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?

The use of an experimental peptide, popularly known as part of the 'Wolverine stack', has surged significantly in the US, despite limited evidence that it actually helps people recover from injuries.

A new study based on more than 15 million medical records found that documented use of BPC-157, an unapproved peptide promoted online for pain relief, healing and performance enhancement, increased 33-fold between 2020 and 2026.

The findings were reported as US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has backed efforts to make the peptide available through compounding pharmacies.

BPC-157 is often combined with TB-500, a peptide derived from thymosin beta-4, in what users call the 'Wolverine stack'. The combination is marketed online as a way to accelerate tissue repair and recovery from muscle, tendon and other injuries.

Why Are People Taking BPC-157?

Researchers identified 1,039 patients with documented BPC-157 use. Among 644 patients, the peptide was taken for conditions ranging from sports injuries and chronic pain to gastrointestinal problems.

Pain and gastrointestinal symptoms were among the most common reasons for starting BPC-157. Many users obtained it through compounding pharmacies or grey-market peptide vendors.

The appeal comes largely from claims that BPC-157 can promote tissue repair and accelerate recovery. But these claims have not been established through the kind of controlled human trials normally required to demonstrate that a treatment works.

Also read: Bouncy Castles Linked To MRSA Outbreak In 48 Children In Ireland

Effect Of BPC-157 On Injury Recovery

The new analysis was based on real-world medical records, rather than a randomised clinical trial. Only around one-third of patients had documented responses to treatment. Some doctors recorded improvements, but patients were frequently taking other drugs or undergoing other treatments at the same time for recovery.

Dr Flynn McGuire of the University of Utah, who was not involved in the research, said, “There was no placebo or untreated comparator, and there was no standardized indication, formulation, dose, route, treatment duration, or outcome assessment.”

That makes it impossible to determine whether reported improvements came from BPC-157, another treatment, natural recovery or placebo effects. McGuire said randomised controlled trials are needed to establish whether the peptide produces meaningful clinical improvement.

Also read: BORG Drinking Trend: Why These Viral Alcohol Jugs Can Be Dangerous

Concern About Its Safety

BPC-157 is not approved by the US FDA for medical use. The FDA has previously raised concerns about the peptide, including the possibility of immune reactions and problems related to peptide impurities and product quality.

The agency says it has limited safety information for BPC-157 in humans and lacks enough information to determine whether some routes of administration could cause harm.

The FDA has also reported adverse events in its database involving reactions at the injection site, shortness of breath and skin or gum pigmentation changes, although it cautions that these events cannot necessarily be attributed to BPC-157.

In July, an FDA advisory committee considered whether BPC-157 and other peptides should be permitted as bulk substances for compounding. The process does not mean BPC-157 has been approved as a drug.

Pennsylvania has reported its fourth measles-associated death after an 18-year-old from Mifflin County died from a rare and severe neurological complication of the infection.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed two additional measles-associated deaths on September 15, including the 18-year-old and an unvaccinated person from Jefferson County. The state has now recorded four measles-associated deaths in 2026 as its outbreak continues to expand.

The latest casualty highlights acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), one of the most serious complications of measles can cause. In this condition, the inflammation damages the brain and spinal cord.

How Can Measles Affect The Brain?

According to Mifflin County Coroner Andrea Alcalde, a review of medical records and available investigative information determined that the 18-year-old died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which she described as a rare and severe neurological complication of measles.

Ruled as a natural death, the individual was unvaccinated, according to Pennsylvania health officials. ADEM entails inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It can cause neurological symptoms and in extreme cases, can become life-threatening.

Measles itself is highly contagious and can cause complications that could impact multiple organs. Pennsylvania health officials say serious complications can include pneumonia and brain swelling, while around 20% of people identified with measles in the state have required hospitalisation during the current outbreak.

Also read: Chile Eliminates Dog-Transmitted Rabies: What Other Countries Can Learn

Pennsylvania Has Now Recorded 4 Deaths

The latest deaths come as Pennsylvania continues to experience its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades. The state has recorded 693 confirmed measles cases across 38 counties in 2026, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The four deaths include two infants from Lancaster County reported in August, a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County who died from measles complications, and the 18-year-old from Mifflin County. The outbreak has been concentrated in Lancaster and Mifflin counties, although infections have now been reported across more than half of Pennsylvania's counties.

The state health department said all four individuals were unvaccinated. The two infants were too young to receive routine measles vaccination.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr Debra Bogen said, “My thoughts are with the two families who lost loved ones to this highly-contagious virus, as Pennsylvania faces the worst measles outbreak in more than three decades.”

She added, “We remain committed to working with our partners across Pennsylvania to stem this outbreak and prevent more deaths. That means ensuring people have the facts about measles and access to the MMR vaccine – which kept measles outbreaks at bay for decades.”

Also read: 3D-Printed Mosquito ‘Toilets’ Track West Nile, Find New Virus In Americas

Worst Measles Outbreak In History

Measles is among the world's most contagious infectious diseases. It spreads through respiratory droplets and airborne particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health says measles-associated deaths, while rare, occur in around one to three people per 1,000 cases.

The department also says two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provide 97% lifetime protection. The state has identified four breakthrough infections among appropriately vaccinated people during the current outbreak.

Ireland experienced its largest reported community-acquired MRSA outbreak in 2025, with researchers linking 48 skin and soft-tissue infections to bouncy castles at an outdoor gathering, according to a report published in Eurosurveillance.

The outbreak sickened children and teenagers aged 5 to 16, with 15 requiring hospital care and four being admitted. None required intensive care, and there were no deaths.

Health officials traced the cluster to an outdoor social gathering in eastern Ireland in fall 2025, where children and teens played on three inflatable bouncy castles, many for several hours.

Nearly everyone who fell ill had attended the event, and all 47 cases who were at the gathering had played on the inflatables, researchers said.

The infections were caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant form of staph bacteria that can cause painful skin infections and, in serious cases, spread deeper into the body.

The strain involved in the outbreak also carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a toxin associated with skin and soft-tissue infections. Researchers said the strain is rare in Ireland.

MRSA Symptoms Appeared Quickly

Read More: Bill Gates Says Vaccine Hesitancy Could Make Ending Measles Impossible

The illnesses developed rapidly. Thirty-four of the 48 cases developed symptoms within two days of the gathering, with some children becoming sick within 24 hours.

Among the 27 cases where doctors recorded the location of infection, the legs were most commonly affected, particularly the thighs.

Some children also developed fever, nausea or vomiting.

Thirty-three children were treated by a general practitioner, while 15 went to a hospital emergency department or day ward. Four were admitted, with a median hospital stay of four days.

How The Outbreak May Have Spread

Researchers said the gathering took place on a warm, humid and intermittently rainy day. Parents recalled that children playing outside were noticeably wet.

About 120 people were believed to have attended the gathering, roughly half of them children and teenagers.

What Is MRSA?

MRSA is a type of Staphylococcus aureus (staph), a common bacterium that can cause infections. It is resistant to several commonly used antibiotics.

According to the US CDC, anyone can develop or carry an MRSA infection. The risk is higher with factors such as recent hospitalization or nursing home stays, skin-to-skin contact including during contact sports, and exposure to crowded or unhygienic settings.

Signs And Symptoms

Symptoms of a S. aureus infection, including MRSA, depend on the part of the body affected.

MRSA skin infections often develop through broken skin, such as cuts or scrapes. They may appear as a bump or infected area that is:

• Red
• Swollen
• Painful
• Warm to the touch
• Filled with pus or other drainage
• Accompanied by fever.