Could breast milk cure cancer?

A substance found in breast milk could help in the fight against cancer, according to research by a team of Swedish scientists...

A substance found in breast milk could help in the fight against cancer, according to research by a team of Swedish scientists.

Scientists at the University of Gothenburg discovered a protein and fatty acid found naturally in breast milk could cure up to 40 types of cancer based on laboratory tests.

Nine patients with bladder cancer were injected with 'Hamlet' and then expelled dead cancer cells in their urine. The treatment only attacked the cancerous cells unlike chemotherapy which attacks healthy cells as well.

Now the team are hopeful the substance could be used in future cancer treatments. Assistant Professor Roger Karlsson, from the University of Gothenburg's department of chemistry, said: 'The researchers are now going on to study its effect on skin cancer, tumours in the mucous membranes and brain tumours.'

This is just the latest research to demonstrate the positive health properties of breast milk. Only last week US researchers revealed that lauric acid from breast milk could be used to treat acne without the side affects of traditional drugs.

However, experts have warned that an effective treatment for cancer using breast milk could take years to develop. Dr Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK's senior science information officer, said: 'Scientists are still a long way from knowing whether 'Hamlet' will ever become an effective cancer treatment in the future.' CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS