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?

Artificial Intelligence can fast-track better diagnostics, and even a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

In an exclusive interview with TODAY, Altman also announced that the OpenAI Foundation is pledging $100 million to Alzheimer’s research.

“AI has the potential to dramatically speed up how we discover treatments, improve diagnostics, and hopefully get us closer to a cure,” he said.

“This is one of the hardest problems in medicine - and one that affects millions of families. We felt we could help accelerate progress,” Altman added.

OpenAI Commits $100 Million For Alzheimer’s Research

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia, causing 60-70 percent of cases. It mostly affects adults over the age of 65 and is a leading cause of death and disability.

In a statement, OpenAI noted that Alzheimer’s is "one of the toughest problems in medicine".

"AI’s ability to reason across complex data could help researchers uncover new insights," it added.

Also read: This Common Vaccine At Higher Dose Can More Than Halve Alzheimer’s Risk In Older Adults

The company will partner with six research institutions to

• support and accelerate Alzheimer’s research
• generating new data,
• helping design new drugs,
• expanding possible paths to treatment, including repurposing existing FDA-approved molecules.

“The OpenAI Foundation’s Alzheimer’s research initiative represents more than scientific progress. It’s a hope for millions of people, families, and anyone concerned about brain health. We applaud bold investments that prioritize speed and rigor, because every day matters. We must accelerate breakthroughs that change what it means to live with, or be at risk for, Alzheimer’s," said Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association.

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate in the brain and damage cells responsible for memory.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and social isolation.

Read More: The One Critical Thing You Should Do To Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

There is no cure for this progressive brain disorder, and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition, or infection. These complications can result in death.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US, 65 and older, live with the condition, and over 100,00 die from it annually.

South Carolina, which saw the largest measles outbreak in the United States in decades, has declared the outbreak over, state health officials announced.

The development comes as US cases reach 1,792, raising concerns about the country losing its measles elimination status achieved in 2000.

On Monday, health officials in South Carolina marked 42 days without new measles cases, confirming the outbreak that began in Spartanburg County last October has ended. There were nearly 1,000 confirmed cases over six months, including at least 21 hospitalizations.

On the upside, the outbreak led to a significant uptake in the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations. The state said 81,096 MMR vaccinations were given overall statewide, up 31.3 per cent from the previous year.

According to the public health experts, the increasing vaccination coverage played a significant role in helping to get the outbreak under control.

In a statement, South Carolina’s Department of Public Health’s Interim Agency Director, Edward Simmer, said that there was a 93.6 percent increase in MMR vaccinations during the outbreak.

The MMR vaccine is highly effective. One dose prevents the disease about 93 per cent of the time, and two doses raise that protection to 97 per cent.

“Vaccination – combined with other opportunities for good, solid public health work – really can be effective, even against some of the most contagious viruses,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, deputy director and chief medical officer with the South Carolina Department of Public Health, CNN reported.

Notably, unvaccinated school-age children were the most affected by this outbreak, with 95.3 per cent of case-patients unvaccinated and 90.8 per cent of cases in children 17 years old and younger, CIDRAP news reported.

A total of 33 schools had measles exposures, and seven public school districts were affected. Over the course of six months, 874 students were asked to quarantine.

Also read: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Denies Link To Measles Outbreak At Senate Hearing

US Measles Tally Nears 1,800

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) latest weekly update, the US saw 44 new measles cases, one more than the 43 new cases confirmed the previous week. The national total now stands at 1,792 cases.

In 2026, 22 new outbreaks have been reported, and 93 per cent of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated. While there have been no deaths in 2026 from measles, six percent of case-patients (101 of 1,792) have been hospitalized this year in the US.

South Carolina also reported an additional measles case this month. However, it was determined not to be associated with the broader outbreak, but the single case exposed more than 40 people.

Utah reported five more cases in the past week, bringing the state total to 410 for 2026. Arizona has seven more cases, raising the 2026 total to 85. The four most recent cases came from Maricopa County.

“The re-emergence of measles in the Americas is a significant setback, but one that is entirely reversible and demands decisive action,” PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said in a press statement.

With several countries in the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, and the US, seeing a measles resurgence, the PAHO has urged leaders to increase MMR vaccination rates.

Also read: Surging Measles Cases In US Prompting Antivaxxers To Quietly Embrace MMR Vaccine: Report

What Is Measles?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause devastating complications, including blindness, pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term immune dysfunction.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include:

• high fever,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• red eyes,
• rashes across the body.

Health authorities in Kerala have sounded an alarm following five suspected cases of West Nile fever (WNF) in Ernakulam.

The cases were reported from Elanji, Eroor in Thripunithura, Pallikkara in Kizhakkambalam, Ponekkara in Edappally, and Palluruthy, The Hindu reported.

While the cases are yet to be ascertained, the southern state of India has a prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases during the summer months.

“We haven’t received any confirmation of WNF cases. These are suspected cases and can be confirmed only after tests are carried out," Dr. R. Shahirsha, District Medical Officer (DMO), Ernakulam, was quoted as saying.

Notably, the authorities have sent the samples for testing, and results will be available in 14 days.

"While no cluster has been observed, precautionary measures to prevent mosquito breeding need to be implemented,” Dr Shahirsha said. Keeping canals clean and preventing mosquito breeding inside homes and in surrounding areas are critical steps, the authorities said.

What is West Nile Fever

The disease is spread through mosquito bites, and most who get infected do not have any symptoms. However, one in every five infected people has a fever, headache, body aches, and other flu-like symptoms.

The West Nile virus also infects the nervous system and is capable of causing serious brain or spinal cord inflammation.

According to the WHO, West Nile Virus is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.

The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on birds that carry the virus in their blood, and then bite humans and infect them.

It is found in different parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, Australia, and Asia. Cases in 49 states in the US have been reported, and the total number of symptomatic cases in the US is 51,000 since the first cases were detected in the country in 1999.

What Are The Symptoms?

The symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, rash around the chest and back, swollen lymph nodes, sore throats, and pain behind the eyes.

In severe cases, individuals may have an intense headache, high fever, stiff neck, making you unable to move your chin towards your chest, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of control over your muscle movements, seizures, paralysis, and coma.

How Can It Spread?

While the mosquitoes that feed on infected birds are the carriers, there is still a lack of evidence to determine whether it comes directly from the birds. The incubation period for symptoms to show up is two to six days, but it can extend to 14 days, too.

It can be transmitted from a pregnant person to their fetus, through human milk, blood transfusion, and organ transplant. People who are over the age of 60, have cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure are more prone to the virus.

Why Is It called West Nile Fever?

It gets its name from the West Nile district, where it was first discovered in 1937 in Uganda.

Treatment

There are no treatments or antiviral medications available for it. However, you can treat the mild symptoms at home with over-the-counter medications that you take for a cold or the flu. The best way to prevent is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.