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?

The experts stressed the urgent need to tackle India's growing obesity crisis—particularly among children.

Speaking during a panel discussion on the future of women's and child healthcare, Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, often referred to as the "ORS Lady of India," praised India's public health achievements, including the successful Pulse Polio Program, malaria control efforts, and improvements in child nutrition.

However, she cautioned that new challenges now threaten the country's health gains.

"There were many things we are lagging a bit also," Dr. Santosh said, stressing the need for fair food labelling, responsible marketing, and stricter regulation of irrational drug combinations.

She issued a stark warning about unhealthy eating habits, saying, "This junk food pandemic, this is where India needs to really, really focus on. Childhood obesity is a pandemic now. And it's like do or die right now for us."

Her comments highlighted growing concerns that poor nutrition and processed foods are driving obesity among children, increasing their risk of chronic illnesses later in life.

Also Read: Times Now Health Summit 2026: AI Cannot Replace Doctors, It Can Only Complement, Says Dr Santosh Sivaranjani

Echoing the concerns, Dr. T. Rajeshwari Reddy, Senior Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeon at Continental Hospital, explained that unhealthy lifestyles beginning in childhood are now contributing to a rise in hormonal disorders, infertility, and high-risk pregnancies.

"We are seeing a lot of people with hormonal imbalances and a lot of issues from teens, and that is what gets translated into infertility and high-risk pregnancy," she said.

Dr. Rajeshwari stressed that prevention must begin early. "The beginning has to be from birth only," she said, urging families to prioritize home-cooked meals, healthy routines, adequate sleep, and reduced screen time. She added that preventive healthcare should become the foundation of India's health strategy over the next decade.

Experts agreed that the future of Indian healthcare will depend on preventive medicine, technology, artificial intelligence, and stronger public-private partnerships to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas.

They urged that India's fight against childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases must begin at home, with healthier food choices, greater awareness, and prevention from an early age.

Meanwhile, the AI in healthcare panel featured Prof. Renu John, IIT Hyderabad; Nishan Ali, Founder & CEO, Neurologic AI; Dr. Rahul Sawakhande, CEO, Aakaar Medical Technologies; and Dr. Rajah V. Koppala, Vascular & Interventional Radiologist and Founder, AVIS Vascular Center. The experts discussed how AI is driving predictive, data-led healthcare by improving diagnostics, telemedicine, and early disease detection while complementing doctors. They also stressed the need for better regulations, India-specific datasets, stronger data privacy, and greater collaboration between clinicians and engineers to expand quality healthcare across India.

The Times Now India Health Summit 2026 – South Edition commenced in Hyderabad, bringing together leading voices from government, medicine, research, and the healthcare industry to discuss the future of India's healthcare system. The summit featured renowned doctors, policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers, and healthcare innovators, with discussions spanning preventive healthcare, artificial intelligence, women's health, public health policy, and medical innovation.

The Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus has reached 915 confirmed cases and 210 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The situation remains serious, with ongoing transmission reported in eastern DRC. Ituri Province continues to be the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for the majority of confirmed cases in the country. The most affected health zones include Bunia, Mongbwalu, and Rwampara.

North Kivu has reported fewer cases than Ituri but has recorded a higher case-fatality rate, particularly in Katwa and Beni. Health officials say this underscores the need for early detection, safe referrals, quality clinical care, and strengthened infection prevention and control measures.

In Uganda, 19 confirmed cases and two deaths have been reported to date. No new cases have been recorded since June 5, 2026.

Community Mistrust Hindering Response Efforts

Africa CDC has identified several challenges hampering response efforts, including gaps in

• contact tracing,
• shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• essential medical supplies,
• limited ambulance capacity,
• community concerns surrounding isolation,
• post-mortem testing,
• household decontamination.

"Communities are central to stopping this outbreak. The response will only succeed if people trust the information they receive, know where to seek care, and feel that response teams are working with them," Africa CDC said in a statement.

Also read: US FDA Panel Recommends First-Ever mRNA Flu Shot For Older Adults: All About The Moderna Vaccine

WHO Warns Outbreak Is Spreading Rapidly

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned that the outbreak is spreading rapidly, even as response measures are being intensified.

