The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a new cancer treatment pill Wednesday.

Rasonque, manufactured by Revolution Medicines in California, is an inhibitor for the most common type of pancreatic cancer. The tablet, which is taken once daily, targets multiple forms of a protein called RAS that drives tumor growth.

In a press release, the FDA called Rasonque a "new treatment option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer," noting the agency approved it more than six months ahead of its review deadline.

CANCER TREATMENT DELAYS SURGE ACROSS US AS DOCTOR WARNS SYSTEM ‘NEEDS FIXING IMMEDIATELY’

"Today’s approval provides a critical new option for patients facing an extraordinarily difficult and historically hard-to-treat cancer. It is our fundamental duty to deliver more cures and meaningful treatments to patients as quickly as possible," acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in a press release.

"I am immensely proud of the dedicated FDA scientists whose fast, thorough review and relentless commitment made this groundbreaking milestone a reality."

The authorization is for adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer that either did not respond to at least one prior treatment or could not receive certain combination drug therapies.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains one of the deadliest forms of oncology in the U.S., accounting for up to 95% of the roughly 67,000 annual pancreatic cancer cases identified by the National Cancer Institute.

PATIENTS REMAIN CANCER-FREE NEARLY 3 YEARS AFTER RECEIVING EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOTHERAPY

While the disease makes up only 3.2% of total cancer diagnoses, it causes a disproportionately high number of cancer deaths because it is often found late and can spread quickly.

The new drug was approved after a randomized, open-label trial of 500 patients with pre-treated metastatic disease. Patients taking Rasonque achieved a median overall survival of 13.2 months, nearly double the 6.7-month survival rate seen in the standard chemotherapy control group.

"This drug showed unprecedented results in an area of high unmet need," said Angelo de Claro, M.D., director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence.

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Regulators accelerated the medication's path to market by granting it priority review, orphan drug status and a breakthrough therapy designation.

Additionally, the filing was evaluated using the FDA commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot program to speed up access to critical public health treatments.

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Ahead of the official green light, the agency issued a "safe to proceed" letter in May, opening an expanded access protocol that allowed patients to receive the drug before final approval.

Safety profiles show that the most frequent adverse events linked to Rasonque included rash, diarrhea, mouth sores (stomatitis), nausea, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal pain, fluid retention (edema), reduced appetite and bleeding (hemorrhage).

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"Today’s landmark approval is the most significant advance we have seen in the fight against pancreatic cancer, a devastating disease," said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., chief scientific and medical officer of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN).

"I believe this drug will transform how pancreatic cancer is treated, giving people the opportunity for more time with loved ones, the possibility of a better quality of life and optimism that continued research may lead to even greater advances."

Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday followed a brief bout with cancer, according to statements from her family.

"After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones," the family shared, as confirmed by Fox News Digital.

The revelation of the singer’s previously undisclosed cancer battle is raising questions about why some patients choose to keep a diagnosis private, even as public figures’ health struggles can spark wider awareness.

DOLLY PARTON DEAD AT 80

Dr. Kristin Higgins, chief clinical officer at City of Hope Cancer Center in Atlanta, surmised that Parton may have preferred people remember her for her "amazing career" and not for a diagnosis at the end of her life.

Keeping the disease private at first is a "very natural response," Higgins said, as a diagnosis can be very overwhelming.

"It's very natural to cling to that identity of being a healthy, vibrant person without a diagnosis of cancer," Higgins told Fox News Digital.

"The patient really needs to acclimate to the idea of themselves having this disease and then start to tell friends and family kind of slowly after they go through that adjustment process."

CANCER TREATMENT DELAYS SURGE ACROSS US AS DOCTOR WARNS SYSTEM ‘NEEDS FIXING IMMEDIATELY’

In some cases, people may withhold a cancer diagnosis due to a feeling of shame or embarrassment, Higgins said.

"Things like tobacco-related cancers, unfortunately, still carry a stigma when diagnosed," she said. "Patients may feel that it was their fault. And the reality is nobody deserves a cancer diagnosis."

There are some benefits, however, to eventually sharing a cancer diagnosis with friends, family and community members who can rally around the patient, according to the doctor.

"For example, for people who are religious, letting their greater circle know about that diagnosis can be really helpful, as people will pray for them as they're going through the journey of treatment," Higgins said.

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"I think, overall, it's a very beneficial thing to eventually tell as many people as possible so you can get that support."

The doctor also agreed that sharing a cancer journey can raise awareness and provide support to others facing the same challenge.

"If you are somebody with a cancer diagnosis, and you're beating it, and you are going through treatment successfully, other people seeing that — whether it's on social media or hearing it through a friend — that can be really helpful to an individual as they're facing a new cancer diagnosis," Higgins said.

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Another benefit of disclosing cancer is that it may open up more opportunities for treatments.

"There are so many resources out there now. … Clinical trials are really what move the needle in the cure rates for cancer, and finding out about these trials is not easy," Higgins noted.

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"So, the more people who know about your diagnosis — you have all these cheerleaders out there rooting for you, and you can get more information. You can hear more people's opinions about where you could seek the best cancer treatment."

The doctor said there's more hope than ever for people facing a cancer diagnosis.

"Our statistic is that 70% of people diagnosed with cancer will survive five years or more," she said. "And we can do it, we can get through it.

"I think … the beauty of sharing this diagnosis with the world is that we can get all the support we need."

Limiting sugar consumption during the first 1,000 days of life, from conception through a child’s second birthday, may result in slower biological aging and a lower risk of cancer up to five decades later.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigated how early-life sugar intake influences health in adulthood, examining data from over 64,000 participants in the UK Biobank born between 1951 and 1956.

The researchers leveraged a natural experiment from post-war Britain, when sugar rationing ended in September 1953.

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After rationing ended, average daily sugar consumption across the U.K. nearly doubled — from about 41 grams to 80 grams — while consumption of other major foods remained stable, according to historical National Food Survey data cited in the study.

People exposed to sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days of life were compared to those who were conceived after the policy ended. Researchers then examined cancer outcomes recorded about five decades later.

They found that people who spent more of their early lives under sugar rationing had lower rates of several cancers in adulthood, including liver, rectal, lung, prostate and breast cancers.

People exposed to early sugar limits also had longer leukocyte telomeres — protective caps on chromosomes that tend to shorten with age — equivalent to about two fewer years of biological aging. They also had lower levels of Granzyme B, a protein associated with long-term immune activation and inflammation.

EATING COMMON DAIRY FOOD EVERY DAY MAY SLOW BIOLOGICAL AGING, STUDY SUGGESTS

The study’s authors identified two key pathways that could explain these long-term benefits: a biological imprint and a persistent behavioral habit.

Five decades after rationing ended, adults who spent their earliest days under sugar restrictions were still consuming less sugar and eating healthier, more varied diets.

Experts said the findings add to ongoing research into how early diet may influence long-term health, though further research is needed to confirm the connection.

"What surprised me most was how persistent the effects were," study author Weilong Zhang of the University of Cambridge told Fox News Digital.

POPULAR DAILY DRINKING HABIT COULD NEARLY TRIPLE RISK OF DEADLY CANCER, MAJOR STUDY FINDS

"We might expect childhood diet to matter for health, but differences in sugar exposure during just the first 1,000 days were still reflected in people's diets and biological markers roughly five decades later."

"This suggests that early life may be an especially important period not only for biological development, but also for establishing long-lasting food preferences."

Dr. Brian Slomovitz, deputy director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, described the research as an "excellent hypothesis-generating study."

