Almost 12 million stomach cancer cases linked to common infection
Experts project that 11.9 million of the 15.6 million stomach cancer diagnoses expected in people born between 2008 and 2017 will be directly caused by H. pylori infection.
The majority of these projected cases, 10.6 million, are anticipated in Asia, with millions more in the Americas, Africa, and Europe.
Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer advocate for widespread "screen and treat" programmes for H. pylori, which could reduce stomach cancer cases by up to 75 per cent.
In contrast, Cancer Research UK notes that stomach cancer rates in the UK are falling and H. pylori infection is less common, with other lifestyle factors being more significant for cancer prevention.
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Telegraph
40 minutes ago
- Telegraph
I didn't vaccinate my children with the MMR jab – but now I'm having regrets
Olivia*, 56, lives in west London with her husband and twins aged 14. Their oldest son, 19, is at university I'm neither a hippy nor someone who set out to make 'alternative' choices. Yet nearly two decades ago, when my eldest was born, I decided not to vaccinate him with the MMR jab. And when his twin siblings arrived four years later, I made the same decision for them. Admittedly, this is something I've kept quiet about over the years. I never even told my own mother as I knew she would worry – and disapprove. Yet today, reading the heartbreaking news that a child has died in Liverpool after contracting measles, I'm feeling anxious and now questioning whether I did the right thing. At the time, it didn't feel radical; it was instinctive. It just did not feel right to inject my precious, much longed-for babies with a live vaccine. I was also influenced by a close friend who was passionate about natural health and homeopathy. She was someone I trusted – intelligent and thorough – and her arguments about the pharmaceutical industry's vested interests made me think. The MMR jab was first introduced in the UK in 1988, so I didn't have it myself, (though I do know my mother would have given it to me had it then been an option). I remember getting both mumps and measles but these illnesses were part of childhood I believed – unpleasant but survivable. My eldest did eventually catch mumps, and he was fine. I can't pretend that I wasn't affected by reading the claims of the now disgraced British doctor, Andrew Wakefield. His paper in The Lancet infamously suggested there was a link to the MMR jab and autism. While The Lancet completely retracted the paper in 2010, and his claims were struck off before then by many, the controversy made me wary. Raising my young family in west London, I was surrounded by several other parents dealing with autism diagnoses. Unlike measles, where I didn't know anyone affected, autism felt more of a threat. So, with my husband's backing, I didn't vaccinate them. I honestly don't remember ever feeling bullied by my healthcare professionals at the time. Doctors never challenged me, however over the years when I've taken them for the inevitable A&E trips (broken fingers and the like) I have been asked whether they're 'up to date with their jabs' and I've had to explain my decision. I don't think I was even met with raised eyebrows any time, because it's common, especially in London where (according to statistics in from 2021-2022) one in five haven't been inoculated by the time they're aged three. I vaguely recall it being discussed at baby groups with other mums and I kept quiet. I suppose I sensed there was a stigma, but I also felt it was a private decision for me to make. My children all attended local state school, and teachers and other parents at the school gate never once asked me and it never came up in conversation. I would have been honest if it had despite not advertising the fact. It's most likely they would have assumed I'd ticked the box like everyone else. I've never been a militant anti-vaxxer, and all our family had the Covid jabs when the pandemic struck. I didn't hesitate about that because – like the rest of the country back then – I was frightened of Covid, this unknown new virus which killed. But things change. Every time news hits about a new outbreak of measles I get anxiety. The first time I felt anything close to regret about my decision was when my eldest went off to university, and there was doubt. Was I putting him at unnecessary risk? I even contacted our GP to see if we could arrange the vaccinations before she left. They never got back to me, I never chased and life moved on. But moments like this – tragic stories of unvaccinated children dying – bring back the uncertainty. I know people will claim I've been irresponsible, and now I am wondering if I should have made a different decision. The good news is that I can still get them vaccinated. My oldest of course will have to make his own decision now he's an adult. But I plan to talk to him – as well as the 14 year olds – about getting the jabs. If something were to happen to my children because of my decision, I would never forgive myself. Yet back then, with the knowledge I had, I believed I was making the best choice I could. Isn't that the uncomfortable truth about parenting? You make your decisions out of love and fear and instinct, and sometimes you only know if they were right years down the line. The death of a child is something I can't ignore. I hope that other people, like me, who might be less sure of themselves now might re-think their decisions. Far more important then being 'right' is the chance to say another child from dying from an illness that can be prevented.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Parents urged to get children vaccinated after measles death in Liverpool
Health officials have urged people to come forward for the measles vaccine if they are not up-to-date with their shots after a child at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool died from the disease. The city has experienced a surge in cases among young people, with the hospital warning parents last week that the spike in infections was due to falling rates of uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. According to The Sunday Times, the child was ill with measles and other health problems and was receiving treatment at the Alder Hey. A statement from the Alder Hey Children's NHS trust said: 'To respect patient confidentiality, we can't comment on individual cases.' Uptake of the vaccine has fallen across the country in the past decade with rates across England now at 84%. In Liverpool, only 73% of children aged five have received the necessary two shots, while in parts of London uptake is below 65%. To ensure herd immunity, where enough people are protected to prevent the virus spreading, vaccination rates must hit 95%. 'The NHS MMR vaccine gives lifelong protection against becoming seriously unwell, so with cases of measles on the rise, it is not worth the risk of going without this vital protection,' said Chris Streather, the medical director for the NHS in London. 'Measles, mumps and rubella are preventable, but catching them is easy when people are unvaccinated, so I urge people to come forward and get the MMR vaccine sooner, rather than later,' he added. Herd immunity is particularly important to reduce the risk of vulnerable people being exposed to the virus. Children with suppressed immune systems, for example, can still fall seriously ill with measles even if they have had the vaccine. Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said measles was one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads easily among people who are unvaccinated. 'Speaking as a doctor and a mother, I strongly encourage all parents to ensure their children have the best possible protection but also to think about protecting other more vulnerable children,' she said. 'Please act now to ensure your children are fully protected. You can check their immunisation red book or speak with the GP surgery.' Childhood vaccination programmes have been extremely effective at preventing infections and serious illness among children over the past 50 years, but falling rates of uptake have led to a rise in cases and deaths. 'It's heartbreaking because it's entirely preventable,' said Helen Bedford, a professor of children's health at University College London. 'No child needs to even catch the disease let alone be seriously affected or die.' Vaccine hesitancy is often blamed for declines in immunisation rates, but much of the problem is driven by a lack of information on the importance of vaccines, knowing which shots are due when, and difficulties in getting appointments. Last week, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said there was a 'critical need' to shift the focus from vaccine hesitancy to addressing the barriers and access issues that families face. 'A lot of this is simple. We know that reminding parents is very effective because people have busy lives and these things can often be forgotten,' Bedford said. 'It's about people not knowing what's due and when, or how to go about getting it, and every day we see stories about how difficult it is to make GP appointments. We need a multi-pronged approach and to think more creatively about how services are set up and how and where they're offered. 'Overall, the vaccine programme is so successful that people don't have experience of the disease any more,' Bedford added. 'Last year was the highest number of confirmed cases we've seen since the 1990s. Most people, most young parents, have never experienced a really sick child and it can be difficult to advise parents about a disease that they've got no conception of.'
