A Toddler with Leukemia
April 22, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, cancer, extended breastfeeding, health of the baby, toddler nursing
Cancer is the topic for this month’s theme day here at the Health and Wellness Channel at b5media. I have written a lot about how breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in the mother. This time I want to focus on cancer and the breastfed infant. The good news is that breastfeeding reduces the risk that a child will develop leukemia. Unfortunately, it can still happen. In that case, imagine what comfort a child with cancer could take from nursing at his mother’s breast, not to mention the potential benefit of the promising anti-cancer properties of breast milk.
Jonathan is a two-and-a-half year old nursling with leukemia. You can read his story here. Start with the “my story” page then follow his current progress in the family’s “journal.” Before you go, make sure to leave a supportive comment in “guestbook.”
Can you imagine if a nursing toddler were denied the comfort of breastfeeding during treatment? Remember the controversy over the Ronald McDonald House policy on breastfeeding in public?
I can not imagine being told not to breastfeed during treatment. It seems counterintuitive and detrimental to both child and mother.
I can not follow the link to caring bridge to read Jonathan’s story. Help?
Hi Stacy – thanks for letting me know of a problem. I hope it’s fixed if you click on the link for “his story here” but just in case, here is the direct URL:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jonathanpilch
It worked! Thanks so much.
Useful!