Dr Harsh Shah

A large review from global research has shown that using smokeless tobacco, like chewing tobacco or snuff, can raise your risk of getting cancer and dying from it. The study looked at data from many countries and found strong evidence that this kind of tobacco is dangerous.

The study included 80 high-quality reports. People who used smokeless tobacco had a higher chance of dying from cancers in the head, neck, and stomach. They also had more cases of cancer in the mouth, esophagus, pancreas, and stomach.

This means smokeless tobacco is not a safe habit. It causes real harm. Many people believe it’s better than smoking, but that’s not true.

Quitting smokeless tobacco can lower your risk. There are ways to get support. If you’re ready to stop, talk to your doctor or local clinic.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-024-01933-w

Doctors are studying a new way to understand cancer using a small blood test. This test looks for tiny pieces of tumor DNA floating in the blood. It’s called “circulating tumor DNA” or ctDNA. When found early, this may help show how aggressive the cancer is.

Researchers looked at over 600 patients with solid tumors. They found that people with a high level of ctDNA had a higher risk of their cancer getting worse or dying from it. Those with low or no ctDNA did better. This means the blood test could be used to guide treatment or check how patients are doing without doing invasive procedures.

The method used in the study is called ULP-WGS, which is a low-cost version of whole-genome sequencing. It works even with a very small amount of DNA in the blood. The test found differences even before patients started treatment.

If this blood test becomes more common, doctors could catch changes in cancer earlier and help people faster. It could be a simple and less painful way to watch cancer and respond before it spreads.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgae073

People with obesity are at a higher risk of getting certain cancers. A large study has shown that weight loss surgery, like gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, may lower that risk. The researchers reviewed data from many past studies to find out if surgery helps protect against cancer.

They found that people who had the surgery were less likely to get cancers such as colorectal, uterine, breast, and esophageal. These are some of the more common and serious cancers. The study didn’t see big changes for skin or pancreatic cancer, but there was still a small positive trend.

The benefit comes not just from losing weight, but from how the surgery changes the body. It helps reduce inflammation and hormone changes that can lead to cancer. This means the surgery might be doing more than just helping people lose weight.

If you’re thinking about surgery and worried about cancer, this study shows there could be added protection. Talk to your doctor about your options.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2024.10.023

Cancer survivors who adopt a healthy lifestyle have a better chance of living longer. A study reviewing more than 200,000 survivors found that healthy habits significantly reduced the risk of death and heart disease.

The research showed that those with the healthiest lifestyles had a 43% lower chance of dying from any cause. They also had a 30% lower risk of dying from cancer and a 47% lower risk of developing heart disease. Colorectal cancer survivors saw a 37% lower death rate, while breast cancer survivors had a 45% lower risk.

Healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating well, exercising, and avoiding tobacco, all contribute to better health. Making small changes, like walking more and eating nutritious foods, can make a big difference.

Doctors encourage cancer survivors to focus on simple but effective changes to improve their health. Every positive step counts toward a longer and healthier life.

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-09049-2