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Can Breastfeeding By A CMV Positive Mother Increase Risk Of Cancer In A Child?
Question: I am CMV positive. Have been for years. Tested positive 6+ years ago when first trying to get pregnant. Showed long standing infection. I am still breastfeeding my 22 month old and just heard that CMV is found in tumors. I read that it is not a tumor cause, but maybe a promoter. Am I putting my child at risk for brain cancer, or my first child, by breastfeeding with CMV?
Brief Answer:
Very rare chance of cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.
I would like to tell you that once infected with CMV, your body retains the virus for life. The virus remains dormant if you are healthy. The infection is spread through body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. CMV spread through breast milk usually does not make the baby sick. But you might stop feeding your child as the child is now grown up and it is unnecessary to expose him to risk. I suppose neither of your child has vision or hearing problems. I would like to tell you that if newborns who are well otherwise are unlikely to develop life-threatening disease later.There is no cure for CMV and treatment for the virus generally isn't necessary or recommended for healthy children and adults. However, if you are pregnant and develop an active infection, you can pass the virus to your baby. Coming to your second cause of worry yes CMV can potentiate few cancers but that is very rare and depends upon genetics and multiple factors of a person. I feel you must not feel worried.
Hope I answered your query.
If no clarification then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Very rare chance of cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.
I would like to tell you that once infected with CMV, your body retains the virus for life. The virus remains dormant if you are healthy. The infection is spread through body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. CMV spread through breast milk usually does not make the baby sick. But you might stop feeding your child as the child is now grown up and it is unnecessary to expose him to risk. I suppose neither of your child has vision or hearing problems. I would like to tell you that if newborns who are well otherwise are unlikely to develop life-threatening disease later.There is no cure for CMV and treatment for the virus generally isn't necessary or recommended for healthy children and adults. However, if you are pregnant and develop an active infection, you can pass the virus to your baby. Coming to your second cause of worry yes CMV can potentiate few cancers but that is very rare and depends upon genetics and multiple factors of a person. I feel you must not feel worried.
Hope I answered your query.
If no clarification then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
I am confused. Most women are CMV positive. So, should they not breast feed? I thought recommendations were for up to 2 years to breast feed? As my baby is 22 months, is there a risk to him?
So, you say CMV does cause cancer in rare cases? I thought it could be a promoter, not a cause. I am more concerned than ever now.
I thought you should breastfeed until 2. I am very confused and concerned now.
So, you say CMV does cause cancer in rare cases? I thought it could be a promoter, not a cause. I am more concerned than ever now.
I thought you should breastfeed until 2. I am very confused and concerned now.
Brief Answer:
CMV is promotor in extremely rare cases. Dont worry so much.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Kindly don't be confused. I said it is also a promotor of cancer. Many research going on still in its role might be future unfolds something new. I only asked you to stop breastfeeding seeing your excessive worries and 2 years time is soon to happen. Mother must be free of any stress during feeding for her and child health. I told you that your child is normal but if your infection gets reactivated then there is chance of possible transfer via breastfeeding again the chance of which is extremely rare. There is no risk as long as you are fit to breastfeed you may continue. As far as cancer is concerned its chances are extremely rare if a person is CMV positive. So kindly do not worry.
Best of health
CMV is promotor in extremely rare cases. Dont worry so much.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Kindly don't be confused. I said it is also a promotor of cancer. Many research going on still in its role might be future unfolds something new. I only asked you to stop breastfeeding seeing your excessive worries and 2 years time is soon to happen. Mother must be free of any stress during feeding for her and child health. I told you that your child is normal but if your infection gets reactivated then there is chance of possible transfer via breastfeeding again the chance of which is extremely rare. There is no risk as long as you are fit to breastfeed you may continue. As far as cancer is concerned its chances are extremely rare if a person is CMV positive. So kindly do not worry.
Best of health
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
My confusion is that most people are CMV positive, yes? So, most women are breastfeeding with CMV.
Do CMV positive mothers risk brain cancer in their children? What about salivary gland cancer?
You said in your answer to stop breast feeding him to not expose him to unnecessary risk. What is the risk? He cannot get congenital CMV at this point, so is cancer the risk you refer to?
I just read that early exposure to CMV may convey protection against glioblastoma - and later infection increases risk. I think my children may have protection? I was wondering, as CMV rates are about 100% in developing nations and lower here in the US. Yet, brain cancer rates are lower in children and adults in developing nations. I think the breastfeeding with CMV may have served both of my children???
So, bottom line - breastfeeding with long standing CMV positive status does not put your children at risk for brain or salivary cancer?
Do CMV positive mothers risk brain cancer in their children? What about salivary gland cancer?
You said in your answer to stop breast feeding him to not expose him to unnecessary risk. What is the risk? He cannot get congenital CMV at this point, so is cancer the risk you refer to?
I just read that early exposure to CMV may convey protection against glioblastoma - and later infection increases risk. I think my children may have protection? I was wondering, as CMV rates are about 100% in developing nations and lower here in the US. Yet, brain cancer rates are lower in children and adults in developing nations. I think the breastfeeding with CMV may have served both of my children???
So, bottom line - breastfeeding with long standing CMV positive status does not put your children at risk for brain or salivary cancer?
Brief Answer:
No risk if you do not have active infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I would like to tell you that there is no risk of congenital infection now. If you get reactivated with infection then only you can pass it to your child via breastfeeding then yes you expose your child to infection and it's risks. As of cancer the chances are extremely rare even in person who have the disease. So I suggest there is nothing which can be done to prevent it. So I suggest you not to think too much. You had infection in past and seropositive but no active disease now so you do not expose your child to risks of cancer even on breastfeeding. There are lot of studies and research going on so you will find variety of information on net. Don't worry do not think about cancer and you can feed your child normally.
Take care
No risk if you do not have active infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I would like to tell you that there is no risk of congenital infection now. If you get reactivated with infection then only you can pass it to your child via breastfeeding then yes you expose your child to infection and it's risks. As of cancer the chances are extremely rare even in person who have the disease. So I suggest there is nothing which can be done to prevent it. So I suggest you not to think too much. You had infection in past and seropositive but no active disease now so you do not expose your child to risks of cancer even on breastfeeding. There are lot of studies and research going on so you will find variety of information on net. Don't worry do not think about cancer and you can feed your child normally.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you. I know I can still shed virus asymptomatically. But still no worry? As most women are cmv +, no one recommends against breastfeeding with the virus unless baby is premature, correct?
What are the risks of cmv infection?
Don't 1/3 to 1/2 of children get exposed in preschool and before?
What are the risks of cmv infection?
Don't 1/3 to 1/2 of children get exposed in preschool and before?
Brief Answer:
Yes your conclusions are correct.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Yes your statistics are very correct. The children get exposed in preschool and school. So dont worry and lead your normal routine.
Take care
Yes your conclusions are correct.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Yes your statistics are very correct. The children get exposed in preschool and school. So dont worry and lead your normal routine.
Take care
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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