Cancer news covering oncology trials, treatment advances, screening guidelines, epidemiology, and patient outcomes.
Following Dolly Parton's death at age 80 on August 25, her niece Jada Star revealed the family intentionally kept her cancer diagnosis private. Parton was laid to rest in an intimate service in Nashville on Aug. 28 beside her husband Carl Dean with only immediate family present, per her specific wishes.
A new study reveals alcohol-related cancer deaths in the United States doubled from approximately 11,400 in 1990 to more than 23,100 in 2023. Researchers identified significant risks across multiple cancer types, with colorectal cancer being a primary driver for younger men and breast cancer for women. Elevated risk was found even at low intake levels of 5-15 grams of pure alcohol per day.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved daraxonrasib for pancreatic cancer, making it available to qualifying patients within two weeks. Clinical trials showed the treatment doubles median survival from 6.7 to 13.2 months, though it costs approximately $480,000 annually.
Journalist Patti Sonntag shares her personal experience of developing cancer linked to 9/11 toxic dust, arguing that the U.S. government has failed its first responders. She contrasts the international support for the U.S. after the attacks with the inadequate long-term healthcare provisions provided by the World Trade Center Health Program.
The article discusses Alix Earle's revelation of a breast cancer genetic mutation and explores whether others should get tested. It argues that such disclosures can raise awareness but also cautions about the implications of genetic testing, including anxiety and medical decisions.
Scientists in India have profiled the venom gland of the social spider Stegodyphus sarasinorum, discovering bioactive compounds with potential for drug development. Published in Scientific Reports, the research highlights molecules that killed cancer cells in lab settings, though clinical applications remain distant.
A letter to The Irish Times argues that despite improved overall cancer survival rates in Ireland, tobacco-related cancers remain a critical issue due to low survival rates for lung, pancreas, liver, and oesophageal cancers. The author contends that the Irish government must expand prevention resources and strengthen political will to ban tobacco products.
A new study analyzing over 112,000 U.S. adults found that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases gastric cancer risk by 2.45 times compared to rare intake. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital published these findings linking high sugar intake to digestive cancers.
Summit Therapeutics announced that partner Akeso achieved positive overall survival results for the lung cancer drug ivonescimab in the Phase III HARMONi-2 study. The treatment demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared with pembrolizumab in patients with PD-L1-positive lung cancer, reversing previous investor concerns.
The article discusses influencer Alix Earle and her sister Ashtin revealing they both tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation on their new Netflix reality show. This follows their mother's breast cancer diagnosis, with the sisters sharing their emotional journey of genetic testing and risk assessment.