Feeding my Breast Milk to My Dying Dad Gave Him an Extra Year of Life- Says Daughter

 Hellen Fitzsimmons gave her dad who was battling with cancer, breast milk intended for her son and she believes it helped her Dad to live one year extra. Helen Fitzsimmons, 40, pumped her one-year-old son's milk and gave it to her father Arthur after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Arthur had already been fighting myeloma cancer - which affects bone marrow - for four years when he was told he also had prostate cancer in October 2013.

Desperate to help, Helen started researching treatments and came across medical evidence which showed breast milk can boost the immune system. After tentatively approaching the subject with mum Jean, Arthur told Helen: 'Anything is worth a go.'

 Helen, of Cheltenham, said: "The first time dad tasted my milk from a glass he drank it down in one go. He looked at me and smiled, then said 'this tastes fine'.

"I know there are some people who may find this all a little strange but when someone you love is suffering you would do anything to help them. I'd found a way to help my dad and I took it. It gave him hope and he lived 16 months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. That was a year longer than we expected after that and I'm sure it was my breast milk that helped."

Arthur was diagnosed with myeloma cancer aged 68 in 2009, a slow-moving but terminal cancer which raises protein levels, in turn lowering the immune system and weakening the bones.

He was undergoing treatment with chemotherapy drugs when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2013.

  

Hellen did a research and found out that breast milk helped to build immune system within the body and also a Swedish scientist in 1995 had said breast milk was used to kill cancer cells in Laboratory. Soon after Hellen started giving her father her breast milk his protein levels dropped. However there was a time when Hellen could only provide 1ft oz a day and his protein level started to raise again. Hellen decided to ask her friend who also breast feeding to donate and her father started drinking 3fl Oz a day, and his health improved a lot.

 

Unfortunately Hellen's Dad lost his battle for life Easter last year, 16 months after he was diagnosed with cancer. Helen beliefs breast milk gave him an extra year of living. Helen said her only regreat is she didn't realise sooner. If only she had start to give her dad breast milk when she was breastfeeding  her daughter, because her daughter Hammonywas only few months old when Hellen's Dad was firstly  diagnosed with cancer in 2009, her Dad would probably still be alive today.  Helen decided to share her story so as she help others who are battling with cancer.

UK Mirror