As far as accidents go, stumbling upon a potential cure for cancer is one we can all probably forgive. According to a recent study, a group of Danish scientists might have done just that by discovering that a potential malaria vaccine had the unexpected side effect of killing tumors.

Malaria is bloodborne disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. It is spread through humans by mosquito bites and, according to UNICEF, kills up to a million people each year. Malaria is especially dangerous for pregnant women as the parasite may attack the placenta, which then puts the child’s life at risk. In their ongoing efforts to prevent these specific infections, scientists from the University of Denmark made a remarkable observation: Due to the similar characteristics between tumors and placentas, the same technique malaria uses to attack and destroy placentas could also be used to destroy cancer tumors.

“The placenta is an organ, which within a few months grows from only few cells into an organ weighing approximately 2 pounds, and it provides the embryo with oxygen and nourishment in a relatively foreign environment,” study author Ali Salanti said in a statement. “In a manner of speaking, tumors do much the same — they grow aggressively in a relatively foreign environment.” (Read more from “Is the Malaria Parasite the Cancer Cure We’ve Been Looking For? Accidental Discovery Displays Remarkable Results” HERE)

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A photographer’s powerful photo, showing a beautiful moment between a mother battling cancer and her newborn baby, is touching so many people.

According to photographer Kate Murray, the mom, who is not identified, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer halfway through her pregnancy. In her Facebook post, Murray says the woman had one breast removed, underwent chemotherapy while carrying her child, and then was induced at 36 weeks in order to receive more treatment.

Photo Credit: Facebook

The Facebook post:

“Baby BOY was born ready to prove to the world his strength he inherited from his strong mommy. He latched on to her remaining breast all on his own and the room erupted in so many emotions. Breastfeeding is such a sacred bond, and this one just makes my heart break and swell at the same time. I am beyond blessed to have met and gotten to know this woman and her family, and so honored she asked me to be there to document these precious moments.”

(Read more from “Photo Shows Powerful Moment Between Mom Battling Cancer and Her Newborn Baby” HERE)

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In 2006, Sandra Hilburn was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme and was given three months to live. Her diagnosis was the same as Brittany Maynard’s, the 29-year-old terminally ill cancer-patient who received national attention when she legally committed suicide with a fatal dose of phenobarbital.

After finding out she had stage IV glioblastoma multiforme and six months to live, Maynard moved from her California home to Oregon so that she could have access to the “death with dignity” prescription. Currently, in the United States, Oregon is one of five states, along with New Mexico, Montana, Washington, and Vermont that allow assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

However, unlike Maynard, Hilburn didn’t pursue assisted suicide and is still alive today.

According to the Daily Mail, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that a dose of tetanus vaccine let patients like Hillburn live longer when added to an experimental treatment for the brain tumor. Researcher Kristen Batich said, “[The treatment] put the immune system on high alert,’ paving the way for the experimental treatment to work better in attacking the disease.”

Now nine years and five grandchildren later, Hilburn is still alive and going strong. She said, “I think I’m good for at least another 10-years.” Hilburn, along with 11 other cancer patients, were given the tetanus shot and then doctors removed white blood cells from the patients and equipped them with a chemical target found in the tumor called cytomegalovirus. Afterward they would return the cells to the patient’s body and train the immune system to go after the cancer cells and kill them. (Read more from “Nine Years After Terminal Diagnosis, Woman With Same Cancer as Brittany Maynard is Still Alive” HERE)

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The mother of a 23-month-old Leeds toddler battling rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma has blasted Twitter trolls who used her son’s photograph to accompany “disgusting” tweets.

Brave Riley Hoult is undergoing chemotherapy at Leeds General Infirmary after being diagnosed with the illness at the end of November.

Riley’s mother Sophie, 20, of Middleton, is sharing her son’s cancer fight story with thousands of people on Facebook and at Twitter account @RileysJourney_ in a bid to raise awareness of neuroblastoma.

She was devastated to discover a Twitter account @funny_cancer had been set up using Riley’s image as the account’s profile picture.

Messages tweeted from the rogue ‘Cancer is Funny’ account, which stated it was based in Leeds, included: ‘people with cancer deserve to die’ and ‘cancer is funny because people die.’ (Read more about the people mocking the boy with cancer HERE)

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