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?

People who use cannabis frequently believing it relieves stress are about to be proven wrong. A new study debunked the myth that marijuana helps alleviate stress levels.

In fact, researchers recently found that frequent cannabis users may face the risk of higher levels of cortisol, body's stress hormone.

While the study does not prove that marijuana causes chronic stress, they raise important questions about how regular cannabis use affects long-term mental and physical health.

What Did The Study Find?

The study, conducted by researchers at Oregon State University and published in the journal Cannabis, examined 82 young adults, including 39 frequent cannabis users and 43 non-users.

Participants provided saliva samples immediately after waking and again 30 minutes later, allowing researchers to measure the cortisol awakening response (CAR), a natural surge in cortisol that prepares the body for the day.

The researchers found that frequent cannabis users had higher cortisol levels immediately upon waking compared to non-users. However, both groups showed a similar cortisol increase during the first 30 minutes after waking.

This suggests that cannabis users started the day with an already elevated stress hormone level rather than having an exaggerated morning cortisol surge.

Also read: 10 Odd Signs Of Stress That You Thought You Knew But Don't

Cortisol Isn't Just The 'Stress Hormone'

Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, plays several essential roles in the body. It helps regulate:

• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Metabolism
• Immune function
• Body's response to physical and emotional stress

A temporary rise in cortisol is normal and even beneficial. But, chronically elevated cortisol has been linked to anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and impaired immune function.

Why People Use Cannabis For Stress?

Many users experience short-term relaxation after consuming marijuana, particularly due to THC's effects on the brain's cannabinoid receptors.

However, researchers say repeated exposure may gradually alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body's central stress-response network.

Over time, this could interfere with normal stress regulation, potentially creating a cycle where people increasingly rely on cannabis to cope with stress while their biological stress system becomes dysregulated.

However, researchers clarify that the study does not establish that frequent marijuana use directly causes increase in cortisol.

Also read: Could Wildfire Smoke Trigger Your Migraine? Latest Study Finds A Strong Link

The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that heavy cannabis consumption may have complex effects on mental health. Recent research has linked it with:

• Increased risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms
• Higher likelihood of cannabis use disorder
• Greater risk of psychosis in susceptible individuals
• Cognitive problems, including impaired memory with long-term heavy use
• Experts note that these risks appear to increase with more frequent use, higher THC potency, and younger age at first use.

Many people use marijuana to unwind after a stressful day, but this study suggests that frequent cannabis use may be associated with higher baseline stress hormone levels upon waking. This could affect one's day-to-day quality of life.

As cannabis use continues to rise worldwide, researchers say understanding its long-term effects on mental health and the body's stress response will be increasingly important, especially to bust common myths associated to its use.

Long COVID—a debilitating condition that can persist for months or even years after a SARS-CoV-2 infection—may be preventable if treatment begins early, according to a new study.

Long COVID is an infection-associated chronic condition marked by fatigue, cognitive impairment, exercise intolerance, and multisystem dysfunction. It has affected an estimated 400 million people worldwide and continues to have significant health, social, and economic consequences. Despite the ongoing risk, prevention strategies have received relatively little attention.

Now, a landmark randomized trial, published in The Lancet, provides some of the strongest evidence to date that early treatment with the antiviral drug Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir–ritonavir) can reduce the risk of developing Long COVID by 40%. The treatment was effective when started during the acute phase of COVID-19.

“The message is profound: what happens in the first few days of COVID-19 may determine health for months—or even years,” said researchers from the University of California, San Francisco.

The researchers added that preventing Long COVID "may become the next frontier in COVID care."

Paxlovid combines two antiviral medicines—nirmatrelvir and ritonavir—and remains one of the most effective outpatient treatments for people at high risk of severe COVID-19.

What Did the Study Find?

Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial in Norway involving patients with acute COVID-19. They found that a five-day course of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir significantly reduced the risk of Long COVID three months after infection.

For the study, Long COVID was defined as patient-reported fatigue, shortness of breath (dyspnea), or cognitive symptoms during the post-acute phase.

The findings provide some of the first randomized trial evidence that antiviral treatment during acute infection can lower the risk of Long COVID, supporting earlier observational studies.

Importantly, the trial was conducted during the circulation of successive Omicron subvariants, from XBB to LP.8.1, making the findings relevant to the current phase of the pandemic.

A notable finding was the high rate of Long COVID among participants. In the placebo group, 33 of 77 participants (43%) met the criteria for Long COVID despite widespread vaccine-derived immunity. While vaccination offers partial protection, the study suggests a substantial risk still remains.

