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.

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English actor and former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan recently urged health authorities to make focal therapy more available for prostate cancer patients. He said after describing the treatment as "life-changing" following his own diagnosis in 2019.

This comes as new evidence has been emerging that the minimally invasive approach can offer satisfactory cancer control compared to traditional treatments, while also significantly reducing long-term side effects.

The 72-year-old broadcaster revealed that he was initially offered a prostatectomy, a surgery that removes the entire prostate gland. Instead, he opted for focal therapy, a targeted treatment that destroys only the cancerous portion of the prostate while preserving healthy tissue.

"It was a complete success, and I've only experienced very minor after-effects, allowing me to continue with my life as before," Duncan said, while backing Prostate Cancer UK's campaign for wider NHS access to the treatment. "Many men aren't given the same chance I was, and that needs to change."

Importance Of Focal Therapy In Prostate Cancer Treatment

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Duncan's campaign comes amid growing clinical evidence supporting focal therapy for selected patients with localised prostate cancer.

A recent report from researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust found that focal therapy shows promise in cancer treatment compared to surgery and radiotherapy while causing far fewer complications in some patients.

Amy Rylance, Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said the delay in wider approval is leaving thousands of men with no access to treatments that could preserve their quality of life.

"Without a timeline from NICE, we simply don't know how long men will have to wait for approval on the NHS," she said. "Thousands of men will have to deal with life-changing side effects simply because of their postcode."

More About Focal Therapy

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Unlike prostatectomy or radiotherapy, focal therapy targets only the tumour inside the prostate. The treatment may use high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or cryotherapy to destroy cancer cells while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.

Because the rest of the prostate and surrounding nerves are preserved, patients may generally face a much lower risk of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and bowel problems.

Focal therapy is not suitable for everyone. Specialists say it is generally considered for men with localised, clinically significant prostate cancer where imaging and biopsy show that the tumour can be accurately targeted.

Patients still require long-term monitoring after treatment to ensure the cancer has not returned or progressed.

Can Focal Therapy Help?

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. According to Prostate Cancer UK, around one in eight men will be diagnosed during their lifetime, with the risk increasing with age, family history and Black ethnicity.

While surgery and radiotherapy remain the standard treatment options to treat prostate cancer, advocates argue that expanding access to focal therapy could help thousands of eligible men receive effective treatment with fewer long-term side effects.

Duncan hopes sharing his own experience will encourage both policymakers and patients to consider the option where appropriate.

In a first for India, Maharashtra has allowed qualified homeopathy practitioners to prescribe certain modern medicines after completing a one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).

The decision has sparked strong opposition from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and several doctors' bodies, which have announced protests, citing concerns over patient safety, medical education, and professional standards.

What Is The Debate All About?

Under a Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 3, Maharashtra has allowed BHMS graduates who have completed the one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). The registration allows eligible practitioners to prescribe specified modern medicines under the state's policy.

The MMC began registering CCMP-qualified practitioners on August 5. According to reports, one practitioner has been registered so far, while around 2,500 applications remain pending.

The IMA has warned of a nationwide strike if the Maharashtra government does not withdraw its decision. In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, signed by IMA National President Dr. Anilkumar J. Nayak and Secretary General Dr. Sarbari Dutta, the association demanded immediate withdrawal of both the GR and the CCMP course.

Why Is the IMA Objecting?

The IMA has raised the following concerns:

• No approval from national regulators:

• Opposition to dual registration:

• Matter pending before the court

• Concerns over medical education

What Is the CCMP Course? Why Was It Introduced?

The Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) is a one-year program introduced in Maharashtra in 2016 by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS). It is designed for BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery) graduates and trains them in aspects of modern pharmacology and allopathic medicine.

The CCMP course was introduced following a major agitation by homeopathic associations, including a 13-day indefinite hunger strike in Nagpur in 2013, demanding legal rights to prescribe essential modern medicines.

According to the Maharashtra government, the objective was to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in areas facing shortages of doctors.

To facilitate the course, the state amended the Maharashtra Homoeopathy Practitioners' Act, 1960 and the Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1965 in 2014, after the legislation was passed by both Houses of the State Legislature.

