Birthdays are exciting for everyone. There's celebration, a cake, and balloons. But what if it goes wrong? This is what happened with Giang Pham, from Vietnam, who was celebrating her 33rd birthday on February 14, when a hydrogen balloon in her hand touched the flame from the candle on the cake and exploded on her face.

This incident was also captured on camera. The footage clearly shows how the balloon blew up as soon as it touched the flame. Her friends were shocked and can be heard gasping in the background as they saw this.

In the days following the incident, she also shared photos on her Instagram showing her bandaged face, and revealed the first-degree burns on her hand and second-degree burns on her face. However, the good news was that her vision was unaffected, though for her face to recover, it would take months.

She is now also warning others about the risks of using highly inflammable hydrogen balloons. The other alternative could be a helium balloon, which you could fly higher and they remain on the ceiling.

Health Update

She revealed that her doctor estimated up to six months for her skin to recover. She would still have to go to the hospital for dressing and treatment. Another such case happened with a woman named Tine from Australia, when on her son's 7th birthday, the balloon exploded and "shook her house". Her son was burned in the forearm.

Such incidents happen because decorators want to save the cost by replacing helium with hydrogen, which is highly inflammable.

In Healing

Giang shared that she experienced second-degree burn on her face and first-degree burn on her hands. As per John Hopkins Medicine, first degree burns affect only the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin. The burn site becomes red, painful, dry, however, there are no blisters. A mild sunburn could be an example of such a burn. This is also called superficial burns.

Whereas, second degree burns involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of the skin. The burn site appears red, blistered and could also be swollen and painful. This is also known as partial thickness burn.

Then comes the third degree burns, also known as full thickness burn. This destroys the epidermis and dermis and could also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. However, when the bones and muscles are burned, it could be referred to as a fourth degree burn. The burn sit appears white or charred and there is no feeling in the area since the nerve endings are destroyed.

How burns are treated?

The right way to treat a burn depends on its depth and how much of the body it covers. While minor, superficial burns can be managed at home, deeper or larger burns may need medical attention. Keep these essential guidelines in mind:

Do:

• Remove the source of the burn immediately – For example, take off clothing soaked in hot liquid to prevent further damage.
• Run cool water over the burn – This helps soothe the skin, except in cases of certain chemical burns.
• Keep the burn clean and protected – Cover it with a clean, non-stick bandage when possible.
• Seek medical help – If the burn is deeper than a superficial layer, larger than your hand, or full-thickness, see a doctor.

Don’t:

• Use home remedies like bleach or butter – These can make the burn worse.
• Apply ointments or creams on deep burns – They can trap heat and worsen the injury.
• Put ice on the burn – It can cause more damage to the skin.
• Pop blisters – This increases the risk of infection.

Knowing these simple steps can make a big difference in burn care and healing.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in India, while lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the latest GLOBOCAN estimates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report highlights that India's cancer burden is shaped by region-specific risk factors, with breast, oral, cervical, lung and esophageal cancers together accounting for nearly half of all cancer cases and deaths in the country.

It also estimates that nearly one in 10 Indians is at risk of developing cancer before the age of 75, while around seven in every 100 people face the risk of dying from the disease before reaching that age.

Breast Cancer Tops New Diagnoses

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Female breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in India, accounting for 192,020 new cases in 2022.

The five most common cancers in India are:

• Breast cancer: 192,020 cases
• Lip and oral cavity cancer: 143,759 cases
• Cervical cancer: 127,526 cases
• Lung cancer: 81,748 cases
• Esophageal cancer: 70,637 cases

Among women, breast cancer accounts for more than one in four new cancer diagnoses, while cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer despite being largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening.

Among men, cancers of the lip and oral cavity remain the leading diagnosis, reflecting the continuing impact of tobacco use.

Lung Cancer Is the Deadliest

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Although breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer, lung cancer causes the highest number of cancer deaths in India, highlighting its poor survival rates and the importance of early diagnosis and tobacco control.

Lip and oral cavity cancer ranks as the second most common cancer by incidence and the third leading cause of cancer deaths, giving

India one of the world's highest oral cancer burdens.

India's Cancer Burden Continues to Rise

According to the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026:

• India recorded an estimated 1.6 million new cancer cases in 2024.
• Around 900,000 cancer deaths occurred during the year.
• Annual new cancer cases are projected to rise to 2.8 million by 2050, driven by population growth, ageing and changing lifestyles.

WHO: India Needs Stronger Prevention and Early Detection

The report says India's cancer profile reflects unique regional risk factors, particularly the country's high burden of oral cancers.

"India's cancer burden reflects the influence of region-specific risk factors, particularly the high prevalence of oral cancers, highlighting the need for stronger prevention, early diagnosis and improved access to treatment," the report said.

The WHO says health systems must move beyond treating tumors alone and adopt a more people-centred approach to cancer care.

Nearly 40% of Cancer Cases Are Preventable

The report estimates that almost four in 10 cancer cases worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors, including:

• Tobacco use
• Alcohol consumption
• Overweight and obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections
• Helicobacter pylori infection.

A sexually transmitted form of Shigella, a highly contagious bacterium that causes severe diarrhea, is spreading rapidly among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the UK, according to a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, found that sexually transmitted Shigella strains are spreading faster than non-sexually transmitted strains and evolving resistance to key antibiotics at an alarming rate.

