The International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that infections were responsible for 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024, representing 12% of all global cancer diagnoses. Helicobacter pylori, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and Epstein-Barr virus were the primary infectious causes.
New research shows alcohol-related cancer deaths in the United States have more than doubled over a 33-year period, with findings indicating that even one drink per day could increase cancer risk. The study reveals alcohol's impact extends across multiple cancer types, not just liver cancer.
New data from NHS England shows the country is nearing elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat, with 80% of known cases cured. The progress is attributed to widespread testing initiatives including A&E blood tests, GP registration screening, and free at-home tests, along with a pioneering NHS drug deal with pharmaceutical companies.
A French randomized trial found that discontinuing statins in people aged 75 and older who were taking them for primary prevention showed non-inferiority to continuing the drugs in terms of all-cause mortality over 3 years. The findings support individualized decision-making for statin use in older adults without previous cardiovascular disease.
England is approaching elimination of hepatitis C, a dangerous liver-attacking virus spread through infected blood contact. Health officials cite efforts including A&E blood tests, GP registration testing, and free home testing as key to reaching this milestone.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday calling for a major reduction in the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines, from 18 diseases to 11. The order also recommends splitting the combined MMR vaccine into three separate shots for measles, mumps, and rubella.
The Albanese government has released updated national guidelines recommending prostate cancer checks every two years for Australian men aged 50 to 69, marking the biggest changes to screening protocols in a decade and aimed at earlier detection of the country's most common cancer in men.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will convene its Molecular and Clinical Genetics Panel on September 23, 2026, to review Grail's premarket approval application for Galleri, a multi-cancer early detection test. The advisory committee meeting represents a critical regulatory milestone for the company, which anticipates a potential approval decision in early 2027.
UK regulators have authorized the INTERCEPT-Lynch Phase 1/2 trial of mRNA-4194, a preventive cancer vaccine developed by Moderna and the University of Oxford targeting people with Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition affecting 1 in 300 people with up to 80% lifetime cancer risk. The trial will begin dosing in summer 2026.
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence foundation model that analyzes routine polysomnography data to identify patients' long-term health risks, with high-risk patients showing twice the mortality risk over five years compared to low-risk patients. The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates that sleep studies contain far more predictive health information than currently utilized by clinicians.
The FDA has approved SimpleScreen CRC, a blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer, marking the second such test to receive approval. The less invasive option aims to improve screening uptake as colorectal cancer cases rise approximately 3 percent annually in adults under 50.
A major U.S. clinical trial found that silver diamine fluoride, a liquid brushed onto cavities in seconds, stopped decay in more than half of treated cases. The treatment could spare many young children from pain, infection, and surgery.
Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50, with cases continuing to rise in younger adults. Warning signs include persistent bowel changes, recurring rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain.
Medical experts and cardiologists are publicly sharing their personal daily habits and practices for maintaining heart health, including advice on exercise, diet, coffee consumption, avoiding prolonged sitting, and recognizing warning signs like chest pain. The guidance emphasizes that small, consistent lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
A new study published in JAMA Cardiology reveals that approximately 90% of ischemic heart disease deaths in the United States remain attributable to modifiable risk factors including blood pressure, diet, and LDL cholesterol, despite significant declines in mortality since 1990. Research also shows these factors are linked to unstable coronary artery plaques that lead to heart attacks.
The NHS has announced a long-term strategy to reduce sepsis deaths through earlier detection using wearable technology, remote monitoring, and rapid intervention. The initiative aims to prevent thousands of deaths from the life-threatening condition by 2035.
The federal government's latest dietary guidelines specifically encourage Americans to eat more fermented foods, amid growing mainstream interest in gut health driven by rising colorectal cancer rates among young adults and increasing popularity of personalized microbiome treatments.
British researchers have created a new diagnostic tool designed to identify individuals most at risk of developing obesity-related diseases, which could help target weight-loss medications to those who would benefit most from treatment.
New research shows rectal cancer mortality rates among older millennials are rising faster than colon cancer deaths, with the disease striking earlier and killing faster, suggesting need for earlier screening in younger patients.
Frequent, long, or early-day naps in older adults are linked to higher mortality risk and may signal underlying conditions like cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, or sleep disorders, suggesting daytime sleep patterns could serve as an early warning sign of declining health.
The CDC reported 2,777 confirmed measles cases as of August 20, exceeding the previous year's total of 2,289 cases. About 94% of cases occurred among unvaccinated individuals, marking a significant resurgence of a disease that was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000.
