described as an ” accident cure for cancer” in breathless headlines after a promising proof-of-concept study on humans with bladder carcinoma.

Unintentionally, this coverage led to a spike in people searching online for human milk with the hope that it would cure their illness. This trend led to an increase in the use of #freezerstash as a social media hashtag by adults. Some people turned to online auction sites to plead for donations in order to save their loved ones. One woman sought Human Milk to treat her dog, which had cancer.

Some adults seek human milk to cure themselves or a loved one’s illness. Some people see human milk as a complementary therapy, a supplement that can be taken alongside conventional treatment or palliative care. Some see it as an immune-boosting drink that is more easily digestible than milk available commercially. It’s a “clean” food, unlike soya or cow’s milk, that is industrially produced.

Many of the facts in this article are incorrect.

Read more: A dietitian puts extreme ‘clean eating’ claims to the test – and the results aren’t pretty.

Misunderstanding the science

The HAMLET Study did not include drinking human milk. Scientists have altered the protein in human milk so that it can fight cancer. They did this by partially unfolding the proteins and adding a fat acid. You would only get the alpha-lactalbumin without this process. You need a lab, not just some freezer bags and a pump from eBay.

Second, while human milk provides optimal nutrition to babies and toddlers by providing them with immunological benefits, adult guts function in a manner that negates many of these benefits. Adult stomachs are more acidic and have different enzymes, which are harsher than human milk. Adults don’t receive the same benefits that infants do. Adults require a greater variety of foods to obtain all essential nutrients.

Third, drinking #freezerstash from others can be dangerous, as it exposes consumers to risks of bacterial, viral, and contamination. Human milk is not a “clean food,” as many people believe.

Even though many people who sell milk online claim to be healthy, don’t take any medications or caffeine, eat a particular diet (such as vegan, organic, or vegetarian), and store the milk in the freezer, that doesn’t make the milk “safe” or “clean.” Like any other food or beverage, human milk contains bacteria. That causes food-borne illnesses to be easily spread when the milk is not handled, stored, or collected correctly.

Online posts indicate that collection, storage, and transit processes are highly variable. This was confirmed by a Sun reporter whose order arrived in a gravy can.

While well-intentioned mothers pump and offer their milk, they can expose those who are ill to viruses. Some online traders claim to have been HIV tested and free of other infections. However, they may not have taken into account common viruses such as Cytomegalovirus that can be found in milk.

The Cytomegalovirus belongs to the family of herpes viruses. Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com

Cytomegalovirus is a virus that can infect healthy people with few symptoms or none at all. However, those with a weak immune system are more susceptible to serious illnesses, such as pneumonia and swelling of the brain.

The milk in milk banks has been pasteurized, and it is tested for pathogens. However, the human milk sold online does not undergo these tests.

It is not worth it to buy milk online for adults who are ill. False hope is given by those who say that human milk cures cancer. Many make tidy profits on the back of these false hopes. Research suggests that human milk has medical benefits, but these are found in labs and clinics, not #freezerstash.