A new report by the American Cancer Society has found that the rate of colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults younger than 55 has nearly doubled in the past two decades, with the proportion of cases increasing from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019 and the rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses increasing from 52% in the mid-2000s to 60% in 2019. The exact cause of the rise is unknown, but the American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer begin regular screening at age 45, and those at higher risk should begin screening at an earlier age.
Posts published in “Health”
Eli Lilly & Co. announced Wednesday that it will reduce prices for some of its older insulins and expand a cap on costs insured patients pay when they fill prescriptions, providing critical relief to people with diabetes who can face annual costs of more than $1,000 for insulin. The drugmaker said the cap on out-of-pocket costs will take effect immediately, though the high cost of insulin in the U.S. is still a major issue.
Eli Lilly has announced a 70% price cut for its most commonly used forms of insulin, with a list price of $25 a vial as of May 1, and out-of-pocket costs capped at $35 a month for those with commercial insurance. The move comes in response to criticism of insulin prices, which have led to rationing and other health risks for those with diabetes. Eli Lilly is also expanding its Insulin Value Program to help make insulin more accessible and affordable.
The U.S. has been urged to respect science and facts in its investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. FBI Director Christopher Wray suggested that Covid-19 may have originated from a potential lab incident in Wuhan, China, and the Chinese government has interfered with the FBI's ongoing probe. The World Health Organization has called for more international cooperation and collaboration to help uncover the source of the virus.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has confirmed that the FBI has assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic is most likely the result of a laboratory incident in Wuhan, China. He noted that the FBI has a team of agents, professionals, analysts, virologists, and microbiologists dedicated to researching the origins of the virus, and that the FBI has "moderate confidence" in the lab-leak theory. Wray's comments come at a time when the US government is divided on the origin of the virus, and the FBI's assessment is an important step in understanding the origin of the virus.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is close to approving the first nation's RSV vaccine, developed by Pfizer, which has been shown to reduce the risk of illness from RSV by as much as 86%. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 7-4 in favor of the vaccine, despite some safety concerns. If approved, the vaccine would be the first of its kind in the US and provide a much-needed protection against RSV for older adults.
Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas announced Monday that he had undergone successful surgery to remove tumors discovered last summer in the lining of his gastrointestinal tract. The tumors were identified as gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, which are rare and slow-growing. Castro said his prognosis is good and he expects to return to Washington, D.C. in several weeks to continue his work for the people of San Antonio. He thanked the medical staff, his family, friends, and constituents for their support.
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a source of confusion and debate since it began in late 2019, with the US Department of Energy recently adding to the confusion with its assessment that the most likely cause was a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China. Rep. Seth Moulton and the FBI have sided with the lab hypothesis, but divisions remain in the US intelligence community. President Joe Biden has called for a full report from the intelligence community, and has said he will accept its conclusions.