Kate Middleton opens up about cancer battle, chemo and focus on recovery
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton has opened up about her health six months after revealing her cancer diagnosis. The 42-year-old mother of three shared a video message on Monday, Sept. 9, speaking candidly about her journey.
Kate said she is focused on staying cancer-free and gradually returning to her royal duties after completing chemotherapy. In her message, she expressed her relief in completing her treatment. She went on to describe the last nine months as incredibly tough for her family.
Kate’s message also reflected on how this experience has shifted her perspective saying, “life as you know it can change in an instant.” The newly released video also captures the family playing games together and embracing.
Less invasive self-administered pap smear now available
Women are known to dread getting a pap smear. While it’s recommended only every three to five years now, depending on age, the cervical cancer screening is known to be invasive, uncomfortable, and often just downright painful. However, new technology is changing that.
The first shipments of self-collection human papillomavirus, or HPV tests, are now arriving at doctors’ offices across the country. The FDA just approved the tests in May, which require patients to gather their own sample with a swab while in a health care setting like the doctor’s office, urgent care or pharmacy clinic.
Cervical cancer has been identified as one of the top preventable causes of death in the nation, and HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year and about 4,000 women die of the disease annually. One study found about two-thirds of cervical cancers are diagnosed in women who are not screened within the recommended interval.
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers are required to cover the costs of cervical cancer screening.
Getting vaccinated against HPV can also help. There are more than 150 strains of the virus, and the vaccine is proven to protect against the nine riskiest strains.
No link between brain cancer and cellphone use, WHO says
For those reading this report on their cellphone, the World Health Organization has good news. According to a new review commissioned by the WHO, there is no link between cellphone use and brain cancer.
That goes for people who make long phone calls, spend a lot of time on their phones or have used a mobile device for over a decade.
The review, published Tuesday, Sept. 3, was conducted by 11 investigators from 10 countries who analyzed 63 studies from 1994 to 2022. The panel of experts assessed the effects of radio frequencies, most commonly used in cellphones, TV, baby monitors and radar.
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer currently classifies radio wave exposure as “possibly carcinogenic,” meaning it could not rule out a possible link based on evidence at the time. But now, in light of this new data, there are calls for that classification to be reevaluated.
World first mRNA lung cancer vaccine trial begins, offering hope for thousands
In a significant advancement in cancer treatment, doctors have initiated trials for the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine. This vaccine is being developed by the same German company behind the COVID-19 vaccines.
Experts are optimistic that this new treatment could save thousands of lives.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, responsible for approximately 1.8 million deaths each year. The new vaccine is being tested on patients with the most common type of lung cancer.
The trial is currently underway at 34 research sites across seven countries, including the U.K., U.S., Germany, and Spain. A U.K. patient, diagnosed earlier this year, was the first to receive the treatment. According to the BBC, his treatment will continue weekly for six weeks, followed by a longer-term schedule over the next year.
The injections are designed to target specific markers found on his cancer cells, a method that has scientists excited about its potential. The new treatment is said to target specifically a person’s immune response, strengthening it. The healthy cells are left alone, which is a major divergence from chemotherapy.
While the trial is still in its early stages, researchers are hopeful. The same mRNA technology that helped combat the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic could now be key in fighting cancer.
HPV Infections may impact male fertility, study finds
For years scientists have suspected human papillomavirus (HPV) could play a role in male infertility. Now, they’re getting closer to an answer.
Until recently, most research about HPV and infertility has been done on women. However, a new study shows certain strains of HPV do appear to play a role in male infertility.
Researchers found “high-risk” HPV strains are more common and can impact sperm quality. Those that are considered high risk are strains that have been linked to cancer.
The study found high-risk HPV appears to suppress key components of the immune system in the male genital tract. That could harm the body’s ability to clear HPV while also raising the risk of other infections that may also impact male fertility.
A review of 50 different studies done in 2020 found 21% of infertile men had HPV-positive semen. That study also found that even after accounting for female infertility, men with HPV in their semen had a three times greater chance of being infertile than those without the virus.
There are more than 200 known strains of HPV. A vaccine for it has been available since 2006 and the CDC recommends all boys and girls get it at 11 or 12 years old. The vaccine helps prevent nine of the riskiest HPV strains.
According to the CDC, people can still get the vaccine even if they’re older, though it’s usually not as helpful since many people get at least one form of HPV after becoming sexually active. Still, people up to 45 can discuss getting vaccinated with their doctors.
Dying with medical assistance is latest form of ‘health tourism’: Report
Living with a terminal illness can be miserable both mentally and physically, even with advances in modern medicine and technology. That is why many who face the end of their natural lives look to do so on their own terms. However, in the U.S. that is rarely an option.
