A malignant tumour of lung tissue; caused by DNA damage, often linked to smoking or chemicals.
Scotland faces a maternity care crisis with hundreds of deaths in five years. An independent review is announced to inspect culture, rural services and safety, while calls grow for a broader safety remit.
Recent reporting shows chronic inflammation is linked to aging disorders such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Studies indicate inflammation may be a cause, not just a symptom, of broad health risks. Policy and lifestyle factors are under scrutiny as researchers push for preventative strategies.
Cassandra Barksdale has filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente alleging a tissue sample mix-up led to a hysterectomy and a cancer diagnosis that later proved incorrect. DNA analysis shows the sample belonged to another patient. The Georgia case cites negligence and seeks unspecified damages; the company says it has tightened procedures.
Two unvaccinated residents in Pennsylvania have died from measles, triggering a public health debate. Governor Shapiro says vaccinations could have averted the deaths, while RFK Jr. questions the figures, fueling a political row that experts warn could hinder responses to the outbreak.
A wave of studies finds that AI analysis of mammograms can identify cardiovascular risks in women, including hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke, alongside breast cancer screening. Researchers say mammograms could become a dual-purpose tool for early cardiovascular risk detection, prompting earlier intervention.
The experimental mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran, has been tested in a phase 3 trial with 1,000+ melanoma patients. It is personalised to each patient by analysing tumors and targets neoantigens. When given with pembrolizumab, it aims to boost the immune response and extend cancer-free time. Results indicate reduced recurrence risk, but long-term survival remains to be seen. Trials also explore other cancers.
The FDA has approved daraxonrasib, sold as Rasonque by Revolution Medicines, for adults with previously treated or ineligible metastatic pancreatic cancer. Clinical trials have shown median survival extended to about 13.2 months versus roughly 6.7 months with chemotherapy. The drug will be available in the US with a roughly $39,800 monthly list price and expanded-access programmes have already treated thousands.
This week has seen several medical research and regulatory developments. Insilico Medicine has reported that its experimental drug rentosertib changed blood‑protein patterns that aging clocks read as three to four years younger in a small trial. Stanford teams have published studies showing they can grow hindbrain neurons separately and implant human cortical organoids into mice. The US health department has appointed permanent directors for three FDA centers.
BBC presenter has polycythemia vera, an incurable yet manageable blood cancer diagnosed in 2024. She continues reporting while undergoing treatment and advocates awareness through Blood Cancer UK.
Three BBC investigations have revealed repeated failures in UK cancer care: a final review has found harm from misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment by former Belfast neurologist Michael Watt; Coventry patients were prescribed temozolomide for years with little evidence of benefit; and England is missing cancer-treatment targets, with only 69.9% starting within 62 days. Officials and families are demanding answers.
Emma Bonino, longtime Italian politician and feminist activist, has died at 78, according to +Europa. Her career spanned over five decades, including roles as European commissioner and foreign minister. Tributes highlight her lifelong advocacy for abortion rights, humanitarian aid, migrants’ rights, and civil liberties across Italy and the EU.
Dame Esther Rantzen has died at 86 after a long illness, her family has announced. The broadcaster fronted That’s Life! for 21 years, founded Childline in 1986 and the Silver Line in 2012, and later campaigned publicly for legal change on assisted dying after a stage-four lung cancer diagnosis in 2023.
A new analysis shows a rise in cancers among people under 50 across England, the US and the Netherlands, driven by obesity, diet and lifestyle factors, with bowel, kidney and uterine cancers among the fastest-growing. Experts urge research and prevention as diagnosis at younger ages becomes more common.
Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove a lung growth; doctors have confirmed the lesion is lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican has said the operation was successful with no complications, and it has cancelled public audiences through Oct. 20 while the pope recovers in hospital.
Pope Leo has declared he is gradually resuming his activities after a lung cancer operation. He has expressed gratitude for prayers and support and says the process has brought him closer to those facing illness. Doctors have said there are no clinical reasons to postpone his Latin America trip, though pace may be adjusted.”