Many people are aware of the importance of breast milk for babies.

But could it have a benefit for adults?

A growing number of adults are turning to mother’s milk as a possible cancer treatment.

For Howard Cohen, making smoothies is a routine. His special ingredient -- breast milk.

“If you drink it straight, it has a bit of a yucky, oily under-taste,” said Cohen.

After he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Cohen came across Swedish research that found a protein in mother’s milk killed cancer cells in petri dishes.

“This became a very interesting prospect,” said Cohen.

Cohen decided against mainstream therapies and gave breast milk a try.

He picks up the milk at a milk bank, which is similar to a blood bank.

In order to be eligible, a doctor’s prescription is required.

“We're noticing an increase in the number of patients who are adults and children who have a variety of types of cancer who are using human milk,” said Pauline Sakamoto of Mothers’ Milk Bank.

Mothers’ Milk Bank has already supplied about 60 cancer patients.

“It may not mean that the cancer is cured, but we are seeing a dramatic change in the quality of life for some of them,” said Sakamoto.

Leading specialists said while the research is interesting, there is no scientific proof that the milk could help cancer patients.

“I do think that it's premature for adults to be drinking breast milk. It hasn't been fully tested yet, and we like to be very careful not to use things in humans that we don't understand,” said pediatrics specialist Dr. David Newburg.

Dr. Pamela Berens with the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine worries adults using donor milk will deplete the already limited supply.

“Right now we don't have enough breast milk for our donor milk banks for the premature infants who we have such wonderful data about the benefits,” said Berens.

Proven benefits or not, Cohen is a believer in breast milk.

“Initially, I was drinking it every day. I cut back to two bottles a week,” said Cohen.

Cohen said he is cancer-free, but his doctor has not returned calls to confirm or deny it.

Breast milk from a milk bank costs about $3 an ounce.

Medical insurance does not cover the costs for adult consumption.