"Sugar consumption is something that we have been worrying about ... most importantly, inflammation, and how inflammation can lead to some cancers," Slomovitz, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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High sugar intake has been linked to metabolic disruption, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, which may contribute to disease risk, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News.

Siegel said the lower cancer rates were consistent with the possibility that less early sugar exposure and healthier later-life diets played a role.

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However, outside oncologists note that natural experiments from decades past come with inherent research limitations.

"We're talking about the 1950s, so clearly there are some biases in data collection," Slomovitz noted. "Secondly, the numbers are very, very, very low. Of all the cancers, most of them had [fewer] than 100 cases ... to show a 70% decrease, I think is probably an ambitious conclusion."

The doctor also pointed out that while obesity-driven cancers align with metabolic pathways, other findings in the paper — such as reduced lung cancer risk — are traditionally tied to external factors like smoking rather than dietary sugar.

The researchers noted that, as a natural experiment rather than a randomized trial, the study could not rule out all other postwar factors.

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Additionally, the UK Biobank is not fully representative of the broader British population, and the researchers could not determine how much of the effect reflected early biological changes versus healthier diets maintained in adulthood.

Zhang cautioned against overinterpreting the findings as a reason for extreme dietary measures.

"I would not interpret our study as saying that parents should eliminate sugar completely," he said. "Rather, our findings support existing recommendations to limit added sugar, particularly during pregnancy and early childhood."

Pennsylvania confirmed two measles-related deaths on Tuesday, according to the state’s department of health.

This marks the first losses related to the highly contagious virus within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 35 years.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that both Lancaster County individuals were unvaccinated, noting that the best way to prevent measles infection is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

MEASLES SURGE HITS NEW MILESTONE AS US CASES SURPASS LAST YEAR'S TOTAL

The MMR vaccine administered over two doses can boost a person’s immune system and provide 97% lifetime protection, according to health officials.

In a press release, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen shared her "deepest sympathies" with the "loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss."

"Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness," she said in the statement. "We want to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has the information they need to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities."

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"As a physician, I want to make sure that people understand the MMR vaccine is safe and provides the best protection we have against measles."

The state's DOH has confirmed 393 cases of measles in 28 counties so far in 2026.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be fatal in one to three patients per 1,000 cases, data shows.

The virus can cause long-term health problems, including pneumonia and brain swelling. Nearly 20% of individuals who contract measles are hospitalized.

Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, spreading the virus through respiratory droplets. It can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person leaves the area, experts caution.

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Early measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A measles rash follows a few days later, starting on the head and spreading down to the rest of the body.

Symptoms can start seven to 21 days after exposure. Those who believe they were exposed to measles should contact a healthcare provider.

Dr. Jesse Goodman, former FDA chief scientist in Washington, D.C., spoke with Fox News Digital about the MMR vaccine, calling it "extremely safe and highly effective."

"The vaccine prevents millions of measles deaths worldwide annually, including hundreds that used to occur in the U.S.," he said. "There is no evidence that MMR vaccine causes any chronic illnesses, including autism."

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Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, Maryland, agreed that Pennsylvania's 35-year streak without a measles-related death "wasn't luck."

"It was the vaccine working so completely that an entire generation of parents grew up never seeing what this virus does to a child’s lungs or brain," he told Fox News Digital. "That protection is increasingly not valued, and this is the predictable result when the population turns their back on a life-saving technology."

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, previously emphasized the highly contagious nature of measles amid elevated case counts across the U.S.

"Measles is so contagious that up to 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to an infected person will become infected," he told Fox News Digital, stressing the importance of community protection. "We need a 95% vaccine coverage rate to ensure herd immunity," he said.

The herd immunity threshold is a mathematical estimate based on how contagious a disease is and how effectively immunity from vaccination or prior infection prevents its spread, according to Siegel.

"In this case, two-dose vaccination is almost 100% effective, and natural immunity after a measles infection is generally lifelong," the doctor said. "This isn’t about personal choice, it’s about community protection. We need to protect those who can’t have a live virus vaccine because they are immunocompromised or pregnant."

The brain may undergo a notable shift at midlife, as new research suggests that its protective immune cells begin to decline and are increasingly replaced by inflammatory cells at around age 50.

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego; New York Genome Center; and University of California, Irvine, found that these brain changes may help explain why aging increases the chances of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease, including dementia.

The study analyzed postmortem tissue from the hippocampus – the portion of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory – in 40 neurologically healthy adults, ranging from 20 to 95 years of age.

THE 'AGE' OF YOUR BLOOD COULD PREDICT DEMENTIA RISK, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

"The most striking change was that after about age 50, the brain’s resident immune cells, called microglia, appear to be increasingly replaced by immune cells that enter from the bloodstream," first author Nathan Zemke, Ph.D., principal investigator at the UC San Diego Center for Epigenomics, told Fox News Digital.

"Microglia normally protect the brain by clearing debris and responding to injury, but the incoming cells carry stronger inflammatory signals."

The researchers believe this shift may contribute to chronic inflammation linked to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

They also noted the deterioration of cells involved in maintaining the blood-brain barrier – the protective filter that helps keep harmful substances out of the brain – as well as widespread changes in DNA and gene activity.

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One of the most exciting implications of the study, according to Zemke, is that the replacement immune cells originate in the blood, which means they are more accessible than cells already deep inside the brain.

"It may eventually be possible to modify blood-derived immune cells so that they are more protective and less inflammatory when in the brain," he said. "That could provide an entirely new way to approach Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases without having to directly manipulate cells within the central nervous system."

Although these findings are still in early stages, Zemke said, gaining a better understanding of why this immune-cell replacement happens – and why it happens earlier in some people than others – could lead to new strategies for preserving brain health during aging.

The study’s chief limitation is that it studied human brain tissue collected postmortem from different individuals across the adult lifespan, the researchers noted.

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"That allows us to identify strong age-related patterns, but it cannot directly show how the same person’s brain changes over decades or prove that a particular cellular change causes cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease," Zemke said.

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"We also do not yet know what triggers the influx of blood-derived immune cells into the brain. Determining whether changes in the blood-brain barrier, inflammation, genetics, lifestyle or other factors initiate this process will be an important next step."

The researcher emphasized, however, that he would not recommend that people make any specific medical or lifestyle changes based on this study alone. 

"These findings are primarily about understanding the biology of brain aging and identifying new directions for prevention and treatment," he said.

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The timing and extent of the brain changes varied considerably between individuals, suggesting that brain aging is not necessarily a fixed process that happens identically in everyone.

"The next challenge is to understand what drives that variation and whether some of those factors can be modified," Zemke added.

The study also included a small sample of just 40 people and examined tissue only from the hippocampus, meaning the findings may not reflect immune changes throughout the entire brain.

The study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published in the journal Science.

Over-the-counter anti-aging supplements taken by millions of Americans to boost energy and lessen the side effects of chemotherapy may actually impair cancer treatments, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that popular vitamin B3 derivatives – including nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide (NAM) – could help cancer cells survive chemotherapy.

Those compounds are used by the body to produce NAD , a molecule that helps cells generate energy and repair damage.

IV THERAPY AND SUPPLEMENTS UNDER SCRUTINY AS EXPERTS WARN OF POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

The study, published in the journal Cancer Letters, examined how these supplements interact with treatments for pancreatic cancer, a particularly deadly form of the disease with a 13% five-year survival rate, according to the American Cancer Society.

While boosting NAD levels through dietary supplements can offer health benefits to non-cancerous cells, pancreatic cancer cells may exploit the extra resources to repair damage caused by chemotherapy and avoid cell death, the researchers found.

