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Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, and go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the second most common cause of death globally, accounting for millions of deaths every year. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women. However, these are not necessarily the deadliest forms of cancer.
What makes cancer the deadliest depends upon how many people have it and what percentage of those people actually survive. Cancer researchers determine this on the basis of five-year relative survival. This is the percentage of people who are expected to survive the effects of a given cancer, excluding their risk of other possible causes of death, for five years past a diagnosis. It is also important to note that what makes cancer really deadly is that practically no cure for it. A cure for cancer would imply that there are no cancerous cells remaining in the body.
Here are the 5 deadliest cancers in the U.S., according to SEER five-year relative survival data for cases diagnosed between 2014 and 2020.
1. Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in your pancreas, a gland in your abdomen that aids digestion, mutate and multiply out of control, forming a tumour. Major risk factors include smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, certain genetic mutations and environmental chemical exposure.
2. Esophageal cancer develops in the oesophagus, which is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach.
3. Liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer originate in the liver or bile ducts, often linked to hepatitis infections, heavy alcohol use, obesity, and aflatoxin exposure.
4. Lung and bronchus cancer primarily caused by smoking, secondhand smoke, and environmental pollutants, affects the lungs and airways, making it the leading cause of cancer death in the US.
5. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses rapidly, often linked to genetic mutations, radiation exposure, and certain chemicals.
ALSO READ: Why Are Lifestyle Factors Making Millennials Vulnerable To Cancer?
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India's National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) has screened more than 210.6 million people and treated over 612,000 patients as of March 2026, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ahead of World Hepatitis Day 2026.
Viral hepatitis remains a major public health challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths globally in 2015, a toll comparable to tuberculosis. In India, an estimated 40 million people live with Hepatitis B, while 6-12 million have Hepatitis C.
According to the 2021 HIV Sentinel Surveillance:
This is roughly equivalent to 1 in 118 people testing positive for Hepatitis B and 1 in 345 for Hepatitis C among those surveyed.
Launched in 2018, the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program aims to:
"Since 2018, India's National Viral Hepatitis Control Program has offered free screening and treatment for Hepatitis B and C nationwide. Smart use of local funding, cheaper generic drugs, and existing health programs has helped expand this care further," the government said in an official statement.
"Services are now moving from district hospitals down to local health centers, bringing testing and treatment closer to everyone," it added.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by viruses, alcohol, certain drugs, toxins, or autoimmune diseases. Hepatitis B and C are the most common causes of chronic liver disease and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.
World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis.
The World Hepatitis Day 2026 theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” is a call to remove the barriers that stand between people and the services that can save their lives. Viral hepatitis continues to be a major cause of preventable illness and death worldwide.
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A new study suggests that when you eat may be just as important as what you eat to support brain health as you age.
Researchers have found that restricting food intake to an 8 to 9-hour window each day and avoiding food for at least four hours before bedtime may help reduce age-related cognitive decline, particularly among older adults living with overweight or obesity.
The findings were presented at the American Society for Nutrition's NUTRITION 2026 annual meeting. The study supports the notion that fixed mealtimes could support healthy ageing beyond weight loss.
Led by researchers at Rutgers University, the study is based on 47 women aged 50 to 79 years who were overweight or obese.
All participants were enrolled in a six-month weight-loss programme and asked to consume 500 fewer calories per day. They were then divided into two groups:
Time-restricted eating group: Ate all meals within an 8 to 9-hour window, typically between 10 am and 6 pm.
Control group: Spread meals across a more conventional 12-hour eating window.
Both groups lost around 6.8 to 7 kg over six months. However, participants who followed the shorter eating window performed significantly better on tests assessing spatial planning, problem-solving, and executive function.
Researchers also noticed that they also committed fewer memory and learning errors.
Also read: Scientists Say Changes In Brain In Your 40s & 50s May Influence Dementia Risk
Following fixed meal times can regulate the body's circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock that keeps sleep in check, metabolism, hormone release, and other essential brain functions.
