Cancer

March 16th: The first day of spring break for Thomas Jefferson University. Little did I know… my spring break week would actually turn into a three-and-a-half-month hiatus from my Radiation Therapy program. Haley Zukowski-Echols As a senior in college nearing the end of my program, all I could think about was walking across the Pennsylvania

The last few months have shone a stark light on our health in the UK, with the COVID-19 pandemic exposing the deep inequalities running through our society. But inequalities in the UK affect more than our risk from COVID-19, they’re intricately entwined with all aspects of our health, including cancer. New figures released today reveal

Rebecca Munn Rebecca Whitehead Munn is an award-winning author and speaker. Rebecca has shared her stories of loss, grief, and coping to help others facing these challenges. In her first book, she shared the story of losing her mother and coping with the immense grief that follows such a loss. Her latest book provides resources

Our Science Surgery series answers your cancer questions.   Dr Francis Mussai, a Cancer Research UK-funded children’s cancer researcher and consultant oncologist at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, says that the types of cancers that we see in children are very different to the cancer that we see in adults. “Cancer types that we frequently hear about in adults, such as breast, prostate, bowel, melanoma and lung cancer, are

When 57-year-old Leslie Seigel was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage I breast cancer, she didn’t know that the genetic mutation that was causing her cancer would also cause her son to get cancer. Leslie was no stranger to dealing with cancer. Her mother had died of the disease at just 49 years old.

Iain Foulkes is our executive director of research and innovation. Another day, another set of gloomy statistics. Today’s new figures from the UK’s National Cancer Research Institute project a devastating 24% drop in the UK’s overall cancer research spending this year, driven by a 46% fall in charity sector funding. With a near constant stream

Members of the STORMing Cancer team on a Zoom video call. People throw around the old saying “teamwork makes the dream work”. As cheesy as it may sound, it’s a fitting tribute for our Cancer Grand Challenges STORMing Cancer team.    As a team of over 60 scientists working across 4 continents, they understand the importance of teamwork to ensure their research – investigating the role of inflammation in driving cancer – runs smoothly.  

It’s likely that Brooke Taylor had breast cancer even before she was pregnant with her daughter, Elsie. But in a strange turn of events, Brooke managed to give birth to a baby and be diagnosed with breast cancer on the same day. It was during a routine wellness exam that Brooke’s doctor felt a small

Image was taken before the coronavirus pandemic. Urgent lung cancer referrals down during lockdown Of all cancer types, those with suspected lung cancer were the least likely to receive an urgent referral during lockdown, it has emerged. At the end of August, the number of people being sent for urgent tests was still only at

Yesterday, we learned how certain foods and changes to our diet can help boost our immune system, which is especially important during this pandemic. While the immune system generally does a great job of protecting the body from germs through its own processes and systems in place, we can work towards strengthening overall health, and

We all want to keep ourselves and others safe from the COVID-19 outbreak. During these unprecedented times, it’s important for all those who work and spend time in close proximity with other people to wear masks. However, for places like animal shelters, purchasing masks for staff members and volunteers cuts into the limited budget that

Nikki and her son Amarvir, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2010. We spoke to Siobhan, Nikki and Jessica about their experiences of childhood cancer – from struggles to find a transplant match and a lack of representation in health literature and campaigns to misunderstandings about cancer in their communities. Nikki and Amarvir:

In the midst of a pandemic and with flu season on its way, many are asking – how can I support and strengthen my immune system? While the immune system generally does a great job of protecting the body from germs through its own processes and systems in place, we can work towards strengthening overall

Like almost any doctor would, Dr. Verda Hunter trusted that the pharmacist who provided her patients’ chemotherapy drugs would do his job well and would do nothing to harm the patients she was treating. But she was wrong. The first clue was that cancer patients, like 70-year-old Pat Withers, were not experiencing side effects. Pat

Heather Harrington is a fitness icon and the cofounder of Compass Fitness in Denver. She has a family history of breast cancer, so when she turned 41, she insisted on getting a mammogram, despite the fact that her doctor didn’t recommend one until age 45. “I went a couple of weeks ago to get my

Metastatic cancer refers to cancer that has spread from its original location to other parts of the body. This process occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to another area of the body. If the new location these cells take up residence in

Victoria worked at the The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester during the pandemic. It’s been 6 months since the UK entered lockdown. And with life slowly opening back up, at least for now, the events of March can sometimes seem distant and otherworldly. But the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the devastating impact

We all want to keep ourselves and others safe from the COVID-19 outbreak. During these unprecedented times, it’s important for all those who work and spend time in close proximity with other people to wear masks. However, for places like wildlife sanctuaries, purchasing masks for staff members and volunteers cuts into the limited budget that

If COVID-19 has shown us anything, it’s that when duty calls, medical professionals answer. From makeshift testing sites to frontline emergency rooms across the country, countless doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage to save lives during this pandemic. As a pre-med student myself, I have watched this crisis play

When Sarah Dickinson began to feel a burning sensation in her right breast, she was just two weeks pregnant with her first child. She assumed the change was due to her quickly changing hormones and began treating it with a heating pad. “It was on and off, mainly in the evenings,” the 37-year-old recalls. “It

Larger waistlines linked to increased risk of dying from prostate cancer  Men carrying excess weight around their stomach may be more likely to die from prostate cancer, according to new research. The study got a lot of attention in the media this week, but despite many opting forheadlines about ‘beer bellies’, the results have nothing

Looking for ways to add more greens to your diet? Here are a few recipes to help you do just that. Garlicky Spinach Ingredients: 2 packages frozen spinach 4-6 cloves crushed garlic 2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Microwave frozen spinach 5-7 minutes. Squeeze out liquid. Meanwhile, heat oil.

Photo credit (from left to right): Stand Up To Cancer; Instagram / Stand Up To Cancer; Instagram / Alison Sweeney Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to remind yourself of the importance of sun safety. Practicing sun safety throughout the year will give you the best chance of reducing your risk of skin cancer,

Last weekend, I stayed in a tiny cabin at a campground near the beach. I knew I would be able to socially distance myself from others, while enjoying the outdoors and the late August weather. I knew the area well, and I took precautions, cleaned my living area, brought my own hand soap and utensils,

While breast cancer is often a very treatable and survivable disease, there are certain subtypes of this type of cancer that more aggressive and have fewer treatment options. These types of breast cancer tend to be more dangerous and difficult to go through. However, a new study has found a potential treatment option for people

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, treatment will typically involve a combination of chemotherapy drugs, surgery and for many, radiotherapy. And if the cancer comes back after these treatments, the options become even more limited. For some children, there may be a clinical trial that could help. But many are testing combinations of chemotherapy

When I heard the news this weekend about the passing of Chadwick Boseman, like many I was shocked and sad that another young life was taken by this disease. Chadwick chose to keep his diagnosis and treatment private. Whether or not to share a cancer diagnosis with friends and acquaintances is a deeply personal one

Vivienne is grandmother to Alyssa, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2014. As part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke to 3 grandparents about their experience of having a grandchild with cancer. Vivienne: “You can’t stop your mind from fearing the worst, but you need to be so positive.” Vivienne is grandmother