A new report from KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, shows dying with medical assistance, which used to be called physician-assisted suicide, is a new form of medical tourism.
Medical tourism, also known as health tourism, is when someone travels from their home, in this case, out of state, to receive treatment that would otherwise be denied or not even be an option.
Right now, dying with medical assistance is legal in only 10 states: Vermont, California, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon and Montana, as well as Washington, D.C.
Nine of those states and the District of Columbia have laws dictating the process for choosing to die with medical assistance. In Montana, there is no specific law on the subject. However, it is not illegal after the state’s Supreme Court ruled there is no statute prohibiting health care providers from assisting patients in dying.
And while it is a sensitive topic, dying with medical assistance is being talked about in more and more states. This past legislative session, 18 states considered aid-in-dying laws. The Delaware Legislature passed one, however, that bill is still awaiting the governor’s approval.
These laws tend to apply only to residents of the individual state where dying with medical assistance is legal, but Vermont and Oregon lifted their residency requirements in 2023.
Since then, KFF says at least 26 people have traveled from other states to Vermont to die. That represents 25% of the assisted deaths reported there from May 2023 through June of this year.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, 23 people from out-of-state died with medical assistance in 2023, which is about 6% of the state’s total.
In every state that tracks medical aid in dying, more people got the prescription than actually used it, most commonly because their illness overcame them. A terminal form of cancer is often why patients seek medical assistance in dying.
Teen who created soap to treat skin cancer named Time’s Kid of the Year
Time magazine is honoring a scientist who created a bar of soap that has the potential to transform skin cancer treatment — while he still found time to be part of his school’s marching band. Fifteen-year-old scientist Heman Bekele from Fairfax, Virginia has been named Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year.
Time put Bekele on its cover to recognize him for “developing an affordable compound-based bar of soap that could in the future be a new and more accessible way to deliver medication to treat skin cancers, including melanoma.”
He is spending weekdays this summer working in the lab at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Bekele told Time he is passionate about skin cancer research and finds it incredible that one day his bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.
“I personally hope one day that skin cancer treating soap can turn into a more not-for-profit organization where we really can distribute it to people that need it the most,” Bekele said.
Hurricane Ernesto strengthens to Category 2 storm as it approaches Bermuda
Hurricane Ernesto intensified into a Category 2 storm and could strengthen even more on its way to Bermuda. And following the assassination attempt, the Secret Service plans to add additional security measures for former President Donald Trump’s outdoor rallies — including bulletproof glass. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
Hurricane Ernesto strengthens to Category 2 storm as it approaches Bermuda
Hurricane Ernesto has upgraded into a Category 2 storm with sustained winds now over 100 miles per hour as it remains on track to cut through Bermuda. However, it’s still has hundreds of miles to travel before then, so it could strengthen to a Category 3 before making landfall.
The storm is expected to dump up to 10 inches of rain Puerto Rico also saw from the same storm system previously. Crews are still working to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people there.
This is likely to become the second major hurricane of the Atlantic season — much earlier than usual. Typically, the second major hurricane doesn’t happen until around mid-September.
Harris, Trump focus on economy on the campaign trail
The economy is taking center focus on the campaign trail this week for both presidential candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris will be in battleground state of North Carolina on Friday, Aug. 16, to give her first major economic policy speech since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
The plan is said to revolve around lowering prices and ending price gouging.
Harris’ speech Friday comes after an appearance with President Joe Biden in Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 15. This was their first joint appearance since Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, he and his vice president discussed their administration’s efforts lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
“Few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, including to expand access to affordable health care like than Joe Biden,” Harris said.
https://twitter.com/VP/status/1824105013787967703
On the other side, former President Donald Trump held a press conference at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey Thursday. On display in the background were stacks of groceries with signs showing how much prices of household items and food have risen from inflation over the past few years.
“Harris has just declared that tackling inflation will be a day one priority, for her, it’s going to be day one,” the former president said. “But day one really for Kamala was three and a half years ago. Where has she been and why hasn’t she done it? Why hasn’t she done it?”
Looking ahead to this weekend, both Trump and Harris will be hitting more battleground territory, as they are both slated to make appearances in Pennsylvania for campaign events. Trump will hold a rally in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Aug. 17, and Harris will be launching a bus tour in Pittsburgh.
Secret Service to shield Trump with bulletproof glass at outdoor rallies
The Secret Service has found a way to let former President Trump go back to holding outdoor campaign events. They’ll be putting up a bulletproof glass barrier between him and the crowd.
