Breast Milk Consumption by Adult Chemotherapy Patients
There is no evidence supporting the consumption of breast milk by adult chemotherapy patients, and this practice should not be recommended. The available medical literature addresses only the safety of breastfeeding by women receiving chemotherapy (i.e., whether chemotherapy drugs pass into breast milk and affect nursing infants), not whether breast milk provides any therapeutic benefit to adult cancer patients consuming it.
Why This Question Lacks Evidence-Based Support
The provided guidelines and research focus exclusively on two distinct clinical scenarios that do not address your question:
Chemotherapy drug excretion into breast milk: Studies examine whether women receiving chemotherapy can safely breastfeed their infants, with evidence showing that chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and carboplatin do pass into breast milk at varying concentrations 1, 2. The NCCN guidelines explicitly state that "breast feeding during active treatment with chemotherapy and endocrine therapy is not recommended" for nursing mothers 3.
Nutritional support during chemotherapy: Guidelines address maintaining adequate caloric intake, managing treatment-related symptoms like nausea and weight loss, and using commercially prepared or homemade nutrient-dense drinks when patients cannot meet nutritional needs through regular diet 3. However, breast milk is never mentioned as a therapeutic nutritional intervention for adult patients.
What the Evidence Actually Addresses
Fermented Milk Products (Not Human Breast Milk)
One study examined milk fermented by Lactobacillus casei as an immune adjuvant in mouse models of breast cancer, showing potential reduction in chemotherapy side effects 4. This refers to probiotic-fermented dairy products, not human breast milk, and represents preclinical animal research that cannot be extrapolated to recommend breast milk consumption by adult patients.
Nutritional Recommendations During Chemotherapy
The American Cancer Society recommends that adult cancer patients focus on 3:
- Maintaining energy balance and preventing unintentional weight loss
- Consuming smaller, more frequent meals if experiencing early satiety
- Using commercially prepared or homemade nutrient-dense drinks when regular diet is insufficient
- Considering enteral nutrition if supportive measures fail
Breast milk is not included in any evidence-based nutritional guidelines for adult cancer patients.
Critical Clinical Considerations
Supplement Caution During Chemotherapy
Evidence suggests caution with dietary supplements during chemotherapy. Use of antioxidant supplements (vitamins A, C, E) both before and during treatment was associated with increased hazard of recurrence (adjusted HR 1.41) and death (adjusted HR 1.40) in breast cancer patients 5. While breast milk is not a supplement per se, this underscores that unproven interventions during chemotherapy may have unintended consequences.
No Established Therapeutic Role
There is no pharmacological, immunological, or nutritional rationale supported by clinical evidence for adult chemotherapy patients to consume breast milk. Standard nutritional support should follow established guidelines focusing on adequate caloric intake, protein preservation, and symptom management 3.