Although the risk of cancer-related death is declining in Canada, cancer remains the leading cause of death in this country. Given this reality, scientists have dramatically ramped up their research in the past several decades. However, cancer is not a new disease—humanity has made note of its presence for millennia,[Read More…]
Tag: cancer
Health misinformation: A hidden obstacle to better patient outcomes
The internet has become a widely used source of health information by the public, including cancer patients. However, the quality and reliability of online information vary greatly, leading to misunderstandings of treatments and, ultimately, reduced quality of care for those living with cancer. In a recent paper, Marrah Nicolas-Joseph, U3[Read More…]
A new immunocellular therapy at our doorstep
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, nearly 7,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with leukemia this year with a mortality rate of nearly 50 per cent. Similarly, over 10,000 will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma—a specific type of cancer that causes lymphocyte cells to develop abnormally. Many research institutions across the[Read More…]
The secrets beneath our skin
Skincare is a focal point in the beauty and wellness industry. One cannot scroll through TikTok or Instagram without seeing Reels promoting various skincare products and regimens. The importance of proper skin health, however, goes deeper than beauty. From 2008 to 2018, there has been a 44 per cent global[Read More…]
The gendered accessibility problem with HPV vaccines
While COVID-19 vaccination continues to dominate public consciousness, the rate of vaccination for other diseases has decreased. In Canada, recent estimates show that up-to-date routine vaccine coverage was five per cent lower in children compared to the pre-pandemic rate. The fear of contracting COVID-19 at the doctor’s office is one[Read More…]
Leveraging gene editing technology to treat brain cancer
In 2020, the Jahani-Asl Lab in the Division of Experimental Medicine at McGill discovered that gene therapy techniques could make certain brain tumours more receptive to radiation treatment. Since then, the team has made yet another groundbreaking advancement—identifying a protein pathway that, when suppressed, could lead to reduced tumour growth.[Read More…]
The good things about having cancer
No one wants to learn that they have cancer, but when I was 12 years old, that is exactly what my doctor told me. I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, a nonfatal chronic skin cancer. Although it is one of the most common types of skin cancers, it is[Read More…]
With tumours, it’s what’s on the inside that counts
For the first time, McGill researchers have detected regions of high rigidity within the developing tumour microenvironment (TME) of breast cancer tumours. These findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest new possibilities for mapping the progression of invasive tumours based on the physical properties of the TME, including tissue stiffness. The[Read More…]
Mapping the types and causes of cancer
Cancer is a family of related diseases caused by the uncontrolled division of cells known as a tumour. The Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes, a six-year project comprising the work of more than 1,300 researchers in 37 countries, is the largest, most in-depth analysis of cancer genomes to date. It[Read More…]
Running toward a brighter future
On Jan. 31, the McGill Students’ Cancer Society (MSCS) invited students to run around McGill’s favourite finals room for 12 hours straight for their seventh annual Relay for Life. After months of promotion and organization, the night kicked off at 8:30 p.m. with a welcoming ceremony and the introduction of[Read More…]