In both laboratory settings and animal models, the supplements shielded cancer cells against three common chemotherapy drugs: oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and gemcitabine. As a result, tumors survived chemotherapy doses that typically would prove fatal to them.

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"Our findings highlight a potentially concerning role for NAD -boosting supplements in the context of active cancer, especially when used in conjunction with chemotherapy," said study lead Jordan Winter, a professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and co-leader of the developmental therapeutics program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, in the press release.

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"Our discovery is a call to action for the medical community."

The study notes that these B3 derivatives are not considered dangerous for healthy individuals using them for general wellness. However, the risk becomes significant for patients currently undergoing active cancer therapy.

"This research is a critical reminder that ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe, especially in the complex biology of cancer treatment," Winter added.

In light of the findings, the research team recommends that oncology teams begin routinely screening patients for supplement use. They also called for more studies into how NAD precursors interact with cancer therapies.

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Winter urged patients currently in treatment to consult their oncologists before taking any over-the-counter supplements.

Because the study relied on laboratory cell cultures and animal models, the findings may not directly translate to how human patients process these supplements during treatment, the team noted.

Additionally, the research focused exclusively on pancreatic cancer, meaning the supplements may not have the same effect on chemotherapy for other cancer types or with different drug combinations.

The study also only evaluated short-term cellular responses under controlled laboratory conditions and not human clinical trials, so it remains unclear how these supplements could affect cancer patients over time.

Fox News Digital reached out to multiple NAD supplement manufacturers for comment.

Being motivated to work out is one thing, but staying committed to a routine is what yields results, experts say.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, certified yoga and fitness instructor Hilaria Baldwin shared her tips for building an effective exercise routine – and sticking to it.

"One of the most important things about exercise is consistency," said the mother of seven. "For many of us, life gets in the way – we are parents, and we work and all the chaos comes in, so bite-sized movements are really important."

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Baldwin revealed that her "perfect" workout routine trifecta always includes cardio, strength training and stretching, even if it’s just 10 minutes per day.

For lasting consistency, a fitness routine should fit naturally into one’s lifestyle and schedule, Baldwin said. She recommends setting aside kid-free, work-free blocks of time for movement and self-care.

Baldwin said she makes time for a daily run as her cardio, which she said helps "work out her lungs." She also incorporates stretching and strength training, which might include physically picking up her kids or toning with weights.

She has also started exercising with her children as a way to blend family time with physical activity.

DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE

The instructor emphasized consistency without overcommitment, noting that doing too much, too soon can lead to burnout.

"If something's overwhelming, we're not going to do it," Baldwin said. "Ultimately, we are going to be creatures of habit … we are going do what we feel like needs to get done – but starting to think of a workout more like brushing our teeth is really important."

"People are not moving their bodies enough, and then we get sick," she went on. "So, the question is, can we do a little bit to prevent that? And obviously not everything can be prevented, but we know that we should move our bodies most days."

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Baldwin advised against "biting off more than you can chew." For example, instead of running three miles as a response to being frustrated about your fitness goals, try running for just 10 minutes – or run for just two minutes at a time and take walking breaks.

"Doing something is better than thinking about it and doing nothing," she added.

The fitness instructor also suggested making exercise a family commitment, helping to reinforce that movement and self-care are priorities.

"As moms, we [often] put ourselves last," she said. "Everybody says put your oxygen mask on first, but we don't do that."

"I think showing our children that we are human, and we are worth taking care of is really important – not just for our relationship with them, but how they will treat themselves when they're older."

When life gets busy, she said, it’s easy to make excuses for not working out. Baldwin admitted that on most days, especially in the summer heat, she has "zero interest" in going for a run.

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"But I know that I'm not going to regret it," she said. "It’s just about creating the habit and saying, ‘Okay, I'm going to do this, and it's going to be 30 minutes, and I might hate it, but I’m going to be happy to do it.’"

Baldwin added, "Showing up is the hardest thing. Once you do it, and you create a commitment, it completely changes everything."

Baldwin encouraged the public, especially women, to tap into how "special and unique each person’s body is."

"Start loving yourself and loving your body, no matter what outside opinions you feel like people are directing at you," she said. "Feel capable and feel strong and that you're worth investing in."

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Baldwin shared that she herself has struggled "tremendously" with this in her own life. "That is one of the reasons that I show up – to tell my body, ‘I love you, you're worth it.’"

She continued, "Nobody has ever existed who is exactly like you, and no one will ever be exactly like you again. So please live every single day cherishing your body, your unique self, and let's have fun and move together."

Lillian Smart, an 8-year-old girl who health officials believe contracted a brain-eating amoeba while swimming in a northern Louisiana lake, died Saturday at a Ruston hospital from an infection linked to the pathogen.

Lillian died one day after celebrating her eighth birthday.

"The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from," the Smart family said in a statement posted Sunday morning on Facebook. "Everyone did everything they could to keep her here. We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next. How do we put one foot in front of the other without our girl?"

MICHIGAN REPORTS 2 DEATHS IN RARE PARASITE OUTBREAK THAT HAS SICKENED MORE THAN 11,000

The Louisiana Department of Health announced Wednesday that a state resident had been hospitalized after becoming infected with Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic amoeba that can cause a rare and often deadly brain infection.

State health officials have not publicly identified Lillian as the patient referenced in the announcement. Her family, however, said on social media that she had been admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at a Ruston hospital and identified Naegleria fowleri as the cause of her illness.

The health department said the infection in the case it announced was most likely acquired while the patient was swimming in Lake Claiborne shortly before becoming ill.

BEACHGOERS WARNED AFTER DEADLY 'FLESH-EATING' BACTERIA KILLS 5 IN SOUTHERN STATE

A representative for the Louisiana Department of Health did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Louisiana Department of Health records identify three previous deaths associated with Naegleria fowleri in the state since 2011.

Two happened in 2011. A 20-year-old man in St. Bernard Parish died after using tap water to rinse his sinuses, while a 51-year-old woman in DeSoto Parish died after using tap water for a similar purpose.

In 2013, a 4-year-old boy contracted the amoeba while visiting a home in St. Bernard Parish, where he had played on a slip-and-slide. State officials later reported that CDC testing detected Naegleria fowleri in the parish water system.

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Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, an extremely rare brain infection that can develop when contaminated water enters the nose and the amoeba travels to the brain. People cannot become infected by swallowing contaminated water.

The amoeba is not found in saltwater or properly chlorinated swimming pools.

Symptoms typically begin with headache, fever, nausea and vomiting before progressing to a stiff neck, seizures and coma. Symptoms generally appear about five days after infection, and the disease can lead to death within about one to two weeks.

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About 97% of people who develop PAM die from the infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC reported two PAM cases nationwide last year. Of the 173 infections documented over roughly the past 90 years, nearly 91% occurred in July and August.

A drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate symptoms may raise the risk of glaucoma, a serious eye condition that can cause gradual vision loss, according to new research. 

An international team of researchers analyzed health records from nearly 74,000 men ages 40 and older with lower urinary tract symptoms to examine whether long-term tadalafil use was associated with a greater risk of glaucoma. 

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, compared about 37,000 men prescribed tadalafil with a similar group who did not use phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, the drug class that includes Cialis.

Researchers followed the men for up to five years and looked for new cases of glaucoma and high pressure inside the eye, along with whether patients needed treatment for glaucoma.

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Men who used tadalafil were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma than those who did not use the drugs, according to the findings.

They were also 32% more likely to develop high pressure inside the eye and 33% more likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of the disease.

