Wildfire smoke exposure may shorten lung cancer survival
(Reuters) -Exposure to wildfire smoke may increase lung cancer patients' risk of dying from their disease, particularly among non-smokers, but the effect may be mitigated by certain cancer treatments, according to a large California study presented at a major medical meeting on Saturday.
Researchers tracked more than 18,000 people with non-small cell lung cancer – the most common kind – between 2017 and 2020. Those living in neighborhoods with the highest levels of wildfire-caused air pollution in the year after their cancer diagnosis were more likely to die from the disease, they found.
Patients who inhaled higher levels of tiny particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less that can penetrate deeply into the lungs had a 20% greater risk of dying from lung cancer, researchers reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.
People with advanced stage 4 cancer who had never smoked were especially affected, researchers found. Their risk of dying from cancer was 55% higher if they were exposed to high levels of wildfire air pollution.
The study used advanced modeling to estimate daily air quality at patients' home addresses, based on data from satellites, weather models, smoke forecasts and air quality monitors.
The researchers also found that wildfire smoke exposure did not significantly affect survival of patients with Stage 4 lung cancer with a history of smoking who were treated with an immunotherapy drug.
'This surprising trend suggests that smoke-related changes in the body may interact with certain treatments,' and more study of this phenomenon is warranted, the researchers said.
Wildfire smoke is more toxic than normal air pollution. Along with particles of soil and biological materials, it often contains traces of chemicals, metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.
'As wildfires become more frequent and intense in California and other parts of the U.S., we need targeted health strategies to protect cancer patients and others with serious health problems,' said study leader Dr. Surbhi Singhal of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento, California.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Many people using OTC birth control pills previously used nothing, study finds
Two years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, new research is looking at who's switching to it and why. In the study, published Monday in JAMA Network Open, researchers used survey data from 986 people, ages 15 to 45, in 44 states who obtained the over-the-counter pill either online or at a pharmacy. They found that a significant portion of users shifted to the over-the-counter pill from a less-effective method of birth control or from using no contraception at all. Of those surveyed, they found a 31.8 percentage point increase in use by people who previously used no contraceptive method. A 41 percentage point increase was seen in those who switched from a less-effective method, like condoms or emergency contraception. Opill, the over-the-counter, progestin-only pill from drugmaker Perrigo, provides an option for obtaining oral contraceptives without needing to first see a health care provider. Allowing people to access the pill without a prescription was done in hopes of reducing barriers to access, according to the FDA's news release at the time of approval, which noted that almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unintended. The new research "is one of the first studies to show that over-the-counter birth control pills are reaching the very people they're meant to help — those who face the greatest barriers to care," lead author Dr. Maria Rodriguez, professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, said in a news release. Those accessing the over-the-counter pill were more likely than prescription users to be uninsured, younger (ages 15-20) and living in rural areas, according to the study. The most common reason people gave in the survey for choosing the OTC pill was that it didn't require an appointment, followed by those who said they didn't have a regular physician. "At a time when pregnancy is becoming even more dangerous in the United States — especially for people of color, those with low incomes, and those living in rural communities — our findings underscore that OTC contraception is a powerful tool for reproductive autonomy," Rodriguez said. Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan on the Trump-Putin summit, sanctions and more Laufey on creating her own sound A robotics activist's remarkable crusade Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bausch Health (BHC) Climbs 45% on Insider Buying
We recently published . Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) is one of the last week's top performers. Bausch Health jumped by 45.04 percent week-on-week, on a combination of bargain-hunting and mirroring an insider purchase last Friday. In a regulatory filing, Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) said that Paulson Capital Inc. and its affiliates acquired 34.7 million of its shares from Carl C. Icahn and affiliates, effectively boosting its total ownership to 19.13 percent. Following the transaction that saw the sellers' shares fall below the threshold to earn a board seat, the Icahn Group officially exited Bausch Health Companies Inc.'s (NYSE:BHC) higher management. Copyright: nimon / 123RF Stock Photo Additionally, Brett M. Icahn and Steven D. Miller have resigned from the company's board of directors. In recent news, Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC) expanded its attributable net income by 1,380 percent in the second quarter of the year to $148 million from only $10 million in the same period last year. Revenues also grew by 5 percent to $2.53 billion from $2.4 billion. While we acknowledge the potential of BHC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas health officials declare measles outbreak in state is over
The Texas measles outbreak that sickened hundreds of people earlier this year is officially over, according to state health officials. The Texas Department of State Health Services declared in a news release Monday the end of this year's measles outbreak centered in West Texas, after more than 42 days passed since any new reported case in counties with previous evidence of ongoing transmission. "DSHS will continue to monitor for new cases but will cease updating the interactive outbreak dashboard," the statement said, adding 42 days with no new cases is when public health professionals consider an outbreak over because it is double the disease's maximum incubation period. Since the outbreak began in late January, 762 cases of measles have been confirmed in Texas, with more than two-thirds of them among children. Two children who were not vaccinated died. "I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses. We arrived at this point through a comprehensive outbreak response that included testing, vaccination, disease monitoring and educating the public about measles through awareness campaigns," DSHS Commissioner Dr. Jennife Shuford said in the release. "I also want to recognize the many health care professionals who identified and treated cases of a virus that most providers had never seen in person before this outbreak." Though the outbreak is declared over in the state, the release warned that there are still ongoing outbreaks in the United States and it is "likely that there will be additional cases of measles this year in Texas." "Health care providers should continue to be vigilant and test for measles if their patient has symptoms compatible with the virus," the release stated. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and in some cases, can cause severe infections in the lungs and brain that can lead to cognitive issues, deafness or death. But doctors and health officials say the vaccine, which is normally given as part of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, is highly safe and effective. In 2025, the United States has recorded the most measles cases in more than 30 years, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows, with more than 1,300 infections confirmed in at least 39 states. Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan on the Trump-Putin summit, sanctions and more Laufey on creating her own sound A robotics activist's remarkable crusade Solve the daily Crossword
