Articles
From Oceans to Organs: The Alarming Cancer Risks of Microplastics
Given the global estimate that approximately 9 to 14 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans yearly—continuing to fragment into microplastics (MPs)—the urgency to understand their potential health effects has escalated. Particularly concerning is the growing body of evidence…
Social Media in Oncology – Between Empowerment and Risk
In oncology, communication has always been central – but in the digital age, it increasingly unfolds online. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X have become arenas where cancer journeys are shared, interpreted – and sometimes dangerously distorted. For patients…
The Apparent Cancer Paradox of Latvia
Latvia consistently ranks among the European Union's most troubled countries when it comes to cancer. The country lags behind EU countries on many cancer risk factors and also has one of the biggest gender disparities on the continent, with men…
Detecting Cancer Before It Strikes: The Promise of Combination Early Detection and Interception
For decades, early cancer detection has predominantly relied on organ-specific screening programs—such as mammography, Pap test, or colonoscopy—to detect malignancies as early as possible. While these approaches have indisputably saved lives, they inherently capture only a limited range of cancers,…
What About Them, the Caregivers?
“The anticipatory fear that I had became reality when the doctor said that my 6-year-old son must undergo chemotherapy…the rest of the explanation I didn’t hear due to the shock that I had, even though I am a radiology nurse…
She’s Gone and Done It: The Story of Dr. Nageatte Ibrahim
Dr. Nageatte Ibrahim has spent her career at the intersection of oncology, science, and medicine, with achievements resulting in global impacts. Trained as a physician and scientist, she played a central role in the development of Keytruda, one of the…
Princess Dina: The Voice for The Voiceless
Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan is recognized globally as one of the most influential voices in the fight against cancer and non-communicable diseases. A relentless advocate for equity in health, she has transformed cancer care in Jordan…
Patrick Soon-Shiong: He Who Speaks for the People
If you describe yourself in one sentence, what would it look like? I wish I could have been Kobe Bryant. Who is your role model? I wish I could have been Kobe Bryant. And what is your dream? I wish…
I Am Alive: Letter to Oncologists
I am alive. A stage four cancer survivor—alive, in part, because of you, dear oncologists. And in part, because of the divine. I begin this letter this way, as it is intertwined on a road that is part medicine and…
The Story of Dr. Anne Merriman: Pioneering Compassion and Dignity in Africa’s Palliative Care Revolution
No conversation about palliative care in Africa is complete without mentioning Dr. Anne Merriman. Her life was a testament to deep compassion — dedicated to caring for others, championing dignity in death, and ensuring free access to pain relief for…