Dr. Valerie Kattouf, an optometrist at the Illinois Eye Institute who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital that glaucoma can be difficult to notice in its early stages.

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"Glaucoma is an eye condition that especially in its early stages often does not present with visual symptoms," Kattouf said.

As glaucoma progresses, people may gradually lose their side, or peripheral, vision, she said.

"Clinical findings of glaucoma are best detected in a comprehensive vision evaluation," Kattouf added.

Kattouf said people with a family history of glaucoma, high pressure inside the eye or severe nearsightedness may face a higher risk. Those who take Cialis daily over a long period of time may also warrant closer monitoring, she said.

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People who regularly use the medication should have a comprehensive eye exam to establish a baseline for their eye health, according to Kattouf. Doctors can check pressure inside the eyes and perform other tests to look for changes that could signal glaucoma.

The researchers noted several limitations to the study.

The study was observational, meaning it found a link between tadalafil use and glaucoma but could not prove that the medication caused the condition.

Researchers also could not account for changes in medication use or other health conditions that developed over time.

The researchers stressed that the findings do not mean people should stop taking tadalafil. Instead, they said, patients who use the medication long term, particularly those with existing glaucoma risk factors, may benefit from regular eye monitoring.

Fox News Digital reached out to Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Cialis, and the study’s researchers for comment.

Maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure, along with regular physical activity, are widely recommended components of healthy aging.

But as interest in longevity grows, some older adults are looking beyond extending their healthspan — the number of years lived free of disease — to prioritize looking, feeling and remaining physically attractive as they age.

Experts say the desire to maintain one’s appearance — the pursuit of "hotness" — can be psychological, shaped in part by a disconnect between how people feel and the changes they see in the mirror.

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"It really isn't about age," Dr. Krishna Vyas, M.D., Ph.D., a plastic surgeon at Blechman Plastic Surgery on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, told Fox News Digital.

"I think it's when you look in the mirror and you're like, 'I don't recognize myself. I don't recognize the way I feel. I don't identify with how my appearance isn't concordant with how I feel at that point.'"

Men now account for roughly 15% of all cosmetic procedures, according to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Social barriers that may have previously prevented men from seeking aesthetic treatment have diminished in the last two decades, Vyas noted.

"In the past, there was a stigma ... men were once shamed or ashamed of seeking out things that improve their appearance, especially in aesthetics, but that barrier has fallen significantly," he said.

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The motivations driving men to pursue "looksmaxxing" — a social media term for enhanced efforts to improve physical appearance — range from maintaining a competitive edge in youth-centric workplaces to addressing subtle signs of aging, such as dark under-eye circles or loss of jawline definition, according to Vyas.

Treatments range from minimally invasive procedures like Botox and laser therapy, to surgical interventions like chest masculinization and liposuction.

"The misconception often is that minimally invasive treatments will fix things and have no side effects," Vyas cautioned, noting that improper or excessive non-surgical treatments can change the normal layers and contours of facial tissue.

Before jumping to aesthetic procedures as quick-fix substitutes for biological health, the surgeon recommends taking the following steps to improve physical appearance.

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Complete abstinence from all forms of nicotine is essential to maintaining microvascular circulation and preventing premature skin breakdown, according to Vyas.

Avoid over-hyped trends and multi-step routines, the experts recommended. Guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology point to two daily essentials: a morning broad-spectrum sunscreen to block photoaging UV rays, and a topical retinoid at night to stimulate cell turnover.

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Maintaining a healthy weight can prevent the chronic, systemic inflammation that is linked to metabolic syndrome, which directly accelerates structural skin and tissue aging.

Intervene early at the first sign of thinning. Evidence-based medical treatments, like FDA-approved finasteride and minoxidil, remain the primary standard for maintaining hair density before follicle loss becomes permanent.

"The real longevity drug is exercise — aerobic and non-aerobic strength training exercises," Vyas said.

"Someone who's looking for a hotspan or a healthspan, because they're so intimately related … I think they should focus on the basics to start ... the foundation is what's most important," the surgeon added.

A high school student-athlete with a potentially life-threatening heart defect had no symptoms and only learned of his condition through a screening required by Florida law.

The state’s Second Chance Act went into effect July 1 ahead of the 2026-2027 school year and requires students in grades 9 through 12 to undergo at least one electrocardiogram (ECG) screening the first time they participate in or try out for interscholastic athletics, with certain exceptions, affiliate FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported.

An ECG, also called an EKG, is a simple, noninvasive test that measures the heart’s electrical signals and can help identify irregular rhythms or other signs of heart trouble.

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For Cameron Crider, a sophomore football and basketball player at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, which requires ECGs for all student athletes, the screening led doctors to discover an atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital heart defect involving an opening in the wall between the heart’s two upper chambers.

If a significant ASD is left untreated, the extra blood flow can strain the heart and lungs over time and may lead to complications such as pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure and, in some cases, stroke.

"I’ve been playing [sports] my whole life and didn’t notice anything, so I was surprised because I haven’t felt anything," Cameron told FOX 13.

"[Cam was] going to a three-hour football practice and then a two-hour basketball practice back-to-back and never having fatigue or shortness of breath, or, you know, anything that you would think would be a warning sign," his mother, Laura Crider, told the station. "So, we were completely shocked."

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Crider is scheduled for surgery to fix the ASD in October and is expected to be able to play sports again next season.

The mandatory ECG is "a gift from God that has been given to us, truly," Laura Crider said.

"We were able to find this out in a doctor’s office with an explanation and a clear plan that says we can help you, and so many of these other parents who are advocating for these screenings, they had to find out through a tragedy," she continued.

Up to 80% of young athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death during exercise, don’t have any warning symptoms prior to their arrest, Dr. Jonathan Drezner, director of the University of Washington Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology, told Fox News Digital.

Because intense physical activity places additional stress on the heart, undetected heart conditions can become dangerous during sports, the American Heart Association (AHA) told Fox News Digital.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is not the only concern," the AHA said. "These conditions can also lead to other serious heart-related complications and may require monitoring, treatment or restrictions on athletic participation to keep students safe."

The AHA does not recommend mandatory ECG screenings for every student athlete.

"A heart assessment that includes a review of a student's personal and family history along with a physical examination is the best way to identify serious heart conditions that can lead to cardiac events in student athletes," the AHA said. 

"If the comprehensive heart assessment raises concerns, health care professionals can order appropriate follow-up testing, such as an ECG, echocardiogram, heart monitor or other advanced imaging based on the suspected diagnosis."

The AHA and American College of Cardiology support what they say is an "evidence-based, layered approach to identify heart issues so they can be diagnosed, monitored and treated as early as possible."

According to Drezner, an ECG screening, when interpreted properly, is one of the best screening tools in medicine.

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"An ECG greatly increases our ability to detect conditions associated with SCA in the young," he said. 

"A standard sports physical by history and physical alone will miss 80-90% of kids with at-risk heart conditions. An ECG can suggest or detect about 80% of the conditions that put young persons at risk. It is not perfect, but it is far better than the standard sports physical."

Though healthy athletes and young people can have a potentially lethal heart condition and not know it, Drezner said chest pain, passing out and a racing heart are symptoms that should not be ignored.

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"Make sure your child feels well when they exercise," he advised. "If you have a family history of genetic heart conditions or SCA, you should bring this up with your child’s doctor. And get your child a proper heart screen with an ECG."

Two Navy veterans recently reunited to complete a great expedition across America.

Jim Serger, 55, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Cory Hardy, 51, of Ennis, Montana, hadn’t seen each other in 30 years since serving together overseas.

