News digest – cancer stem cells, breast screening, liquid biopsies and vaping in teens

Breast cancer screening rate hits 10-year low

Breast cancer screening rates have sunk to the lowest in 10 years, according to the Telegraph. New figures released by the NHS show that only around 70 in 100 people invited to breast screening decided to take part.

Single round of chemo for testicular cancer may not affect fertility

A single round of chemotherapy after surgery for people with testicular cancer doesn’t affect their fertility long-term. The Sun reports the findings of this small study.

1 in 5 think cervical screening is a test for ovarian cancer

1 in 5 women mistakenly think cervical screening tests can detect ovarian cancer, according to a survey reported by ITV News.

Diet may impact response to immunotherapy

Forbes looks at new research suggesting a link between what a patient eats and their response to immunotherapy treatments. The early unpublished results, to be presented at a conference held by the American Association for Cancer Research in Atlanta in April, suggest certain people with an aggressive type of skin cancer who ate a diet high in fibre responded better to immune-boosting drugs.

Liquid biopsy research advances

TIME covers more unpublished research to be presented at the same conference in Atlanta that puts a blood test for advanced lung cancer to the test. Researchers say their test is at least as effective as a tissue sample at identifying important genetic changes in non-small cell lung cancers. It now needs to go through further testing to see if it can help doctors decide on treatment for their patients. The Observer also took a broader look at where research into cancer blood tests is heading.

Colon cancer in young more likely to be diagnosed late

Another research preview from Atlanta: the Mail Online reports an American survey looking at bowel cancer diagnosis in people under the age of 50. It found many of these patients were initially misdiagnosed, which led to finding out they had cancer later, when the disease was more advanced.

Half of children with cancer worldwide aren’t treated

Children living with cancer in parts of Asia and Africa are not receiving treatment. According to the Guardian, this means that nearly half of all children with cancer go underdiagnosed and die at home from the disease.

Major supermarkets stock high fat foods in ‘healthier choices’ section

Stores are marketing foods high in fat and sugar as ‘healthy’, reports the BBC. Visits to the top five UK supermarkets found these foods in Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s were put in the ‘healthier choices’ section on the shelves.

England’s top doctor champions junk food ad ban on London transport

The chief medical officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, says the junk food advertising band on London transport is a step in the right direction. In the Independent she calls obesity a “public health crisis” and says the initiative is a chance to “save lives”.

Cancer treatment should target cancer stem cells, says scientist

Also in the Independent, a scientist talks about his work looking into cancer stem cells. He believes these specialised cancer cells are the ones that can break off from an initial tumour and make a new tumour in another part of the body. He says targeting these cells could stop tumours growing and spreading.

And finally

E-cigarettes hit headlines after new vaping figures were released by Public Health England. Reports said the number of 11-18-year-olds who vape had doubled in the last 5 years. But even though the number of teens vaping has increased, regular vaping among young people remains very low. We took to Twitter to explain the report’s findings and to provide some context behind the numbers.

Gabi