"The outbreak remains serious and is evolving very fast. However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day," said Marie-Roseline Belizaire, WHO Regional Emergencies Director for Africa, speaking to reporters in Bunia, the epicentre of the outbreak.

The WHO estimates that at least 95 per cent of contacts must be traced to effectively contain the outbreak. As per Belizaire, contact tracing has improved to 75 per cent.

Read More: Natural Origin or Lab Leak? Gabbard Reignites COVID Origins Debate, Claims Fauci Funded Wuhan Lab Research

Ebola Outbreak 3 Times Larger

Africa CDC epidemiologist Dr. Wessam Mankoula said the outbreak is approximately three times larger than any previous Ebola outbreak at a similar stage, four weeks after a public health emergency declaration, AP News reported.

Although the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, health officials believe the virus had been circulating undetected for some time beforehand, contributing to its wider spread.

Another major concern is that the outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved antiviral treatments.

Community mistrust of healthcare workers and public health officials, along with reliance on traditional beliefs and healers, is also complicating containment efforts.

The US Food and Drug Administration's independent advisory panel has recommended approval of Moderna's mRNA-based influenza vaccine for older adults.

The panel backed the vaccine, known as mFLUSIVA, for adults aged 50 years and older, concluding that its benefits outweigh its risks.

If ultimately approved by the FDA, mFLUSIVA would become the world's first messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine for seasonal influenza. The development could provide a new tool against a disease that causes an estimated 15 million to 60 million illnesses, 180,000 to 700,000 hospitalizations, and 17,000 to 75,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What Did The FDA Advisory Panel Decide?

The recommendation came from the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which reviews vaccine applications and advises the FDA.

The meeting marked the committee's first review of a new vaccine application since 2023 and could lead to the first vaccine approval under the second Trump administration.

In a unanimous vote, all nine panel members supported the use of Moderna's mFLUSIVA vaccine for adults aged 50 to 64 years, as well as for those aged 65 years and older—the age group that had previously raised regulatory concerns.

Also read: No Women Aged 20-24 Died of Cervical Cancer in England Over Five Years, Thanks to HPV Vaccine

However, before the vaccine can be made available for the upcoming flu season, it must receive formal FDA approval and be recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The CDC advisory panel has not recently convened due to ongoing legal and administrative challenges. An FDA decision on the vaccine is expected by August 5.

How Effective Is Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine?

According to Moderna, the vaccine outperformed standard-dose flu vaccines in adults aged 50 to 64 years.

In a large clinical trial involving approximately 40,000 adults aged 50 years and older, Moderna's mRNA vaccine reduced influenza cases by about 27% compared with another routinely used flu vaccine.

The company also conducted a smaller study among adults aged 65 years and older. The results showed that mFLUSIVA generated a strong immune response compared with a high-dose influenza vaccine already recommended for seniors.

FDA adviser Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins University described the immune-response data as "very compelling," adding that "the vaccine looks very promising," AP News reported.

How Does The Vaccine Work?

Read More: Sickle Cell Disease: Why India Must Add Curative Treatment to Meet Its 2047 Elimination Goal

Like Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, mFLUSIVA uses messenger RNA technology. Rather than introducing a weakened or inactivated virus, mRNA vaccines deliver genetic instructions that help the body's cells produce proteins that trigger an immune response. This approach allows vaccines to be updated more quickly and may improve protection against evolving viruses.

Is The Vaccine Safe?

Moderna's data showed no major safety concerns.

The most commonly reported side effects included:

• Injection-site pain
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches

These reactions were generally temporary and are commonly seen with many vaccines. However, they occurred somewhat more frequently than with currently available flu vaccines. FDA reviewers noted that this is typical of mRNA-based vaccines.

What's Next?

If approved, Moderna plans to conduct a large post-approval study involving approximately 400,000 adults aged 65 years and older.

Half of the participants will receive the mRNA vaccine, while the other half will receive one of the currently recommended flu vaccines for seniors. The study is expected to continue across two influenza seasons.

A Moderna executive said the company hopes to make the vaccine available to patients in time for the upcoming flu season, Reuters reported.