Why Might Early Treatment Help?

The researchers suggest several biological mechanisms that may explain the protective effect of early antiviral treatment:

Reducing viral replication early may lower peak viral load and shorten viral shedding, both of which have been linked to Long COVID.

Early treatment may limit immune dysregulation, allowing the body's antiviral immune response to control the virus more effectively.

Treating the infection during its acute phase may prevent or reduce processes associated with Long COVID, including persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, herpesvirus reactivation, and immune dysfunction.

The trial suggests that early viral replication may trigger "self-sustaining or persistent harmful biological processes" that contribute to Long COVID.

"Defining these relationships could yield predictive biomarkers and more targeted prevention strategies," the researchers noted.

Are There Any Side Effects of Paxlovid?

The researchers noted that nirmatrelvir–ritonavir commonly causes dysgeusia (altered taste), which may have influenced how some participants perceived their treatment and reported symptoms. They said future studies should evaluate this possibility and investigate antivirals with less distinctive side-effect profiles.

Other common side effects include diarrhea and high blood pressure (hypertension).

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Paxlovid can also interact with several commonly used medications, including statins. Patients should discuss all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements they are taking with their healthcare provider before starting treatment.

While the current study assessed participants three months after infection, the researchers said longer follow-up is needed to determine whether early antiviral treatment provides durable protection against Long COVID or simply accelerates recovery from acute illness. They also emphasized the need for larger studies to evaluate its impact on severe, disabling forms of Long COVID.

Millions of people with hypothyroidism depend on levothyroxine every day to replace the thyroid hormone their body cannot produce.

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a nationwide recall of certain batches of levothyroxine sodium tablets after they were found to be subpotent, meaning they contain less active medication than stated on the label.

Experts caution that ingesting a lower-than-prescribed dose could allow hypothyroidism symptoms to return, particularly in vulnerable groups like pregnant women, infants, and people with thyroid cancer.

Why Did FDA Recall Levothyroxine?

The FDA has issued a Class II recall for specific lots of levothyroxine sodium tablets distributed by Major Pharmaceuticals. Testing found that the recalled tablets were below the approved potency specification, meaning they may not deliver the intended amount of thyroid hormone.

The recall affects multiple strengths packaged in 100-tablet cartons and 10-count blister packs. Dosages involved include 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg, 88 mcg, 112 mcg, 125 mcg and 150 mcg.

The FDA has categorized the action as a Class II recall. According to the agency, a Class II recall means: "Use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

This means the recall is important but does not come under FDA's highest-risk category.

Also read: Is Your Allergy Medicine Safe? FDA Recalls Antihistamine Tablets Over Life-Threatening Contamination Concerns

Why A Subpotent Thyroid Medicine A Concern?

Even relatively small differences in levothyroxine dose can affect how well the medicine works. If they contain less hormone than needed, patients may receive insufficient thyroid replacement. Possible consequences include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Feeling unusually cold
• Constipation
• Depression or low mood
• Brain fog
• Dry skin
• Slower heart rate

In some higher-risk individuals, inadequate thyroid hormone replacement could have more severe consequences, including worsening hypothyroidism or interference with thyroid cancer treatment.

Also read: CDC's 'Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism' Webpage Sparks Debate; Republican Senator Seeks Clarity

What Does This Recall Mean For Patients?

Because thyroid hormone influences nearly every organ system, taking the correct dose consistently is essential.

Also read: Montelukast Mental Health Warning Still Largely Overlooked By Psychiatrists

Do not stop taking levothyroxine on your own. Stopping thyroid medication suddenly can lead to worsening hypothyroidism and other complications. Instead, patients should:

• Check whether their medication's lot number matches the recalled batches.
• Contact your pharmacist or physician.
• Obtain a replacement if their medication is affected.
• Continue treatment unless instructed otherwise by a healthcare professional.

Other Recently Recalled Medications

The FDA also announced recently that it is recalling four lots of Cetirizine Hydrochloride Tablets USP 5 mg made by India-based company Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories due to potential cross-contamination with ranitidine, a medication used to treat heartburn and stomach ulcers.

Although Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories said it has not received any reports of adverse reactions related to the recalled tablets, the contamination could pose a serious risk for people who are allergic or hypersensitive to ranitidine.

The latest FDA recall serves as a reminder that quality control remains critical for medications taken every day. For anyone taking levothyroxine, experts recommend checking medication packaging against the FDA recall notice and speaking with a healthcare provider or pharmacist if there is any uncertainty.