Interview with Alisa Kamis-Brinda, Owner and Therapist, Serenity Solutions

(Featured) - Kamis-Brinda explains how mindfulness, breathing, thought-challenging and assertive “I” statements can help people pause, regulate their nervous systems and respond according to their values.

Interview with Alisa Kamis-Brinda

Edited by Haley Spracale, Editor at Featured News · Oct 20, 2026

As an owner and therapist in mental health care, how would you describe your work and the perspective you bring to helping people navigate anger?

As the owner and primary therapist at Serenity Solutions, I provide comprehensive anger-management treatment to adults who struggle to remain calm when triggered. My training as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) enables me to view each person as someone shaped by many different experiences throughout their life.

I look beyond the anger and rage to understand the underlying causes that inform treatment. This perspective allows me to bring compassion and empathy to the work, helping individuals shed any shame they feel about their angry behaviors so they can fully benefit from treatment.

What experiences in your path to becoming a therapist led you to focus on anger management alongside concerns such as anxiety, stress, and addiction recovery?

As an intern in graduate school, I began running anger management groups at my placement when I learned that there was a high need for this type of treatment.

What I've learned along the way is how much anger is impacted by other feelings, including anxiety and stress, depression, shame, humiliation, and so much more.

The people I work with have also experienced situations that make them more susceptible to anger, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and other traumatic events.

Our society and how we are socialized impact how we process and express our anger, too.

In your clinical experience, what is an early sign that anger is beginning to take over, and what can someone do at that moment to create a pause?

Early signs of anger can be physical and emotional. When someone begins to feel triggered, their body goes into the fight-or-flight response, and various physical symptoms can appear as a racing heartbeat, high blood pressure, sweating, shaking, muscle tension and queasiness.

If a person mindfully notices these symptoms, they can pause and calm their body. Exercises that help regulate the nervous system in these situations include:

• Slow, deep breathing

• Placing hands on the heart and stomach to send a message to the body that you are safe

• Bringing attention to things you can notice with the five senses

When you can pause and calm down, you have the opportunity to decide how you want to respond instead of reacting automatically because your body thinks you're in danger.

Emotional signs of anger include the feeling of anger itself and angry thoughts. Angry thoughts may include cursing, blaming and name-calling.

They may also include all-or-nothing words, such as always, never, everybody, nobody and all.

When someone notices these thoughts, they can pause and try to let them go. Strategies include:

• Choose not to focus on the thought and instead focus on what is important in the moment.

• Identify evidence that the thought is not true—this is easy with all-or-nothing thoughts because you only have to think of one exception.

• Recognize that angry thoughts tend to be exaggerated, and challenge them by reducing the exaggeration and identifying what the actual truth is.

How do you use acceptance and commitment therapy to help clients make room for anger without allowing it to dictate their actions?

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has fabulous tools to help clients manage anger in ways that align with their values. When people seek anger management voluntarily, rather than being forced by the courts or a family member, their values are what led them to treatment. They don’t want to behave in the ways they have been behaving because those behaviors don’t align with their values. They want to be kind, compassionate, caring partners, parents, and friends.

Identifying their values and how they want to show up in the world can help them determine how to respond when they feel angry. Another ACT tool is letting go of angry thoughts. Angry thoughts feed into our anger and are not helpful. Even if an angry thought is true, ACT teaches that you don’t have to focus on it; you can instead focus on being in the moment, being mindful, and bringing your attention to what is most important in that moment, which for many people is behaving according to their values.

Mindfulness is the core process in ACT that helps with the techniques above. You need to be mindful to catch yourself when you are feeling angry in order to pause, let go of unhelpful thoughts, and engage in value-informed behaviors.

What is one cognitive behavioral therapy technique you have found useful for helping people examine the thoughts that intensify their anger?

Challenging automatic thoughts is a useful tool from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that helps people manage thoughts that feed their anger.

The way to challenge automatic thoughts is to identify the evidence for and against the thought. Typically, when we are feeling very emotional, there will be more evidence against the thought, which allows you to change it to a more realistic one. Ask yourself:

• "What is the evidence for this thought?"
• "What is the evidence against this thought?"
• "What is a more realistic way to look at this situation?"
• "What are the chances that this will actually happen?"

For example, imagine that you are angry because your partner got stuck at work and will be late for dinner. Your automatic thought might be, "They always do this. They don't care about me." Identify the times that they have been late, but also identify all of the times that they have not been late and the times they showed care. Even if someone has a pattern of being late, this technique gives you the chance to pause, consider other ways to view the situation, and calm your nervous system so you can think more clearly about what you want to do next.

Mindfulness can feel difficult when someone is highly activated; what brief mindfulness practice do you recommend for use during or immediately after an angry moment?

The easiest mindfulness exercise to use in the moment is slowing down your breathing. You can do this by purposely slowing it down or by using breathing exercises like box breathing or 4-7-8 breathing.

Box breathing:

• Breathe in for a count of four.