The Secret Service already does that for sitting presidents and vice presidents, but since Trump is no longer in office it hasn’t been available to him. Law enforcement officials told news outlets not every outdoor event will require the bulletproof glass, but it’ll be used when there are issues at specific sites or a need for added security.
AP Images
This is just one of the security measures previously only available to active office holders that’s being added to Trump’s protection after a failed assassination attempt. Others include increased staffing, technology and threat analysis.
Israel-Hamas War cease-fire talks stretch into second day
Meanwhile, the British and French foreign ministers are making a joint trip to Israel in hopes of stopping the war from turning into a larger regional conflict.
The renewed push to end the war comes as the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Thursday, Aug. 15, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 40,000 and fears remain high that Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon will soon attack Israel in retaliation for the killings of top leaders.
Taylor Swift returns to the stage after canceled Vienna shows
After having to cancel three concerts on the Vienna, Austria part of her Eras tour over a foiled terror plot, Taylor Swift returned to the stage in London Thursday, Aug. 15 night. The show was held at Wembley Stadium with heightened security measures in place, though Wembley already has some strict measures to begin with.
Two suspects were arrested by authorities in connection with the Vienna plot, allegedly inspired by ISIS to carry out an attack outside the concert. Officials there said a major catastrophe was averted by law enforcement’s work.
Time magazine names 15-year-old scientist its 2024 Kid of the Year
Time magazine is honoring a scientist who created a bar of soap that has the potential to transform skin cancer treatment while still finding time to be part of his school’s marching band. Fifteen-year-old scientist Heman Bekele from Fairfax, Virginia has been named Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year.
Time put Bekele on its cover to recognize him for “developing an affordable compound-based bar of soap that could in the future be a new and more accessible way to deliver medication to treat skin cancers, including melanoma.”
The teen was already named America’s Top Young Scientist by 3M and Discovery Education last year for his invention.
Bekele told Time Magazine he is passionate about skin cancer research and finds it incredible that one day his bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.
“I personally hope one day that skin cancer treating soap can turn into a more not for profit organization where we really can distribute it to people that need it the most,” Bekele said.
US preps for potential Iranian-backed attack on Israel as early as this week
Weight loss drugs could be used to treat other life-threatening issues: Study
Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are reshaping treatment for obesity and diabetes, and their benefits might extend further. Emerging research suggests that GLP-1 drugs could also help manage addiction, sleep apnea and even cancer.
These medications, which regulate hormones, slow digestion and reduce hunger, are showing promise in preventing cancers linked to obesity, such as breast, colon, liver, and ovarian cancers, according to research from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Dr. Arif Kamal, the chief patient officers at the American Cancer Society, noted that GLP-1 drugs might significantly lower cancer risks and provide better protection for diabetics compared to insulin.
The ASCO research found that GLP-1 drugs could cut the risk of obesity-related cancers by 39%, compared to 22% with bariatric surgery over 10 years. Originally designed for diabetes, these drugs are now also approved for weight loss under names like Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound.
The link between obesity and cancer is complex, involving hormones like estrogen, which is elevated in fat cells and drives cancer growth. Kamal compared obesity’s impact on cancer to tobacco’s historical effect, emphasizing the significance of GLP-1 drugs in reducing cancer risk.
Cancer deaths among men expected to nearly double by 2050: Study
Medical researchers are predicting a significant rise in cancer cases and deaths among men by the year 2050. Cancer-related deaths are projected to nearly double, rising from 5.4 million in 2022 to 10.5 million in 2050, representing a 93% increase.
New findings published in an American Cancer Society journal suggest that globally, cancer cases among men are expected to skyrocket from 10 million in 2022 to 19 million by 2050 — an 84% increase.
The age demographic most impacted will be men aged 65 and older, with cancer deaths expected to surge by 117% by 2050. Researchers predict that lung cancer will remain the leading cause of cancer cases and deaths in men.
Men are already at a higher risk of dying from cancer compared to women. Researchers attributed this partly to higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption and exposure to carcinogens in the workplace. Additionally, men are less likely to participate in cancer screenings and preventive care. Expanding access to cancer screening programs is one way to address this issue.
President Joe Biden will travel to New Orleans on Aug. 13 to discuss efforts related to the “Cancer Moonshot Initiative.” The goal of the program is to prevent 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 by expanding access to cancer screenings and treatments in underserved communities.
However, these alarming projections may be influenced by factors beyond immediate control. An earlier study by the American Cancer Society identified “global population growth” and “people living longer” as significant contributors to the increase in cancer cases and deaths. The world’s population, currently around 8 billion, is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.