On July 14, the two friends embarked on a bike ride across the country, from California to New York City, in honor of the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11.

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After writing three books for the nonprofit Tunnel to Towers, Serger said he felt he needed to challenge himself "with something bigger."

"And why not wrangle in my old Navy buddy, who I hadn’t seen for 30 years, that I knew was a tremendous bicyclist," he told Fox News Digital. "Back in January, I said, ‘Would you like to go on this trip?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely, Jimmy, count me in.’"

Hardy said he’s always viewed himself as "incredibly patriotic" because he’s been granted "so many opportunities" through the military to see the world and get an education.

"When Jim approached me about the idea of doing this, I was like, ‘Wow, this is awesome. This is something that I can do,’" Hardy shared.

"It's the 250th anniversary of our country and the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and I don't want to forget. And I want people to keep it at the forefront of their minds."

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Serger trained for 10 months, logging 5,000 miles on an indoor trainer. When spring came, he hit the trails around Cincinnati.

A few months later, the duo began their journey in San Diego and headed east. They were met with 20 road closures, a fire and flooding in Colorado, two flat tires, three bike shop visits and lots of backroad maneuvering.

Serger and Hardy focused on staying hydrated, especially in the California and Arizona heat, with a collective three gallons of water each day, sometimes including electrolytes. They snacked on energy waffles, protein bars and "salt gummy bears" and ate lots of carbs at meals.

Hardy said he took 10-minute ice baths "every single day." Serger reported losing six pounds by the end of the mission, which he gained back by eating "good food" in New York.

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While Hardy was already accustomed to the elevation after living in mountainous Montana, Serger said the altitude posed a physical challenge.

"It was grueling ... so hard," he told Fox News Digital. "Cory had to take the mountains in Colorado. I stayed on flat ground. That was our game plan."

Serger and Hardy met up with some of their old Navy buddies along the way. One fellow veteran, an Arizona state trooper, drove from Phoenix to Flagstaff to meet them on the route. Others opened their homes for the pair to stay the night.

The friends stopped at about 25 firehouses to hand out Tunnel to Towers books and to introduce themselves.

"Sometimes we were there for an hour, sometimes we were there for four hours," Serger said. "Talking about Tunnel to Towers, where they were on 9/11 … how much they train … it was just very heartwarming."

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Serger said he and Hardy both foster the "patriotic mentality" of "what we can do for others." Hardy serves on city council and Serger's wife cooks for the fire department every month. These types of efforts were reciprocated on their journey.

"Every fire station, EMS, police station, they're all involved in the communities. We got patches. We got hats. we got pins. We got T-shirts," Serger said.

Hardy added that, at every firehouse, everybody was there to help, "regardless of their state’s political affiliation."

"They're just another American out there willing to put their life on the line to save people," he said. "I thought it was super awesome to get to meet firefighters from East Coast to West Coast.

"The closer we got to Shanksville and the Pentagon and New York, it became very emotional, because then people said, ‘My mom was there’ or ‘My aunt was there' ... and then a firefighter said, ‘Three of our brothers went up there.’

"The closer we got, we knew we had hit the epicenter of how people responded to those terrorist attacks, and it really hit home."

At the Pentagon, Serger and Hardy got a police escort from the Pentagon Police and Pentagon Fire Department before receiving a five-hour tour, including the 9/11 memorial.

Clocking about 170 miles a day, the pair made it to Lower Manhattan in 20 days.

They were welcomed by the FDNY, Port Authority and NYPD Honor Guard at FDNY Ten House, across from Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

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"I started crying," Serger said. "My wife was there. She flew in. We had Sal Cassano, the [former] FDNY fire commissioner, there. Fire Station 10 had firemen, civilians were there. It was very, very moving."

Serger and Hardy’s cause has so far raised more than $17,000 for Tunnel to Towers.

In addition to raising funds for the organization, Serger said the expedition aims to generate continued awareness for those who sacrificed and risked their lives on 9/11 as the 25th anniversary approaches.

"We never forget 9/11," Serger said. "We never forget the sacrifice of our heroes, of our military, our first responders and gold star families," he said. "We never want 9/11 to fade away."

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Serger described the bike ride as a "surreal" and emotional experience.

"It started off with, we're going to raise money for Tunnel to Towers, and I think our final [takeaway] was there's a lot of love and pride and patriotism in this country, from far west all the way to the east," he shared. 

"Everybody welcomed us with open arms. That's all we talked about."

Sitting all day at a desk is the norm for millions of American workers, but it can take a toll on the body.

As long hours spent in the same position can contribute to poor posture, stiffness and other physical issues, experts say regular movement and stretching can help prevent joint pain and muscle weakness.

"Many people sit every day for most of the day, and this can cause so many problems in the body," certified fitness and yoga instructor Hilaria Baldwin told Fox News Digital. "We've all heard of tech neck, carpal tunnel – most of that has to do with the alignment of our spine."

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Baldwin shared the following simple stretches that can be done in a desk chair, while cautioning people to "be the judge of what’s appropriate" for their workspace before trying the techniques.

Sitting in a desk chair, bring the arms up into a "goal post" position, with the elbows in alignment with the shoulders.

Pull the core in, squeeze the shoulder blades together and pull the chin back. Imagine that the back of the head is pressing up against a wall.

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Keeping the arms in position, start bringing both elbows in front, touching them together. Open again and squeeze. Repeat this about 10 times.

"This, for me, feels really good," Baldwin said. "Check in with your body during the day. I'm going to do maybe a few at 10 a.m. and then maybe again at 11:30. You can't do too many of these."

"You also develop an incredible back if you want to wear those backless dresses, but it also makes you feel better," she added.

From the previous position, take the arms down until the palms of the hands are facing the floor. Start to squeeze the shoulder and back muscles.

Bring the arms forward to cross over each other and stop once the elbows are aligned.

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As the arms cross, round the head down, bringing the forehead toward the elbows. Open the arms up and repeat about 10 times, practicing the set consistently throughout the day.

"As I'm rounding, I’m pulling the shoulder blades away from the spine as a bit of a hug, and then I open again and squeeze the shoulder blades together," Baldwin described.

"It's going to help remind you that you need to be sitting up with your shoulders back, chin back," she added.

Interlace the fingers behind the head and bring the elbows toward one another.

Slowly drop the chin to the chest, lightly pulling down through the spine.

In the opposite direction, open the elbows wide, arching the back and lifting the chin to the sky.

"Focus on your breath here as well, especially if you have a stressful job," Baldwin said. "We stop breathing and that just puts tension in our body, so try to take deep breaths. Inhale, exhale."

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"If you're about to write that email that maybe you shouldn't write, maybe just tap into your breath, do a few of these."

Although subtle, Baldwin calls this exercise "extremely important," as it focuses on engaging the core while seated.

Sit up straight and pull the belly button toward the spine, noticing if you can feel where the sit bones are pressing into the chair.

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Rock back and forth, pulling in the belly button. Think about pulling in the "seatbelt muscle," in the lower gut area, maintaining proper posture.

"This is actually a really good ab exercise," Baldwin noted.

For those who are able to stand, Baldwin encourages employees to rise from their chair and "stretch a little bit," since sitting for long periods of time can "shorten the hip flexors."

"Anything where you can stretch it out is going be really great for you," she said. "I like to mix it with a calf stretch as well."

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Stand up and step one foot out in front of the other in a slight lunge, bending the front knee. Open through the back of the leg and press the heel down.

Press forward and bring the hips to center, making sure to maintain the same posture practiced while sitting. Switch the legs and stretch on the other side.

