All articles tagged with #lung cancer
Lung cancer is increasingly diagnosed in healthy, non-smokers—often younger women—driven by genetic changes like ALK and environmental factors such as air pollution and burn-pit toxins; experts urge expanding screening beyond smoking history and highlight targeted therapies that can turn advanced disease into a manageable condition.
Colleen Ferguson, a 60-year-old science teacher in Kent, England, was surprised when her two-year-old German Shepherd, Inca, kept sniffing her breath. After medical tests, doctors discovered a golf-ball-sized tumor in Ferguson’s lung caught at stage 1, which was surgically removed. The surgeon credited the dog with saving her life. The piece also highlights MIT’s development of an AI-assisted electronic nose (e-nose) to detect cancer, illustrating the growing potential of machine olfaction in early cancer diagnosis.
A German shepherd named Inca obsessively sniffed her owner Colleen Ferguson’s breath, leading to a CT scan that found a golf-ball-sized lung tumor at stage 1 and a successful surgical removal with no further treatment. The story adds to evidence that dogs can detect cancer by scent, and researchers are developing an MIT‑based AI-powered “e-nose” to mimic canine olfaction for noninvasive cancer detection, currently being tested on urine samples with the goal of clinical use within two years and potential smartphone integration.
Barry Manilow said he will postpone additional arena dates while recovering from lung cancer surgery, delaying shows planned for late February to mid-March and noting doctors advised more healing time. The March and April dates are rescheduled from January for his farewell tour, The Last Concerts, and his Las Vegas residency was also postponed. He expressed gratitude for fans’ support and pledged to return once medically cleared.
Barry Manilow, 82, has postponed more arena shows as he continues recovery from lung cancer surgery. A surgeon told him he’s not yet ready for a 90‑minute performance, forcing reschedules from Feb. 27 through March 17, with potential Las Vegas dates at the end of March and a second April leg depending on progress. He was diagnosed last December after an MRI found a cancerous spot on a lung.
A growing share of lung cancer cases now occur in never-smokers, especially women, with radon exposure and other factors contributing to risk. Laura Hamann’s story illustrates this trend, often asymptomatic and found incidentally; advances in targeted therapies are improving outcomes, and experts urge radon testing and discussion of screening for high-risk individuals.
A Nature study in mice shows that lung cancer cells connect with nearby sensory neurons to send a signal to the brain that suppresses tumor-killing immune cells at the tumor site, allowing cancer to grow. Disabling these neurons reduced tumor growth by more than 50%, revealing a tumor-to-brain–immune axis that could be targeted to boost anticancer defenses.
Two small Nature Medicine trials suggest oral fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) pills may boost immunotherapy in advanced cancers: in metastatic kidney cancer, FMT reduced immunotherapy side effects and produced about a 50% response; in advanced lung cancer or melanoma, combining FMT with immunotherapy yielded response rates around 75–80%, higher than typical 39–45% rates. While promising, results are early and require larger trials.
Two Nature Medicine studies show that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) capsules can both reduce immunotherapy-related toxicity in kidney cancer and improve response rates in lung cancer and melanoma—80% of lung cancer patients and 75% of melanoma patients responded to immunotherapy after FMT (significantly higher than immunotherapy alone) in multicenter Phase II trials using LND101 capsules.
NHS England will pilot AI-assisted analysis of lung scans paired with robot-guided biopsies at Guy’s and St Thomas’ to speed detection of small nodules, aiming to screen all smokers and ex-smokers by 2030 and diagnose more cancers earlier, potentially speeding treatment and reducing invasive procedures.
A Nature Retraction Note published January 14, 2026 states that the 2023 study on antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promoting lung cancer immunotherapy has been retracted after an institutional investigation found data integrity concerns. Specific issues include manipulated A549 cell-binding data in Figure 5c, potentially manipulated ADCC results in Figures 5d–e, and unverifiable source data for B cell and antibody quantitation (Figure 3c and Extended Data Fig. 5c). The Francis Crick Institute ruled that co-first author Kevin Ng was responsible for these analyses and recommended retraction. The authors apologized and plan to publish a revised, properly validated report; they note that TRACERx and CAPTURE clinical/genetic data are not indicated to be affected.
A retired San Francisco firefighter with stage 4 lung cancer is seeking city intervention after Blue Shield denied his treatment, raising concerns about insurance practices and access to lifesaving care.
Lung cancer rates are rising among women under 50, including non-smokers, due to factors like air pollution, lifestyle, and biological differences. Early symptoms are often overlooked, but timely diagnosis and modern treatments can significantly improve outcomes. Awareness and preventive measures are crucial to address this emerging health concern.
A new study links the consumption of ultra-processed foods, including lunch meats and fizzy drinks, to an increased risk of lung cancer, highlighting the importance of dietary choices in disease prevention, though further research is needed to confirm causality.
Barry Manilow announced he was diagnosed with lung cancer after an MRI, which detected a tumor early, allowing for surgery without the need for chemo or radiation. He is rescheduling his concerts and encourages symptom awareness and testing.