• Hold your breath for a count of four.

• Breathe out for a count of four.

• Hold your breath again for a count of four.

4-7-8 breathing:

• Breathe in for a count of four.

• Hold your breath for a count of seven.

• Breathe out for a count of eight.

These breathing techniques send the message to your nervous system that you are safe. Additionally, mindfulness tools are helpful before a situation that you think might trigger you. Calming your nervous system in advance can act like preventative medicine.

Drawing on your work with adolescents and adults, how can a person communicate anger in a way that is firm, respectful, and less likely to escalate conflict?

Communicating assertively is the antidote to aggressive, angry communication that escalates conflict. Assertive communication relies on respecting the rights of the other person and yourself. It involves expressing your feelings using "I" statements, which avoid blame or criticism.

An "I" statement follows this structure:

• "I feel _______ (feeling word) when __________ (situation)."
• Make sure you put a feeling word (for example, mad, sad, or angry)—not the word "that"—in the first blank. Otherwise it is no longer an "I" statement and you risk blaming the other person.

You can also add a request at the end of an "I" statement, asking for what you want or need. Be as specific as possible by stating what you want someone to do, not what you don't want them to do. If you tell someone to stop doing something without telling them what you want instead, they are left to figure it out on their own or to mind-read, and they might not get it right, which could put you at greater risk of reacting in anger the next time.

Another thing to keep in mind when you communicate assertively is that it doesn't mean the other person will stay calm, agree, or do what you want. If that happens, you may need to use tools to stay calm and might need to use more "I" statements.

The primary goal of communicating assertively is to express your feelings so you don't bottle them up and to encourage a productive conversation.

For people whose anger is connected to grief, trauma, anxiety, or substance use, what support or coping step has been especially important in your practice?

For people whose anger is connected to grief, working through feelings of grief is important. This may include discussing their feelings about the loss or their relationship with the person when they were alive. They may also benefit from the techniques used for trauma, as some losses can feel traumatic.

For those struggling with trauma, exercises that help regulate the nervous system can reduce fight-or-flight responses. Examples include relaxation exercises, mindfulness, physical exercise, and somatic therapies to support nervous system regulation

I commonly see anxiety symptoms trigger anger in my practice. When someone is worried that something bad will happen, they can enter fight-or-flight to protect themselves. If there is no physical danger, the released adrenaline and cortisol have nowhere to go and may be released as yelling, throwing objects, or invading someone's personal space. Tools that can help when anxiety triggers anger include challenging unhelpful thoughts, letting go of unhelpful thoughts, mindfulness, and living according to your values

For people whose anger is connected to substance use, the simplest (but not easiest) solution is to stop using the substances. Many of the same tools used for anxiety, anger, grief, and trauma can be extremely helpful for someone attempting to abstain from drugs and/or alcohol.

As both a therapist and practice owner, what is one sustainable habit you would encourage readers to build now so they are better prepared to cope with anger over time?

Mindfulness is a great habit for managing anger and the many other feelings and emotions that can feed into it.

When we practice mindfulness daily, we strengthen our mindfulness muscle, which helps us notice when we are getting worked up sooner. The quicker we can catch ourselves, the more opportunity we have to pause and make an intentional choice about how we want to respond instead of reacting in a way we may later regret.

Additionally, a regular mindfulness practice can act as preventative medication, helping us stay calmer over time.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Anger management is not about never feeling angry.

It is about learning healthy, calm, and respectful ways to respond when we feel angry.

We don't want to get rid of the feeling of anger. It is a helpful emotion that lets us know that something is wrong. The goal of anger management is to change how we behave when we feel triggered.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading it does not create a therapist–client relationship. If you are struggling, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.), contact your local emergency number, or find a helpline in your country at findahelpline.com.

About the expert

Alisa Kamis-BrindaOwner/Therapist at Serenity Solutions

This story was produced by Featured and republished with permission. Experts featured here are members of Connectively, Featured's expert network.

Forget Aging Gracefully. I'm Aging Out Loud.

(Monica Frazier Anderson DDS, DBA, FICD) - How A K-pop Movie Reminded Me That Confidence Should Never Retire

By Monica Frazier Anderson DDS, DBA, FICD

Edited by Adrian James, Editor at Featured News · Oct 12, 2026

I love my granddaughter, but if she replays that song one more time, she is going to hear exactly what it sounds like when grandma turns into a demon. I’m not proud of it, but that was my thought when my beautiful 10-year-old granddaughter picked up the remote and smiled in my direction. She knows that one-dimple smile is Boomer kryptonite. I sighed, forced my lips to smile, and said yes to her unspoken request.

I was headed toward the kitchen with our empty popcorn bowl when she asked, “Will you watch with me, Memoe?” I almost reminded her I’d viewed K-Pop Demon Hunters twice already that day and at least a dozen times in the past year. But then I realized: I’d never actually paid attention. I’m often advising others to “be present,” to practice intention and mindful listening. Yet, I couldn’t recall anything beyond those six now-famous words “This is What It Sounds Like.”