An experimental skin cancer vaccine significantly reduced the risk of melanoma returning or spreading in a late-stage clinical trial from Merck and Moderna.

The results mark the first positive Phase 3 trial of an mRNA-based personalized cancer therapy, according to the companies.

Known as INTerpath-001, the study evaluated 1,137 patients globally who had surgery to remove high-risk (Stage IIB through Stage IV) melanoma. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either Keytruda, plus the personalized vaccine, or Keytruda, plus placebo.

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Patients who received the combination experienced significantly better "recurrence-free survival," meaning their cancer was less likely to return than in those who received Keytruda alone.

The combination also significantly improved "distant metastasis-free survival," a measure of how long patients remained alive without the cancer spreading to distant parts of the body.

"These phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research," Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said in the press release. "For many years, the idea of creating an mRNA treatment designed specifically for an individual patient's cancer was aspirational. We are now helping turn that vision into a reality."

Unlike traditional vaccines that protect against external viruses, the custom-tailored mRNA vaccine (intismeran autogene) is a therapeutic vaccine given after surgery to train the body to hunt leftover cancer cells.

After a patient undergoes surgery to remove a tumor, doctors sample both the cancerous tissue and healthy cells. Then, advanced algorithms analyze the tumor's genetic sequence to select up to 34 tumor-specific neoantigens to encode in the personalized treatment.

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Dr. Murad Alam, vice chair of dermatology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, noted that not all melanomas are the same.

"They're slightly different in every patient, which is why traditional chemotherapies often stop working or don't work in a particular patient," he told Fox News Digital. "This is almost individualized immunotherapy, where you're finding specific issues in a particular patient."

The individualized approach is designed to direct the immune system toward tumor-specific targets, Alam noted. 

"It doesn't hit normal cells, and it hits the cancer cells very effectively because it's not just a generic vaccine. It's one that specifically knows the signs of your cancer and can find it," he said.

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The goal of this particular vaccine, according to the doctor, is to extend the lives of people who "already have a bad case of the disease."

It is not intended to prevent melanoma in people who do not have the disease, even if they have a family history that may put them at greater risk, nor is it intended for those with a very small melanoma.

"This is designed for people where the melanoma has grown to the point where it's threatening not just the local area of the skin, but their whole lives," Alam said.

Alam also spoke about the role of artificial intelligence in determining which antigens to include in the vaccine so that it is most effective.

"These things are difficult, and, historically, [they] took a lot of time, and it just wouldn't be feasible to do this for every individual patient without the power of AI," he said. "And I'm sure that will become better and better in the future.

"Here, AI is a tool that allows you in a reasonable amount of time, with a reasonable amount of resources ... to come up with a vaccine for that individual person."

After the successful Phase 3 outcome, Merck and Moderna announced plans to engage with regulatory authorities worldwide, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about potential regulatory filings.

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Plans are in the works to test the vaccine technology against other hard-to-treat cancers, including lung, bladder and kidney cancers.

"I think the underlying concept of targeting a particular tumor with the specific markers on that tumor is generalizable, meaning you could do this with different kinds of skin cancer or different kinds of cancer in general," Alam agreed. "It's very exciting."

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Although the companies said the results were significant and meaningful, the findings are still early and did not reveal how long patients remained cancer-free. 

The Phase 3 announcement also did not establish whether the treatment ultimately helps patients live longer.

The recurrence-free survival results were also based on investigator assessments rather than an independent central review, the release noted.

The study only looked at people with specific stages of skin melanoma who had surgery and no prior drug treatments, so the results may not apply to other types or stages of cancer.

Merck said the treatments’ side effects were similar to those seen in earlier studies, with no new safety concerns identified.

Alam reiterated that the vaccine seems to have both a "tremendous benefit [and] good side effect profile."

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"When you're getting very strong cancer medications, even when they work, the toll on the patient is often terrible," he said. "It alters their life during the course of treatment where there's tremendous suffering.

"The nice thing about this, because it's so targeted, it doesn't damage many of your normal cells ... so the side effects are really mild — a little fatigue, a little chills, some injection side pain."

Even as new data shows cancer’s continuing toll in the U.S., a surgical oncologist says some simple lifestyle measures could help lower the likelihood of developing the disease.

An estimated 2,114,850 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026 — about 5,800 per day, according to the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Loren Rourke, a Texas-based breast surgical oncologist and author of "Real Talk, Real Hope: Breast Cancer Your Way," emphasized that while no lifestyle choice can guarantee cancer prevention, healthy habits can help reduce certain risk factors.

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From maintaining a healthy weight to staying active, Rourke shared the following five everyday strategies that support the body and improve overall health.

Being obese or overweight is associated with an increased risk of at least 13 types of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Rourke estimates that excess body weight is likely the third-biggest risk factor for breast cancer, after female gender and aging.

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Growing research suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications — including Ozempic and Wegovy — may be associated with a lower risk of cancer diagnoses and recurrence.

Rourke said one possible reason GLP-1s could prove beneficial for cancer risk is that the drugs promote weight loss and reduce chronic inflammation.

"We know that a lower BMI equals a better prognosis with breast cancer," she told Fox News Digital. "So if the secondary effect of taking a GLP-1 means that you’re going to lose weight, that’s a benefit, because we know you’re going to do better with breast cancer."

GLP-1 drugs are not yet approved to prevent cancer, and more research is needed to determine whether they independently reduce disease risk.

The American Cancer Society states that physical activity is linked to a lower risk of several cancers.

The official guideline recommends 150–300 minutes of moderate activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity per week for adults.

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"I think people underestimate overall fitness," Rourke said. "We tend to think about it for heart health, but it’s not just heart health — it’s mental health and reducing your risk of having lots of chronic medical problems that span from one end to the other, in addition to other cancers."

Even if staying physically fit doesn’t keep cancer at bay, it may help improve outcomes if the disease develops, she noted.

"One in eight women get breast cancer. So if it comes knocking, you want to be ready," she said.

"Women come to me and say, ‘I’ve done everything. I’ve exercised every day. I’ve eaten a healthy diet, and here I am sitting in your office.’ And I say, ‘Well, that healthy body is now ready for this fight.’"

"If you can bring a healthy body and a healthy mind to the disease, you are going to do better."

To lower the risk of cancer and premature death, the American Cancer Society recommends sticking to a diet rich in vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains and legumes, while limiting red/processed meats, sugary drinks and highly processed foods.

Rourke agrees with these guidelines, but noted that even people who follow healthy eating patterns can face cancer diagnoses.

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"I have vegans sitting in my office. I have people who don’t eat any sugar in my office. They’re all getting breast cancer," she said.

"What I say is, [eat] a healthy, balanced diet, limited processed foods, as close to farm-to-table as you can get," the doctor advised. "Just healthy eating, reasonable portions … nothing in excess."

"If you practice that, that’s going to suit you for so many things in your future."

The doctor added that it’s not necessary to take an extreme approach to dietary choices: "Do you need to give up all sugar? No. Do you need to go to the extreme? No."

Cigarette smoking is responsible for about 20% of all cancers and about 30% of cancer deaths in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. The habit can cause cancer in numerous parts of the body, and quitting can reduce cancer risk at any age, experts say.

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Meanwhile, alcohol consumption has been linked to an estimated 5% of U.S. cancer cases and 4% of cancer deaths in 2019, according to the National Cancer Institute.

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The U.S. surgeon general issued guidance last year following research that linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer, naming it as the "third leading preventable cause of cancer" in the country, after tobacco and obesity.