Eating earlier in the day and avoiding late-night meals may improve metabolic health, reduce inflammation, enhance insulin sensitivity, and support healthier brain function over time. These factors are known to lower risk of cognitive decline.
Lead investigator Professor Sue Shapses, nutritional scientist at Rutgers University and Rutgers-RWJ Medical Center, said, "Losing weight alone will ward off some of the aging-related cognitive decline, and these data suggest that there may be additional benefits if you stop eating four hours before going to sleep and reduce food intake to 8 to 9 hours per day, compared with the usual eating window of 12 hours per day."
She added, "These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks and reducing mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving. Reductions in the eating window predicted greater improvements."
Also read: Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi Sleeps 3 Hours A Night: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?
The researchers stress that the study does not prove that a 9-hour eating window prevents dementia. Instead, it suggests that meal timing could become one of several lifestyle strategies to support cognitive health.
Dementia risk is influenced by multiple factors including age, genetics, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, physical activity, sleep, and diet. Time-restricted eating may eventually become part of a broader prevention approach if future research confirms these findings.
A recent study found that brain undergoes immune changes during 40s and 50s that could influence the risk of dementia.
Researchers found that the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory, experiences a major shift in its immune cells during the 40s and 50s.
Once this immune environment changes, it may make the brain more vulnerable to inflammation and cognitive decline.
The findings suggest that this change could lead to chronic inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in the future .
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US President Donald Trump should take a month-long break for his health, friend Bill O'Reilly has suggested.
The American conservative political commentator and television host made the remarks during a recent episode of his show.
“I noticed that he’s hunching over a little bit,” said O'Reilly, noting that he has known Trump for 35 years and expressing concern about the 80-year-old president's health, TV Insider reported.
“That’s normal. You get older, every malady in the world is going to visit you. I can’t even bore you with the stuff I gotta deal with. I was actually feeling sorry for myself the other day and I never do that.”
Offering advice, O'Reilly said Trump should “take the next month off, if you can.” He urged the president to “get into an environment” he enjoys, suggesting he spend time playing golf and “relax a little bit.”
Questions about Trump's health have resurfaced during his second term following a series of public appearances.
Observers have pointed to swollen ankles, bruising on his hands, verbal slips, and occasional moments in which he appeared drowsy during meetings and international summits. Some physicians have also publicly raised concerns about the president's physical and cognitive health, although none have diagnosed him with dementia.
Trump has repeatedly rejected suggestions that he is experiencing cognitive decline or other serious health problems. His latest annual physical examination concluded that he is "in excellent health."
Recent photographs have shown discoloration on both of Trump's hands. His right hand has repeatedly drawn attention in recent months for bruising that often appeared to be covered with concealer, while newer images also showed discoloration on his left hand.
“Bruising and discoloration was visible today on Trump's left hand, which is not the one that is usually mangled,” independent journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on social media platform X.
Earlier this month, Trump was also photographed with a visible neck rash and a bruised right hand that appeared to be covered with makeup during the 2026 NATO Summit in Türkiye. The back of his right hand appeared noticeably darker than the surrounding skin, suggesting cosmetic coverage, The Independent reported.
Trump has also been unsteady on his feet on some occasions, particularly while using stairs.
White House Dismisses Concerns
The White House has repeatedly rejected concerns about Trump's health, attributing the bruising to the physical demands of his schedule.
"President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement to The Independent.
In February, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt similarly said the bruising was caused by frequent handshaking.
Following Trump's most recent medical examination in May, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella said the bruising was consistent with "minor soft tissue irritation related to frequent handshaking" while the president was taking aspirin as a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease.
After the check-up at Walter Reed, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "everything" had "checked out PERFECTLY."
The White House has also addressed concerns over swelling around Trump's ankles, saying it is caused by blood pooling in the lower legs—a common condition among older adults.
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