“Many men who have sex with men are unaware of the serious and increasing risk posed by sexually transmitted Shigella,” said Professor Kate Baker, senior author of the study from Cambridge’s Department of Genetics.

“Sexual infection is now a sustained part of Shigella transmission in the UK. It is vital that this message reaches the communities most affected, so we can help to prevent the spread,” Baker said.

“Sexually transmissible shigellosis needs to be treated as a distinct public health threat, requiring different surveillance, prevention, and treatment strategies.”

What Did The Study Find?

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Using genomic sequencing techniques similar to those used to track COVID-19 variants, researchers mapped how Shigella bacteria spread and evolved across the UK. The study, conducted in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), analyzed 3,514 laboratory-confirmed Shigella samples collected across the UK between 2004 and 2020 from people aged 16 years and older.

Sexually transmitted Shigella spread significantly faster than strains acquired through food, travel, or other non-sexual routes.

Over an evolutionary period of about 2.5 years, sexually transmitted strains spread an average of 117 km between related cases, compared with 46 km for non-sexually transmitted strains.

Sexually transmitted Shigella is primarily circulating within GBMSM sexual networks, particularly in major cities including London, Brighton and Manchester.

No statistically significant increase was seen among non-GBMSM populations, and little evidence was found that infections are spreading widely beyond these sexual networks.

More than half of all Shigella infections in the UK are now sexually transmitted.

Around 30% are linked to international travel, while the remaining cases result from localized outbreaks, particularly among young children, and household transmission.

How to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Shigella

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Professor Baker recommended the following steps to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted Shigella:

• Avoid sexual activity if you have diarrhea or are recovering from a recent diarrheal illness.
• Wait at least two weeks after you have fully recovered before resuming sexual activity.
• Tell your doctor about your sexual history if you seek medical care for diarrhea or related symptoms.
• Ask for a comprehensive sexual health screening if you may have been exposed.

Growing Antibiotic Resistance Raises Concern

Researchers found that antibiotic-resistant sexually transmitted Shigella strains are spreading 71% faster than drug-susceptible strains. More than 70% of sexually transmitted Shigella strains were resistant to at least one clinically important antibiotic.

“This isn’t just one form of sexually transmissible diarrhea. This is multiple overlapping variants emerging that are all quickly becoming resistant to the drugs we use to treat them,” said Baker. “It’s highly likely that if you contracted your Shigella through sex you require different treatment to someone who contracted it through travel.”

Researchers also believe the rise in resistance may partly be driven by antibiotics prescribed to treat or prevent other sexually transmitted infections.

“Our evidence suggests that the variants of Shigella transmitting in sexual networks were actually getting resistant against treatments for other STIs, like gonorrhoea, so people need to remember that when they’re taking antibiotics they’re treating their whole body,” said Baker.

As the world celebrates football through FIFA, new research is drawing attention to the long-term health risks faced by athletes in American professional football.

A new study found that former NFL players are nearly four times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), than the general U.S. population.

About The Study

A major new study has found that former National Football League (NFL) players are nearly four times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than the general population.

The research raised concerns about the long-term impact of repeated head injuries in professional football.

Published in eClinicalMedicine, the study analyzed mortality data from 19,824 NFL players who played at least one professional game between 1960 and 2019. The researchers from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation compared their health outcomes with those of the general U.S. population.

The co-senior author, Daniel Daneshvar, Harvard Medical School associate professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital said, “This is the clearest population-level evidence we have ever had that NFL players are dying due to neurodegenerative disease at real and measurably higher rates.”

He added, “This study demonstrates that, when looking at athletes who have played in an NFL game, including nearly 20,000 players, across every official cause of death, the result is the same: NFL players are dying of dementia and Parkinson’s disease three to four times more often than they should.”

Despite having a lower overall risk of death than the average American, former NFL players experienced a dramatic increase in deaths linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, dementia-related deaths were 3.8 times higher, while deaths from Parkinson's disease were 3.88 times higher than expected.

Even after adjusting for other known risk factors, neurodegenerative mortality remained approximately three times higher than in the general population.

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Risk Even Higher Among Younger Players

Researchers found that the risk was particularly alarming among players who died before the age of 60. In this group, deaths from neurodegenerative diseases were more than 12 times higher than expected compared with the general population.

The study also identified a clear dose-response relationship between years spent in the NFL and disease risk. Players whose careers lasted five seasons or longer had nearly double the risk of neurodegenerative death compared with those who played between one and four seasons.

According to study co-senior author Dr. Jesse Mez of Boston University's CTE Center, the study supports evidence of long-term brain disease due to repeated head impacts.

"A fourfold increase in dementia rates from a presumed environmental cause is immense," Mez said, adding that previous brain bank studies suggest chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is most likely a major contributor.

Why Overall Mortality Was Lower

Interestingly, the researchers found that NFL players actually had lower overall mortality, with reduced deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and suicide compared with the general population.

The team proposed the Selection Through Athletic Resilience Survivor (STARS) effect. They suggest that individuals who reach the NFL often have exceptional physical fitness, resilience, healthier lifestyles, and better access to healthcare, all of which contribute to longer overall survival.

However, these advantages make the elevated rates of neurodegenerative disease even more striking. Researchers argue that because NFL players are generally healthier than average, the true effect of repetitive head impacts on brain disease could actually be underestimated.

The findings add to growing evidence linking repeated head trauma in contact sports to long-term neurological damage and are likely to intensify discussions around concussion prevention, player safety, and long-term monitoring of athletes.