The IMA now argued that the situation in 2014 when the MMC Act was amended is very different from the situation now.

The medical body cited the cancellation of "bond system for MBBS graduates due to the nonavailability of vacant posts for them even in rural areas- signifying sufficient availability of MBBS doctors".

What Does the CCMP Course Include?

According to the government, the one-year CCMP curriculum was developed by expert committees at MUHS after comparing the BHMS and MBBS syllabi to bridge gaps in training.

The course includes:

• Training in modern pharmacology
• Practical laboratory procedures
• Rotational hospital training in clinical subjects of allopathy
• Teaching at government and private medical colleges
• Examinations conducted by the Faculty of Medicine, MUHS

The government says the program is intended to make registered homeopathic practitioners competent to prescribe specified modern medicines and improve access to healthcare in the state.

But the IMA has argued that such "short-term certification or bridge courses cannot substitute for comprehensive medical education". They also warned that permitting cross-practice would compromise patient safety.

What's Next?

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) began an indefinite statewide strike on August 3. On August 5, doctors across Mumbai withdrew routine outpatient department (OPD) services in protest against the government's decision.

Doctors from Pune are scheduled to join their counterparts in Mumbai for demonstrations at Azad Maidan on August 6. The IMA has warned of a nationwide strike if the Maharashtra government does not withdraw the decision. The IMA Kerala State Branch has also extended support to the Maharashtra doctors' protest.

A severe COVID-19 infection may awaken dormant viruses that remain hidden in the body for life, even in people with otherwise healthy immune systems, according to a study published in Nature.

The study, which analyzed more than 1,100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, found that viral reactivation was common and may contribute to long COVID symptoms. Researchers said the findings suggest COVID-19 can disrupt the body's internal ecosystem of dormant viruses, creating a state they describe as "dysvirosis."

"This finding suggests that COVID-19 may not always act as a single viral infection and may disrupt the body's internal ecosystem of dormant viruses, creating a state of 'dysvirosis'," said lead author Cole Maguire from Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

Which Dormant Viruses Were Reactivated?

Nearly half of the hospitalized patients had at least one dormant virus reactivate during their COVID-19 illness. The viruses identified included:

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mononucleosis
• Herpes family viruses
• Enteroviruses
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1)
• Human herpesvirus-6 and -7 (HHV-6/7)
• Anelloviridae, a lesser-known family of chronic viruses

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How Viral Reactivation Affects The Body

The researchers found that viral reactivation was more common in patients with severe COVID-19 and those who had longer hospital stays, and caused:

• Increase inflammation
• Worsened tissue injury
• Prolonged recovery

The study also noted that these viruses have previously been linked to autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Further, the study found that dormant viruses do not reactivate simultaneously after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Epstein-Barr virus and anelloviruses tended to reactivate early, shortly after hospital admission.
• Cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex viruses generally emerged around three weeks later, primarily in the respiratory system.

Not Limited to People With Weak Immune Systems

Earlier research had mainly observed viral reactivation in people with weakened immune systems. However, this study found that reactivation frequently occurred in people who were healthy before developing COVID-19.

According to the researchers, this suggests viral reactivation may be more common than previously believed and could contribute to worse outcomes even in otherwise healthy individuals.

How Are the Dormant Viruses Linked to Long COVID?

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While the study does not prove that viral reactivation causes long COVID, it provides strong evidence that dormant viruses may contribute to the condition.

Researchers found that Anelloviridae appeared more frequently in patients with long COVID who experienced persistent fatigue and reduced physical function.

"Our findings have important implications for patient care. Tests already exist for several of the chronic viruses studied, and some viruses in the herpes family can be treated with existing antiviral drugs," said study principal investigator Melamed, assistant professor of neurology at Dell Medical School.

"The next step is determining whether identifying and treating reactivated viruses can improve outcomes for patients with acute COVID-19 and long COVID."

The study may also influence future treatment strategies. Researchers noted that, instead of targeting only SARS-CoV-2, clinicians may eventually be able to use existing antiviral drugs against reactivated viruses, particularly herpesviruses.

A Phase II clinical trial is already underway to evaluate antiviral therapies targeting herpesviruses in people with long COVID.