Wednesday, January 19, 2005

ThePittsburghChannel.com - Call 4 Action - Call 4 Action: Breast Pump Policies
POSTED: 5:45 pm EST January 19, 2005
"Women who use breast pumps to release milk do it for comfort reasons, but also to ensure that the milk is continually produced for their babies. Call 4 Action reporter Meghan Jones says employers must provide a place for working mothers to do it. However, women are on their own when they're outside their homes or offices. Tricia Gray, who works in the health care industry, uses a breast pump to express milk when she's away from her 4-month-old daughter, Cameron. A closed door and an electrical outlet is all she needs...."
DOCS HOPE THIS LADY'S BREAST MILK HELPS CURE CANCER
New York Post Online Edition: news
By SAM SMITH
"January 16, 2005 -- It's not just babies sucking down breast milk anymore. In small but growing numbers, adults are swigging it themselves hoping for a miracle cure for cancer and therapy against a host of other ailments. Based on European research showing breast milk is a potent cancer killer in the lab and beefs up immune systems of organ-transplant recipients and others, about 50 Americans pressed their doctors for milk prescriptions last year, up from nearly zero five years ago. Len Capp, 60, of South River, N.J., was one of the intrepid few. When he was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago, Capp's doctor wanted to operate immediately, but based on research Capp uncovered, he convinced his doctor to wait — and to write him a prescription for breast milk. 'I forced the prescription,' said Capp, who had to sign a waiver with a North Carolina milk bank to supply him with unpasteurized milk, something they typically don't do. The milk was shipped frozen overnight...."








Capp drank two breast-milk fruit shakes a day, about 8 ounces of milk."

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

The Globe and Mail: Study links kids' cancers to moms' exposure to pollutants
Globe and Mail, By ANDRÉ PICARD, Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - Page A17
"Most childhood cancers are likely caused by pollutants expectant mothers are exposed to during pregnancy, according to a new study. Those at greatest risk live close to busy roads and industrial areas, researchers found.In particular, they found children born of mothers living near "emission hot spots" of particular chemicals were two to four times more likely to develop leukemia and other childhood cancers before age 16. "Most childhood cancers are probably initiated by close, perinatal encounters with one or more of these high-emission sources," said George Knox, a professor emeritus at the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, U.K. Emissions that appear to raise cancer risk the most include carbon monoxide created by burning fossil fuels (notably gasoline used by vehicles) and 1,3-butadiene, also a by-product of internal combustion engines. Researchers also looked at the effect of various other industrial and environmental pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (both of which are associated with oil burning), as well as dioxins, benzene, and benz(a)pyrene. These chemicals can be found in engine exhaust, and smokestack emissions from various industrial and refinery processes. Dr. Knox said these chemicals -- many of which have been shown to be carcinogenic in animal tests -- are likely breathed in by the mother and passed on to the baby through the placenta. But he said that "effective direct exposure in early infancy, or through breast milk, or even preconceptually, cannot be excluded...."

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Cindy Lange-Kubick: Breast is best -- for babies - Lincoln Journal Star
"I love it when the word breast is slipped into a front-page headline, because it guarantees the story will be well-read. But on the off chance you missed last Friday's piece — "Supporters applaud breast-feeding bill" — I'll fill you in. If passed, LB104 would protect the right of Nebraska's mothers to breast-feed in public. It seems ridiculous that such a law would be needed, but we Americans are funny when it comes to breasts. We like our Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue breasts. And our Victoria's Secret breasts. And our giant Internet porn site breasts. We like breasts to sell Buicks and breasts to promote football games and breasts to serve us hot wings and cold beer..."