News digest – breast cancer risk calculator, ‘flexitarian’ diets, shape-shifting cancer cells and till receipts

A new way to predict breast cancer risk

Our scientists have designed the most comprehensive method yet to predict a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, says the Guardian. Their calculations combined information on numerous risk factors like family history, genetics, weight and how much alcohol they drank. The ‘risk calculator’ is now being tested in a small number of GP surgeries to see if it could be used more widely. In the future, it could help doctors tailor breast cancer screening and patient care. Our press release has the details.

‘Flexitarian’ diet could help our planet and our health

According to the BBC, a group of scientists from all over the world have proposed a diet that they say is not only kinder to the environment, but also our health. Experts say the ‘flexitarian’ approach, broadly made up of wholegrains, nuts, pulses, fruit and veg with small amounts of meat and diary, could prevent around 11 million deaths each year. This is down to cutting diseases related to unhealthy diets, such as some cancers.

Scientists turned breast cancer cells into fat cells in mice

The Mail Online reports that a team at the University of Basel are looking at ways to exploit cancer cells’ shape-shifting abilities. The researchers managed to turn breast cancer cells in mice into less harmful fat cells, by giving them a combination of a cancer drug and a diabetes drug. It’s not yet clear if this approach might be useful as a treatment approach in people, with lots more research needed to find out.

Teenage cancer survival rates are rising

Cancer survival in teenagers and young adults is rising, according to the BBC. The report by Teenage Cancer Trust and Public Health England showed that survival was most notably improved in certain types of leukaemia and bone cancer.

Tech solutions that could help the NHS

The Telegraph looks at how certain pieces of technology could revolutionise the NHS. It includes a cancer breath test that has just started trials to see if it could be used to pick up a number of different cancers.

NHS hospitals overspend by millions a year

According to the Guardian, some hospitals in England are overspending by up to £141 million a year. Underfunding, staff shortages and an increasing demand for care is thought to be behind the deficit.

The lifetime achievements of Prof Martin Gore

The Independent pays tribute to Professor Martin Gore after the sad news of his death last week. Gore was a professor of cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research, London and a former medical director at the Royal Marsden hospital, where he worked for 30 years.

And finally

Reports this week suggested that shop receipts were coated in chemicals and that putting the receipt in a carrier bag among your groceries could increase your risk of cancer. This report comes after experimental laboratory research tested the levels of certain chemicals in a small sample of till receipts in the US. However, the chemicals tested haven’t been proven to cause cancer in humans. NHS choices breaks down the research here.

Gabi