Credit: Canva
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?
Credit: iStock
Even as the US battles a Cyclospora outbreak that has caused two deaths and thousands of illnesses, the country is now grappling with a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapeño peppers.
The outbreak has sickened 345 people across 27 states and hospitalized 36, prompting recalls and renewed concerns over food safety. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged businesses to check their inventory for recalled jalapeño peppers and stop selling or serving them.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC, along with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to distributors, restaurants, and food service companies, including Mexican-style restaurants across the US.
According to the CDC, illnesses began between June 19 and July 20. Of the 191 people interviewed, 177 (93%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before becoming ill, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14 to July 14.
The CDC said epidemiological and traceback investigations identified jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, as the source of the outbreak.
After being notified, Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA stopped serving the affected jalapeño peppers. The CDC and FDA said there is no ongoing risk to consumers at these establishments, as the products have been removed.
Coast Citrus Distributors has also agreed to recall the affected jalapeño peppers.
The CDC estimates Salmonella cause about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year. Contaminated food is the source for most of these illnesses.
The recalled jalapeño peppers were primarily distributed to restaurants and wholesalers. Consumers should check with the place where they purchased or consumed jalapeños to confirm their source.
The FDA is investigating whether the affected peppers were also sold in grocery stores. If additional retail recalls are identified, the agency will announce them on its recalls page.
If you have recalled jalapeño peppers at home, do not eat them.
Salmonella illness usually develops 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and typically lasts four to seven days.
Common symptoms include:
Diarrhea
Fever
Abdominal cramps
Children under 5 years, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness.
Contact a healthcare provider if you experience:
Diarrhea with a fever higher than 102°F
Diarrhea lasting more than three days without improvement
Bloody diarrhea
Vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
Signs of dehydration, including:
Urinating less than usual
Dry mouth and throat
Dizziness when standing
Advice for Businesses
Credit: AI
A family trip to the beach ended in a painful ordeal for a 27-year-old man after he suffered third-degree burns after unknowingly stepping on sand that had been heated by a disposable barbecue.
The incident has prompted burn specialists to warn that the hidden danger can remain long after the flames have been extinguished.
The incident occurred at Cefn Sidan Beach in Carmarthenshire, Wales, where Sam Knight had arrived to spend the day with his family.
According to local reports, Knight moved the disposable barbecue with tongs and poured water over it to extinguish the residual flame before leaving.
Believing the area was safe, he later walked barefoot over the same spot, only to step onto extremely hot sand beneath the surface.
"I instantly knew something wasn't right. I couldn't stand on my feet," Knight recalled.
Family members had to carry him off the beach before he was taken to hospital for treatment. He was later referred to a specialist burns unit and was unable to work for two weeks while recovering.
Knight said he shared his experience to raise awareness about a hazard many beachgoers may not think about.
"I didn't realise the sand could stay that hot after the barbecue had been put out. I just don't want anyone else to go through what I did."
Also read: Europe Swelters Under Heatwave And Wildfires; 360,000+ Evacuated: What Are The Health Risks?
Burn specialists say the barbecue itself is not always the greatest risk. But the sand beneath it can absorb and retain extreme heat, remaining hot enough to cause third-degree burns even after the barbecue has been removed.
David Fligelstone, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Swansea Bay University Health Board's Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, warned that people often underestimate how long the heat can remain trapped.
"The sand underneath a disposable barbecue can stay dangerously hot even after the barbecue has been removed. People assume it's safe because they can't see the heat, but the injury can be severe," he said.
Also read: UK, France Brace for Another Heatwave: How Hot Weather Can Affect Medicines
These burns typically require specialist medical care and can take weeks or even months to heal. Burns affecting the feet are particularly concerning because they can make walking difficult and increase the risk of infection.
Experts recommend a few simple precautions when using disposable barbecues:
Credit: AI
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has decertified Network for Hope, the federally funded organ procurement organization (OPO), which serves Kentucky and parts of Ohio, and West Virginia.
HHS officials cited "persistent safety failures" that could undermine public trust in organ transplantation as the reason for their move.
The move comes after months-long federal investigation into cases where organ recovery procedures were initiated despite patients showing signs of life.
The announcement marks one of the most significant federal actions against an organ procurement organization in recent years. It comes amid a bigger overhaul of the US organ transplant system.
"We're taking action because one bad apple can undermine trust in the entire transplant system," US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said while announcing the proposed decertification, adding that patient safety and trust must remain the highest priority.
The investigation stems from a widely reported 2021 case involving a Kentucky man who was being evaluated for organ donation after a drug overdose.
According to federal officials, preparations for organ retrieval continued even though the patient reportedly began showing neurological signs suggesting he was regaining consciousness. The procedure was ultimately halted, and the man survived.
Following that incident, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reviewed 351 cases in which organ donation had been authorized but not completed.
Also read: Dr. Erica Schwartz Confirmed As CDC’s First Permanent Director In Nearly A Year
Federal investigators found:
Investigators also pointed out ineffective neurological examinations, inadequate coordination between hospitals and procurement teams, questionable consent practices, and inconsistencies and errors in determining causes of death, particularly in cases of deaths due to overdose.
Network for Hope has rejected the allegations and said it plans to appeal the proposed decertification.
In a statement, the organization said it "strongly disagrees" with the decision and maintains that it follows federal policies governing organ donation.
It also said that it has already introduced additional safeguards and strict policies, including instructing staff to stop organ donation procedures if ethical and legal concerns arise.
Most importantly, OPOs have no authority to declare death. That decision is made independently by hospital physicians before any organ recovery process can begin.
Most organ donations occur after brain death or circulatory death under strict medical protocols.
Earlier investigations into the Kentucky cases caused led to removing themselves from organ donor registries, raising concerns that safety controversies could reduce the availability of organs for patients awaiting transplantation.
Currently, more than 100,000 Americans are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, with kidneys accounting for the majority of the demand. While organ donation remains one of the most effective ways to save lives, public confidence is essential to keeping donor registrations high.
© 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited