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?

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has reportedly said that he has not drunk plain water in 48 years, preferring his favourite soft drink instead.

Billionaire Bill Ackman recalled a dinner conversation with Buffett during an appearance on a recent podcast, where the legendary investor's drinking habits left him surprised, Business Insider reported.

During the dinner, Ackman offered Buffett a choice between still and sparkling water. However, the investor declined both. Curious about his preference, Ackman asked whether he drank water at all.

Buffett's reported response left him surprised.

"Bill, I haven't had water in 48 years," Buffett reportedly told Ackman.

Ackman, knowing about Buffett's fondness for Cherry Coke, had stocked up on the beverage ahead of the meeting.

Buffett's fondness for Coca-Cola is no secret and goes back decades. He has spoken about his preference for the beverage for years, and his association with the brand goes back to the 1980s. He also declared Cherry Coke the official beverage of Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting.

Also read: What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking Water?

What Happens If You Replace Plain Water With Coke?

Coca-Cola can contribute to your daily fluid intake, but that does not make it a healthy substitute for plain water. Regular Coke contains added sugar and calories, which can have consequences for health when consumed frequently.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with several health problems, including:

• Weight gain and obesity.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Tooth decay and cavities.
• Gout, a type of arthritis.

Unlike plain water, which contains no calories, regular soft drinks add sugar and calories to the diet without providing comparable nutritional benefits.

Replacing water with sugary drinks regularly can therefore increase a person's overall sugar and calorie intake, potentially affecting metabolic and dental health over time.

Sugar-sweetened beverages include regular sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened water, and coffee and tea beverages with added sugars.

The CDC notes that replacing added sugars with low- or no-calorie sweeteners may reduce calorie intake in the short term and help with weight management. However, questions remain about their effectiveness as a long-term weight management strategy.

Read More: Olympian Ciara Mageean Dies At 34 After Bowel Cancer Battle: Warning Signs In Young Adults

Why Is Drinking Enough Water Important?

According to the CDC, getting enough water every day is essential for health. Water helps prevent dehydration and allows the body to function normally.

Dehydration can cause unclear thinking, mood changes, overheating, constipation and kidney stones.

Water plays several important roles in the body. It helps:

• Maintain a normal body temperature.
• Lubricate and cushion joints.
• Protect the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues.
• Remove waste through urination, perspiration and bowel movements.

The body's water requirements may also increase in hot climates, during physical activity, or when a person has a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting.

Water contains no calories. Replacing sugary drinks with plain water can therefore help reduce overall calorie intake.

Amid worsening air pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8, ahead of Diwali. The complete ban on firecrackers will return on November 9, the court said.

The decision comes as Delhi's air quality deteriorates. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) entered the 'very poor' category for the first time this season on Monday, reaching 312 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This was the morning reading, with the daily average due at 4 pm.

An AQI of 301–400 is classified as 'very poor', while readings above 400 fall in the 'severe' category.

The court imposed the following restrictions:

• Timings: Green crackers can be burst only between 6–7 am and 8–10 pm on November 7 and 8.
• No-cracker zones: Their use is prohibited within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, health centres, old-age homes and educational institutions. These areas must be clearly marked.

Manufacturers and traders must also furnish monetary security, which will be forfeited if they violate the court's order.

Also read: Rising AQI In Delhi-NCR: Doctors Warn Of Lung And Heart Risks As Pollution Builds

What Are Green Crackers?

Developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), green crackers are designed to produce fewer emissions than conventional firecrackers.

They are designed to generate lower particulate emissions and produce less noise through modified chemical formulations and dust-suppressing additives.

Are Green Crackers Really Safe For Your Health?

Read More: Landmark Study Links Air Pollution To Higher Hospital Admissions For Cancers & Mental Health Disorders: Lancet

Green crackers may be less polluting than conventional fireworks, but they are not pollution-free. Their chemical combustion still releases particulate matter and gases that can affect respiratory health.

"Green crackers produce fewer emissions than conventional crackers, but calling them safe is misleading. CSIR-NEERI’s criteria require at least 30% lower particulate emissions, or 20% lower particulate emissions plus 10% lower gaseous emissions, compared with corresponding conventional crackers. These are emission benchmarks, not proof of an equivalent reduction in health risk," Dr. Vikas Mittal, Director and Pulmonologist at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, told HealthandMe.

He added that smoke from green crackers contains particles and irritant gases that can aggravate asthma and COPD. Children, older adults and people with existing lung disease are particularly vulnerable.

"Legal permission does not establish medical safety. For lung health, celebrating without firecrackers remains the safest choice," the expert said.

Dr. Nikhil Rajvanshi, Consultant – Pediatric Pulmonologist, Allergy and Sleep Specialist at Rainbow Children's Hospital, Delhi, also cautioned against assuming that green crackers are pollution-free.

"They should not be mistaken for pollution-free products. They can still release particulate matter and harmful gases that irritate the respiratory tract. Children are particularly vulnerable because their lungs are still developing, and exposure can trigger coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and asthma exacerbations," he told HealthandMe.

He added that children with pre-existing respiratory conditions are at even greater risk. Even reduced emissions can contribute to poor air quality when crackers are used collectively. Parents should prioritise avoiding exposure rather than assuming green crackers are completely safe for children's lungs.

Do Green Crackers Contain Harmful Chemicals?

A 2020 survey by Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation, which works to prevent environmental and noise pollution, raised concerns about chemicals in commercially available firecrackers in Mumbai.

According to Frontline, all 28 crackers tested contained hazardous chemicals prohibited under the Hazardous Chemicals Rules.

The Foundation also tested green crackers, including sparklers, chakris and anars, some carrying NEERI's green cracker certification mark.

The tests reportedly detected barium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur. Barium nitrate was among the chemicals prohibited by the Supreme Court in October 2018.

The US has reported a death linked to H5N1 bird flu in Washington state, where health officials have confirmed another human case in Yakima County. All three infections were linked to exposure to infected dairy cattle.

The person who died developed severe avian influenza after exposure to infected dairy cattle and had underlying health conditions, according to the Yakima Health District. The patient was hospitalised before dying. The health district has not disclosed the person's age, gender or identity, citing family privacy.

The infected case involves another Yakima County resident who was exposed to infected dairy cattle but has not developed severe illness or required hospitalisation.

Health officials stressed that the risk to the general public remains low. Human-to-human transmission of avian influenza is extremely rare and has never been documented in the US.

Why Are Scientists Concerned?

Scientists have called for genomic sequencing, exposure investigations and contact tracing to establish whether the infections are linked and identify any concerning viral changes.

Dr Marion Koopmans, Professor of Public Health Virology at the Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, Netherlands, flagged the possibility of different influenza viruses circulating simultaneously.

"Expect to see co-circulation of bovine and human influenza, with risk of reassortment. Therefore important to hear of contact tracing results," she wrote on X. Reassortment occurs when influenza viruses exchange genetic material after infecting the same host.

Also read: Washington Reports Human Bird Flu Case After Dairy Cattle Exposure: Should You Be Worried?

Dr Krutika Kuppalli, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said the cases were concerning reminders that the threat persists even when public attention shifts elsewhere.

In a post on X, she also highlighted four areas requiring timely information:

• Genomic sequencing: To establish whether the viruses from both cases are related and identify concerning genetic changes

• Exposure histories: To determine whether the patients had shared exposures or epidemiological links

• Clinical details: Including symptoms and disease progression

• Treatment and outcomes: To understand the care received and clinical outcomes.

"Just because we want to ignore infectious diseases doesn't mean they've gone away," Kuppalli said, stressing the importance of continued surveillance as pathogens circulate and evolve.

Why Is H5N1 Spread Among Mammals Concerning?

Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, has also raised concerns about H5N1 infections in mammals, particularly mink.

Referring to a bird flu outbreak at a mink farm in Utah, she warned that unchecked spread among mammals could increase the risk of viral adaptation to humans.

Mink have similar susceptibility and respiratory physiology to humans, Rasmussen noted, raising concerns about the virus potentially adapting to human hosts as it evolves in these animals.

"We don't know if H5N1 will ever make that evolutionary leap or not. We know that it could. But I hope we don't find out," she wrote on X.

"A worst case bird flu pandemic could literally kill hundreds of millions of people & cause agricultural, ecological, & economic collapse," Rasmussen warned.

Read More: US Bird Flu: Can H5N1 Trigger The Next Pandemic?

Should You Be Worried About Bird Flu?

The risk to the general public remains low, health officials have said. However, people with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments face a higher risk. These include dairy and agricultural workers, backyard flock owners, hunters and wildlife workers.

Public health officials are contacting people who had close contact with the patients and monitoring them for symptoms for 14 days after their last exposure.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk Of Bird Flu?

READ: H5 Bird Flu Spreads To Australian Mammals: Is It Nearing Humans?

People who work with or come into contact with animals should take precautions to minimise exposure to avian influenza.

Recommendations include:

• Avoid touching wild birds and other animals, including those that appear healthy

• Stay away from sick or dead animals, bird droppings and potentially contaminated surfaces.

• Workers exposed to infected animals should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), follow recommended precautions and report suspected illness in animals.

• Hunters should wear disposable gloves when handling harvested birds and practise good hygiene.

• Ask your healthcare provider about seasonal flu vaccination. It does not prevent bird flu but may reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and avian influenza viruses.