Latest news with #CancerResearch
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Woman, 26, told she might have a cold doesn't know how long she has to live
Chelsea Jones noticed a lump on her neck around two and half years ago which doctor told her could be down to various issues, from her grinding her teeth to just having a cold A woman who was told she might just have a cold has been given a devastating diagnosis that she has cancer, more than two years after first going to see a doctor. Chelsea Jones, 26, from West Derby, noticed a lump on her neck around two and half years ago. During numerous visits to the doctors, Chelsea was told it could be down to various issues, from her grinding her teeth to just having a cold. It was only last month that she was told she had acinic cell carcinoma and a parotid gland tumour and now she doesn't know how long she's got left to live. According to Cancer Research, acinic cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that develops in the acinar cells which produce saliva. It is a rare form of cancer that accounts for a small percentage of all salivary gland tumours, typically between 1% and 6%. The organisation adds there is a 'small risk of a cancer developing within the tumour'. Macmillan Cancer Support says there are several types of cancerous salivary tumours, but this type of cancer tends to develop in younger people more than most other salivary gland cancers. The most common symptom of salivary gland cancer is swelling on the side of your face. Even so, the diagnosis on July 10 came as a huge shock to Chelsea. She said: 'I collapsed. It was a good job my mum was with me. It's insane, I've never heard of anything like it. "It's a rare form of cancer. They did say it is slow growing, but they don't know for certain until I get another MRI scan on Saturday. "Then I will find out if it's spread to anywhere else in my body and find out what stage the cancer is at, but I've been told it's 100% not curable. 'I will get the tumour removed in a few weeks and then I will start radiotherapy. They don't know how long I'm going to live for because it's that rare.' Chelsea is frustrated that her cancer was undetected for years. She is now urging others to trust their instincts and get any symptoms fully checked out. Chelsea said: 'I just want to raise awareness, get people to check their lumps and not take no for an answer. Feel your lumps and bumps, study your own body. Since my diagnosis, I've actually found another lump at the back of my neck that I need to mention when I next go into hospital. "You know your own body, you know when something's not right. If I can help one person, that's my job done.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Mapped: The UK regions where smoking is most common after stark new figures released
The number of cigarettes smoked in Britain every year has been revealed in a shocking new study from Cancer Research UK and University College London (UCL). Smokers are getting through an estimated 28.6 billion cigarettes each year on average, equating to 78 million every day. The study draws on data from the Smoking Toolkit Study between 2022 and 2024. It estimates that adults who smoke consume an average of 10.4 cigarettes daily, with 5.5 per cent of smokers exceeding 20 cigarettes a day The figures are also broken down by region, showing which areas in the UK have the highest proportion of smokers, and which region has the highest average number of cigarettes smoked. The data shows that it is the South West that has the highest proportion of smokers at 15 per cent of the adult population. Meanwhile, Scotland and Yorkshire are joint-lowest at 13.3 per cent. Amongst all adults, the average is 13.9 per cent. However, smokers in southern regions smoke proportionally less cigarettes a year than those in the north and Scotland. Smokers in the North East average 598 cigarettes a year – the highest of any region – while London is the lowest at 423. The analysis finds that this points to significant inequalities in cigarette consumption, with individuals from more deprived backgrounds smoking an average of 11 cigarettes daily, compared to 9.4 per day among those in wealthier areas. In light of the figures, charities are calling on the government to speed up its upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is currently passing through Parliament. The legislation aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by preventing the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively raising the legal smoking age each year. Cancer Research UK's executive director of policy, Dr Ian Walker, said: 'While great strides have been made to bring down smoking rates, we can't afford to be complacent. Every week, around 550 million cigarettes are still smoked in Britain – that's enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool. It's vital that everyone, wherever they live, can access the support they need to quit smoking for good. 'The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a historic opportunity to help stub out the harms of smoking, but it's frustrating that the legislation isn't progressing through Parliament as quickly as it should be. 'Tobacco is a toxic product that should have no place in our future, and I urge all parliamentarians to back a smoke-free UK and prioritise this Bill when it returns to the House of Lords. This world-leading legislation has strong political and public support that can't be ignored.'
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Men over 65 face highest risk of little-known cancer that is often diagnosed late
Over half of the patients with this cancer are diagnosed at a late stage, when survival rates are lower. One type of cancer is most common in men over the age of 65, and it is too often diagnosed late due to a lack of awareness. In fact, you've probably never heard of this type of cancer that sees around 12,700 diagnoses in the UK each year, 70 per cent of which are in men. The Medical Negligence team for legal firm Simpson's Millar is urging older men to be aware of head and neck cancer, that sees over half of its cases (53 per cent) diagnosed late. Delayed diagnosis leads to more invasive treatment and a lower survival rate for this cancer that is 2.8 times more likely to affect men aged 65 - 69 than women of the same age. Head and neck cancer affects the throat, nose and mouth, and its symptoms can often be brushed off or ignored. This is why awareness of this little-known disease is so important. Kate McCue, Senior Associate Medical Negligence Solicitor at Simpson Millar, explains: 'Head and neck cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer we see, which makes awareness all the more important. 'Many of the risks such as smoking, alcohol use, and HPV are well understood, yet the public conversation around them is still far too limited. With better education, more people could take steps to reduce their risk, and crucially, spot early warning signs before the disease progresses. 'When cancer is caught early, the outcomes are often significantly better as it can mean simpler treatment, less disruption to the day-to-day life, and a better chance of recovery.' When caught early, head and neck cancer has a survival rate of up to 80 per cent. But if diagnosed late, the chances of survival can drop to just 20 per cent, so knowing how to spot the signs is crucial. Symptoms of head and neck cancer Older men should watch for the following symptoms: Mouth ulcers or sores that haven't healed after three weeks A persistent sore throat or hoarseness A lump in the neck, lip or mouth Difficulty or pain when chewing or swallowing Loose teeth or dentures that no longer fit Earache, facial pain or numbness Speech changes or unexplained weight loss Making healthier lifestyle choices, such as stopping smoking, drinking less, exercising regularly and opting for a balanced diet can reduce the risks of head and neck cancer. Risk factors for head and neck cancer While men over 65 have the biggest risk of developing the condition, certain lifestyle choices and other health factors can also increase the chances that an individual will develop head and neck cancer. Cancer Research shares an extensive list of the risk factors for head and neck cancer on their website. These include: Age and sex (men over 65 being at the highest risk) Smoking Drinking alcohol Infections including HPV, EBV and HIV or AIDS Autoimmune conditions Those who have had organ transplants High processed meat intake Those who have previously had cancer Those with a family history of cancer Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Medscape
16-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Circadian Disruption: The Hidden Cancer Link?
