Cancer

Cancer is defined as a group of diseases that happen when cells grow out of control. These abnormal cells can form tumors and spread to other areas of the body. The risk of developing cancer increases as you age due to the natural process of cell turnover. This process happens more rapidly in youth, which is one reason that most cancers are diagnosed in adults. Most of the time, the cause of cell turnover is random DNA errors that happen during replication. These errors can be prevented by a healthy diet, physical exercise, and stress reduction. Not all cell turnover is bad; in fact, most of the cells in your body are replaced every 14 days. The rate of cell turnover decreases with age, which is why most cancers are diagnosed in adults. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop this process entirely, though you can reduce your risk by avoiding things that cause DNA damage.

Bacon and Processed Meat Classified as Group 1 Carcinogens by WHO: What You Need to Know
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Bacon and Processed Meat Classified as Group 1 Carcinogens by WHO: What You Need to Know

Crispy bacon sizzling in a pan on Sunday morning. Hot dogs at summer barbecues. Deli meat sandwiches packed for lunch. Ham sliced for holiday dinners. These foods feel like harmless traditions woven into American life, comfort foods that bring back childhood memories and family gatherings. Most people know eating too much processed meat probably isn’t…

When “Moderate Drinking” Isn’t Safe: The Real Cancer Connection
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When “Moderate Drinking” Isn’t Safe: The Real Cancer Connection

For many, an occasional glass of wine or beer seems harmless, even beneficial in moderation. Yet a growing body of research is challenging that assumption. A 2025 study published in BMJ Global Health has uncovered a striking connection between even minimal alcohol consumption and a significantly higher risk of mouth cancer. This large-scale study conducted…

Thyroid Cancer on the Rise: What’s Fueling This Global Surge?
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Thyroid Cancer on the Rise: What’s Fueling This Global Surge?

For decades, thyroid cancer was considered rare and often curable. Yet in recent years, health experts have noticed something alarming. Cases are increasing faster than almost any other cancer, particularly among women. While advancements in diagnostic tools may explain part of this trend, research suggests that the story runs deeper. Understanding what’s driving this rise…

Cracking a 50-Year Cancer Puzzle: What MIT’s Breakthrough Means for the Future of Treatment
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Cracking a 50-Year Cancer Puzzle: What MIT’s Breakthrough Means for the Future of Treatment

For over half a century, scientists have been chasing one of chemistry’s most elusive goals, the total synthesis of verticillin A, a rare natural compound with powerful anticancer properties. First discovered in a fungus in 1970, verticillin A’s complex structure, packed with multiple rings and delicate sulfur bonds, made it nearly impossible to recreate in…

When a Scientist Used Lab-Grown Viruses to Treat Her Own Cancer—and Succeeded
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When a Scientist Used Lab-Grown Viruses to Treat Her Own Cancer—and Succeeded

In 2020, Croatian virologist Dr. Beata Halassy faced a grim reality: her breast cancer had returned for the third time. Traditional treatments had failed her, leaving few options. But rather than surrender, she took an extraordinary step that would blur the lines between science and self-experimentation. Using her expertise in virology, Halassy turned to an…

When Gene Therapy Opens New Doors for Patients Once Out of Options
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When Gene Therapy Opens New Doors for Patients Once Out of Options

For decades, some cancer diagnoses came with a hard truth. Even with chemotherapy, radiation, and transplants, the disease continued to return. Families were told there was little more medicine could offer. That reality is now beginning to shift. A new form of gene based immunotherapy is offering remission to patients who previously had none, and…

New Organ Discovery Behind Your Nose Could Change Cancer Treatment Forever
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New Organ Discovery Behind Your Nose Could Change Cancer Treatment Forever

Doctors scanning cancer patients stumbled onto something nobody expected to find in 2020. Advanced imaging technology revealed structures that appeared on every single scan, glowing like beacons in a location where anatomy textbooks showed nothing macroscopic existed. Medical professionals had looked at this area behind the nose for centuries during examinations, surgeries, and dissections without…

Nail Clubbing Explained: When Finger Changes Signal Deadly Disease
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Nail Clubbing Explained: When Finger Changes Signal Deadly Disease

Your fingernails might be trying to tell you something urgent. Nail clubbing changes how your fingers look and feel, making nails appear wider, swollen, or shaped like upside-down spoons. Most people brush off small changes in their bodies, assuming headaches will pass and odd symptoms will fade. But clubbing deserves immediate attention from a medical…

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Boost Cancer Patient Survival 5-Fold
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COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Boost Cancer Patient Survival 5-Fold

Scientists just discovered something extraordinary about COVID-19 vaccines and cancer survival rates. Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that cancer patients who received Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines within 100 days of starting immunotherapy lived substantially longer than unvaccinated patients. Lung cancer patients saw their three-year survival rates nearly double, while melanoma patients experienced…