Rourke advised that alcohol should only be consumed in moderation, although even light drinking has been shown to raise the risk of certain cancers.

"Too many Americans are living with an outdated assumption that some amount of alcohol is not only harmless, but also good for you," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel previously told Fox News Digital. "Increasing evidence shows that isn't true."

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"Even though traditional advice has been up to one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men, in fact, no amount of alcohol is healthy," he added.

Early detection programs have enabled doctors and patients to detect disease earlier than ever before, which increases survival rates, Rourke noted.

"I think now there’s more awareness," she said. "People know if they have someone in their family and what kind of cancer they had."

"I think people are much more educated in general, and that is promoting wellness, health, early detection and screening."

Rourke also expressed concern about relying too heavily on artificial intelligence when investigating possible symptoms.

"If you are worried about something, call your primary care doctor [or] gynecologist," she advised. "If you feel like something’s wrong, follow through with it and get it checked out. Never ignore your inner voice."

Those who take oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications, such as Wegovy tablets, are advised not to take the medication with morning coffee or tea.

According to FDA prescribing information, Wegovy tablets should be taken on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of water — and no other liquids. Patients should wait at least 30 minutes before consuming food, other beverages or oral medications.

As the first FDA-approved oral medication for chronic weight management, the pill has different guidelines than the original injectable options, particularly because absorption through the digestive system can be affected by food and drink.

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Dr. Michael Hall, a board-certified physician, longevity specialist and author of "Infinite Youth," confirmed that oral Wegovy should be taken on an empty stomach, only with water.

"Coffee, tea, juice or other drinks should not be taken with the pill because they can interfere with how the medicine is absorbed," the Miami Beach, Florida-based doctor told Fox News Digital.

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For oral GLP-1 users, Hall recommends the following morning routine.

"Food and beverages other than water, and other oral medicines, can affect absorption if taken too soon," Hall said. "The safest rule is 30 minutes of nothing by mouth except water after the tablet."

The expert added that GLP-1 medications can also slow stomach emptying, which can impact how other oral medications are absorbed.

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Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel agreed that a GLP-1 pill should not be taken with caffeine, but only on an empty stomach with water.

While drinking tea throughout the day generally does not interfere with oral GLP-1s or block their absorption, patients should consult their physicians, Siegel told Fox News Digital.

The doctor added that certain teas, like green, black and white teas, can help support digestion, while ginger and peppermint tea can help alleviate nausea.

Clinical pharmacist and board-certified nutritionist Jim LaValle noted that waiting 30 minutes before consuming food and other drinks is about "protecting the tablet's first absorption window."

"Its oral bioavailability is relatively low, approximately 1% to 2%, so it's important to take it exactly as directed in order for it to absorb," he told Fox News Digital. "There is no evidence that caffeine consumed later in the morning in any way neutralizes semaglutide or eliminates its benefits."

The expert urged users to stay consistent with their dosing routines and to pay attention to tolerability when mixing caffeine with an oral GLP-1.

"In some individuals, coffee may aggravate nausea, reflux, jitteriness or increased heart rate, symptoms that can already occur due to taking Wegovy," LaValle said. "In this case, it is an individual tolerance issue rather than a proven caffeine-semaglutide interaction." 

In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk pointed out that while the above instructions are explicit, Wegovy pill users can "sip and go."

"Thirty minutes goes fast, and we believe the Wegovy pill fits seamlessly into the morning routine," they said. "This is consistent with what we have seen in our clinical trials and in real-world settings."

Consuming a sugary drink a day may significantly raise the risk of developing stomach cancer, according to new research from Mass General Brigham.

After accounting for other risk factors, the researchers found that one or more sugary drinks per day was linked to nearly triple the risk of gastric cancer compared with fewer than one serving per month.

Roughly two-thirds (63%) of U.S. adults report consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once a day, CDC data states.

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While earlier studies linked sugary drinks to higher rates of liver, breast and colorectal malignancies, their specific impact on gastric tissue remained unclear until now.

The new study analyzed data from more than 100,000 participants in the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

The long-term prospective cohort studies, which were managed by Harvard-affiliated researchers, analyzed links between lifestyle, diet and chronic disease among healthcare workers.

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"It's definitely a concern because we are seeing an increase in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in young people [under] 50," senior author Andrew T. Chan, a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist with the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute in Boston, told Fox News Digital.

"Our increasing consumption of sugary drinks and also ultra-processed foods is likely to be contributing to some of these cancer trends," he added.

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Gastric cancer is heavily linked to Helicobacter pylori bacteria, a type of bacteria that lives in the stomach lining. 

In a subset of study participants, there was no connection found between sugary drink intake and H. pylori, strengthening the hypothesis that sugar (fructose) plays a role.

The researchers defined sugar-sweetened drinks as regular sodas, fruit punches, lemonade and sports beverages, in which fructose is the main sweetener. Higher fructose consumption was associated with greater stomach cancer risk.

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Artificially sweetened drinks, including diet sodas and other low-calorie carbonated drinks, were not linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer among more than 100,000 subjects.

The research was observational, which means it could only show correlation and not direct causation.

The participants were predominantly White healthcare professionals, meaning the findings need to be confirmed across diverse populations, the team acknowledged.

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"The study is unable to really prove cause and effect," Chan said. "What we did see was an association. We certainly need to do more research to understand whether this association between sugary-sweetened beverages and stomach cancer is truly causal."

The study was published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances.

People who fly for a living could face a higher risk of certain types of cancers, a new Harvard study suggests.

Flight attendants and pilots in the U.S. face the highest risk of radiation-related cancer deaths out of a list of more than 500 occupations, the researchers concluded.

"As you get high up in the atmosphere, you're exposed to ionizing radiation from the sun. It's called cosmic radiation," study author Anupam B. Jena, M.D., Ph.D., told Fox News Digital.

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The finding was based on analysis of data from the National Vital Statistics System, specifically, nearly 13 million U.S. death certificates between 2020 and 2024. Out of those records, 14,000 were pilots and 7,000 were flight attendants.

Across all occupations, the team analyzed mortality from radiation-related cancers, including breast cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia), lymphoma, central nervous system cancers, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

They did not include lung cancer to prevent confounding the results with any smoking-related risk.

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Pilots and flight attendants were found to have "statistically significantly" higher mortality rates linked to breast cancer, central nervous system cancers, prostate cancers and melanoma. Pilots were also more likely to die from leukemia.

Among all flight attendant deaths, 6.9% were linked to radiation-related cancers, as were 6.7% of pilots’ deaths. This was higher than the rates for any other occupations, the researchers found.

For cancers not related to radiation, the rates were comparable to other occupations.

"It's not just lifestyle factors or factors about these individuals that are making them more likely to develop cancer at large," Jena added.

The study was published Aug. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

"The risk increase is meaningful enough for the group," Jena said. "Our study doesn't speak to the individual pilot or flight attendant, but more so to the two groups as a whole."

Each year, airline workers receive about 3 to 6 millisieverts of cosmic radiation, compared to 0.4 millisieverts for someone who takes 10 round-trip cross-country flights, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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That means airline workers may receive roughly eight to 15 times the annual cosmic radiation exposure of someone taking 10 cross-country round trips.

"It is thought that this would be a cumulative risk, so the more time that you're exposed to that cosmic radiation, the greater the increase in risk that you might experience," Jena pointed out.

The findings could also raise questions about whether U.S. pilots and flight attendants should receive additional or earlier cancer screenings.

"I think the level of screening may need to be higher," Jena said, noting that approaches differ between the U.S. and other countries.