Circadian rhythms regulate the sleep-wake cycle, hormone secretion, metabolism, immune responses, and even patterns of eating and digestion. They help preserve genomic stability, control the cell cycle, and support tissue-level immunity. Disruptions to this internal clock, caused by sleep problems, nighttime light exposure, and irregular eating habits, are increasingly linked to the development of cancer. Researchers have observed altered clock gene expressions in the lung, breast, colorectal, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, and glioblastoma tissues. The study, published in Nature Immunology, was led by Bridget M. Fortin, a doctoral candidate in biological chemistry at the University of California, Irvine, United States. She and her colleagues examined whether internal and external circadian disruptions, such as nighttime sleep loss, artificial light exposure, and irregular eating patterns, contributed to the early development of colorectal cancer (CRC). They also examined whether chrono medicine could help optimize chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Numerous studies have linked circadian disruption to both cancer initiation and progression. Tumor samples frequently show reduced expression of core clock genes, and mutations in these genes are associated with poor survival rates. In CRC, lower levels of BMAL1, CRY1, CRY2, and PER1-PER3 are associated with reduced overall survival. Cancer Risk Since the mid-1970s, the overall cancer incidence has increased, particularly among individuals aged 15-39 years, with an early onset CRC showing the sharpest rise. Over the same period, exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) has significantly increased. Light emitted from TVs, computer screens, and smartphones can suppress melatonin production, disrupting both sleep and circadian rhythms. A recent meta-analysis involving more than 170,000 participants found that high ALAN exposure increased the risk for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in premenopausal women. Similar associations have been reported for thyroid cancer. Crossing time zones may also disrupt circadian rhythms and potentially influence cancer risk. The gastrointestinal tract is particularly sensitive to circadian disruption. The intestinal mucosa regenerates on a precise 24-hour cycle, and the gut microbiome is highly responsive to rhythm disruption. Dietary intake is also regulated by the circadian clock, and dysregulation may emerge as a significant risk factor for CRC, although further confirmation is needed. Preserving circadian rhythms may play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of cancer in the future. Strategies include maintaining consistent sleep and mealtimes, limiting night-shift work, and limiting food intake to a 6- to 12-hour window during the day. Regular physical activity may have a positive effect on circadian rhythms. Chronotherapy involves the administration of cancer therapies that align with the body's internal clock. This can improve drug tolerability and potentially boost treatment efficacy. However, whether this contributes to treatment effectiveness remains uncertain. Similarly, the timing of administration could also play a key role in immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors with circadian rhythms, which may improve immunotherapy outcomes; however, this requires confirmation through further studies.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
South East lobular cancer campaigners meet health secretary
A group of campaigners, including some from Surrey and Sussex, have met Health Secretary Wes Streeting in a call for more research into a form of breast cancer which "has no specific treatment".Lobular cancer is often missed because it begins in the milk-producing lobule glands and often does not form a Susan Michaelis from Horsham in West Sussex, founded the Lobular Moon Shot charity and was due to be at the meeting on Monday but died last a statement, the government said it was taking "decisive action" to tackle breast cancer and continued to encourage applications for research funding. Dr Michaelis's husband, Tristan Loraine, said: "The day after my wife passed away, the leaders of most political parties wrote to the prime minister and Wes Streeting, and said 'please fund this project, stop other people dying.'"This is the will of the majority of MPs."The campaigners want the government to commit to spending £20m over five years for research. Kate Ford from Walton-on-Thames was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in 2022, and has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and said: "Lobular cancer has been known about for 80 years and 22 women a day are diagnosed in the UK, and they find out there is no specific treatment because the basic biology of this disease has never been studied."The Lobular Moon shot, partnered with the Manchester Breast Centre have put together a team of global experts. The project is ready to go." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We're taking decisive action to tackle breast cancer head-on, from launching world-leading AI trials to catch it earlier, to driving forward vital research that improves care and saves lives."It said it continued to encourage further applications for research funding through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and added: "Our reforms to cancer care will see more than 100,000 people getting diagnosed faster with thousands more starting treatment within two months. "Across the NHS, we've already hit our target of delivering two million extra operations, scans and appointments seven months early."