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"Just making sure that these individuals are screened regularly, that they may be screened earlier in life than other folks — I think that's totally on the table."

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For people who fly frequently for business or pleasure, Jena said the findings should be less concerning, noting that very few passengers accumulate flight time comparable to pilots and flight attendants.

He added, "This is really sort of a consideration for people who spend their life in the air."

The study has several limitations. Because it was observational, the findings cannot establish that cosmic radiation caused the elevated cancer mortality among pilots and flight attendants, only that the two were associated.

The researchers also did not have access to data on individual workers’ radiation exposure, which means they could not determine whether those with greater exposure faced greater risks.

Other occupational or lifestyle factors could also potentially contribute to the findings.

Bud Leavell, 72, suffered from severe tremors for years after his Parkinson's diagnosis, making it impossible for him to enjoy his favorite pastime of repairing radios in his garage.

But within minutes of receiving a newly approved ultrasound treatment, his tremor was completely gone.

Leavell, a retired salesman and Air Force veteran in Arlington, Texas, experienced the dramatic before-and-after result at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

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The focused ultrasound targeted precise areas deep in Leavell’s brain. Unlike deep brain stimulation, which requires opening the skull, this new treatment is non-invasive.

At his latest follow-up, Leavell's tremor remained as well-controlled as it was immediately after the procedure, according to his doctor. When asked how the tremor was doing, Leavell responded with, "What tremor?"

Leavell was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, immediately following surgery for thyroid cancer.

"My voice was weak and gravelly, and within a few days, a tremor set into my right hand," he shared with Fox News Digital. "Before this time, I was experiencing a slow loss of my sense of smell."

The tremors made it "frustratingly difficult" for Leavell to perform certain functions, especially anything that required fine motor skills in his dominant hand, such as using his binoculars or clicking a computer mouse.

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Dr. Bhavya Shah, a neuroradiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, introduced Leavell to the option of a focused ultrasound treatment that was approved by the FDA in January 2026 to treat the primary motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including stiffness and slowness.

"High-energy ultrasound waves are focused across the skull onto discrete brain targets," Shah told Fox News Digital. "The ultrasound energy heats up these nuclei, or nerve bundles, and removes them. This stops the pathologic transmission of electrical activity causing tremors or other symptoms."

Patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease are typically treated with medications, the doctor noted.

"Interventional options are discussed when the medications become less effective or patients develop side effects," he said. "These options include deep brain stimulation and now, focused ultrasound."

Parkinson's disease can affect patients differently, Shah pointed out.

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"The beauty of focused ultrasound is that before we permanently remove the tissue, we can use low-energy ultrasound waves to see if the patient's symptoms respond to the particular target," he said. "This is very important, as the optimal target may vary in patients."

UT Southwestern also uses advanced imaging to map a patient's brain before the procedure, which gives doctors a clearer picture of the ultrasound’s intended target, according to Shah.

In Leavell's case, his tremor responded strongly even to the initial low-energy ultrasound, giving the team confidence that they had identified the right target.

"Although the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease are slowness and stiffness, Bud’s most bothersome symptom was tremor, so getting rid of the shaking was our primary goal," Shah added, noting that doctors can select different brain targets based on which symptoms are most troublesome.

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Leavell was eager to try the new therapy – but he did have some concerns about what the outcome would be.

"The entire team working this procedure was very professional and demonstrated considerable flexibility in making sure this was an easy process for me," he told Fox News Digital.

Immediately after receiving the ultrasound therapy on April 13, Leavell said his tremor was gone.

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"I can hold my hand still with or without a tool in my hand or while working on a project," he said. "I can also get a fork or spoon with food on it into my mouth with ease. But, this may turn into another problem, as I love to eat!"

Leavell has also been able to return to his hobby of repairing antique radios.

There are some potential risks associated with the treatment, Shah noted. Those include numbness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips, trouble walking, talking or swallowing, sometimes weakness in the upper or lower extremity, balance issues or struggles with episodic memory.

"Side effects occur approximately 20% to 30% of the time and generally improve over time," the doctor added.

There is also one key tradeoff compared with deep brain stimulation, he noted – DBS can be adjusted if symptoms return or worsen, but with focused ultrasound, there is no device that can be reprogrammed.

That means if symptoms return after the focused ultrasound, the patient could potentially require another treatment.

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Although the therapy has shown short-term effectiveness, because it is a newer technology, there is not yet long-term data available.

"For patients seeking an alternative to an implantable device, focused ultrasound represents a promising alternative," Shah said. "A patient considering these options should have a thorough discussion with their movement disorder neurologist to really understand the pros and cons of each treatment."

Shah expressed optimism for the future of Parkinson’s disease therapies, with the potential for other applications of focused ultrasound.

While he expressed appreciation for the procedure, Leavell emphasized that "God is in control of the circumstances in my life and will continue to be."

"However, anytime an opportunity comes along like this one, I will jump on it to see if I can experience an improvement in my circumstances."

To anyone who may be a candidate for the focused ultrasound, Leavell recommends getting an appointment with a specialist.

"Don’t let any grass grow under your feet," he advised. "While this is not a panacea for Parkinson’s, it is a dramatic and life-changing procedure."

Wait times between a cancer diagnosis and the start of treatment grew by nearly two weeks over the past decade in the U.S., according to a recent study published in JAMA Surgery.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles and Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed national data from more than two million patients diagnosed between January 2012 and December 2023.

The study tracked adults with early to locally advanced stages of six common cancers (breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, stomach and esophageal) who received surgery as part of their initial care.

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Researchers measured wait times from the day of the diagnosis to the first treatment, whether that was a surgery or pre-surgical therapy designed to shrink a tumor.

Across all six cancer types, median wait times grew by more than 10 days over the study period, regardless of whether surgery came first or followed other treatments.

The longest increases occurred in stomach cancer, where wait times rose from 35 days to 49 days, and lung cancer, which increased from 41 days to 53 days. Breast cancer wait times grew from 34 to 45 days, while colon cancer delays increased from 20 to 31 days.

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Pancreatic cancer waits climbed from 23 to 32 days, and esophageal cancer delays grew from 38 to 48 days. The researchers also found that a growing share of patients waited 60 days or longer to begin treatment.

"This is part of our healthcare system that needs fixing immediately," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.

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The delays were even seen at high-volume academic medical centers, noted Siegel, who was not involved in the study.

"The waiting times for basic cancer operations in non-metastatic diseases is high and increasing since 2012," he added.

After adjusting for factors like age and underlying health, researchers found the delays did not affect all groups in the same way.

Longer wait times were seen for Black patients, people on Medicaid, individuals in lower-income areas, patients traveling longer distances for care, and those treated at academic medical centers or high-volume hospitals.

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The West experienced longer delays than other regions, and for non-breast cancers, the use of robotic surgery was linked to longer wait times.

The study authors cautioned that delays in surgical treatment have been tied to higher death rates and worse long-term survival in previous medical research.

In supporting commentary published along with the study, Lia D. Delaney, M.D., and Sherry M. Wren, M.D., both of the Stanford School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California, emphasized that cancer care has become increasingly sophisticated over the last two decades.

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However, "as cancer care continues to regionalize, efforts to improve quality may inadvertently create barriers to timely treatment unless capacity and coordination evolve in parallel," they wrote.

The authors noted several limitations to their study. Because the analysis relied on retrospective data from the National Cancer Database, it could not determine the exact reasons behind individual treatment delays, such as scheduling issues, logistical hurdles or personal patient preferences.

The database also lacked information on when patients first developed symptoms or sought medical advice prior to diagnosis.