I set the bowl on the counter, plopped down next to her, and stared at the screen, willing myself to care as much as she. Rumi, the lead character, was only 3 lines into the lyrics when my mouth fell open. She wasn’t singing to the demon hunters. She was singing to me. “The worst of what I came from, patterns I’m ashamed of…” In that moment, she transported me from my cozy den to a painful place I rarely let my mind linger.

In 2012, surgeons removed a large cancerous tumor from my abdomen. The scar extends ten inches from my sternum to below my navel. Initially, I thought of it as a badge of honor commemorating my survival. I overshared my painful journey and displayed my quilted torso to anyone who asked. Years passed, and something shifted. Slowly, unconsciously, I body-shamed myself into thinking my triumphant scar was a flaw, another imperfection I needed to conceal. I stopped celebrating my healing and became ashamed of the man-made evidence of it.

Rumi continued, “We listen to the demons...we let them get between us.” Sometimes the worst demons are in our heads. Think of the hours we waste fighting not monsters with otherworldly powers, but our negative self-talk that incessantly whispers:

· I’m too old.

· I’m too big.

· I can’t do it.

· I don’t deserve it.

· I'm not pretty enough.

· I can’t wear a bikini.

That last one? Totally me. All the magazines, fashion blogs, and filtered reels on social media pummel us with images of blemish-free, perfect people. They don’t have bad breath or bad hair days, let alone an unesthetic mark on their drum-tight abs. Who says overexposure to filtered reality only impacts young people? Even women with decades of accomplishments can be virtually waterboarded into believing those images reflect mandatory beauty standards we cannot reach with a ladder and 6-inch stilettos.

“The truth now?” I didn’t stop wearing sheer blouses, crop tops, and bikinis because I’m old. I stopped because, like Rumi, I was hiding my scars—my truth.

Ironically, I am always impressed when I see a woman with a V-neck blouse exposing the telltale scar of open-heart surgery. I don’t think, “Geez, cover that up. No one wants to see that.” I think, Wow, I love her confidence.

Or, as the Demon Hunters sing, “There’s so much unexpected beauty in broken glass.”

It’s true this long, deep scar will always be part of me, reflecting victory over the hardest battle of my life. And no, I’m not a shero, but I AM a survivor. Survivor means you have lived through something that caused others to die. Whether it’s war, an automobile accident, childbirth, or surgery, we’re still here!! The scars and crow’s feet are reminders of our resilience, not our weakness.

I’m no longer listening to the lies I told myself. There is nothing wrong with my body. My scars are my map. My receipts. The history of a life I fought hard to keep.

So heaven help me, I’m wearing my bikini. If someone sees the truth beneath my sunscreen…good. I do not care.

Sitting next to my granddaughter watching an animated half-demon sing about shame, survival, and self-acceptance, I felt my heart beat a new rhythm. One my cardiologist would approve of!

I hugged myself tight, smiled, and thought, THIS is what mental liberation sounds like!

About the author

Monica Frazier Anderson DDS, DBA, FICD

Dr. Monica “mOe” Anderson is a TEDx speaker, award-winning podcast host, multi-published author, and licensed healthcare professional. Through spoken and written word, she explores personal growth, health equity, and the complexities of modern life. She is a mother of two sons and the proud grandmother of four. She resides in Grand Prairie, Texas.

This story was produced by Featured and republished with permission. Experts featured here are members of Connectively, Featured's expert network.

(NewsUSA) - For many people, breast cancer screening becomes a priority around age 40. However, according to recommendations from the American College of Radiology^® (ACR^®), one of the most important conversations about breast health should happen much sooner: a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25.

Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States, and early detection continues to be one of the most effective tools for improving outcomes. Since screening became widespread, breast cancer mortality has declined significantly, helping save countless lives through earlier diagnosis and treatment.

While annual mammography beginning at age 40 is recommended for women at average risk, breast cancer risk is not the same for everyone. Factors such as family history, genetic mutations and other health considerations can increase a person's likelihood of developing breast cancer and may warrant earlier or additional screening.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. ACR recommends that all women undergo a formal breast cancer risk assessment by age 25, with particular emphasis on Black women and women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, who may face elevated risk factors or worse breast cancer outcomes. Identifying higher-risk individuals early creates an opportunity to develop a more personalized screening strategy before cancer develops.

"Breast cancer screening is not a one-size-fits-all approach," said Stamatia Destounis, MD, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission. "A risk assessment by age 25 can help identify those who may benefit from earlier screening or supplemental imaging. Understanding your personal risk allows people and their healthcare providers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances."

Risk assessment is also important for transgender individuals. Breast cancer risk can be influenced by factors including anatomy, hormone use, family history, genetics, and prior medical care. Healthcare providers can use these factors to develop individualized screening recommendations that reflect each person's specific risk profile and health history.

Understanding risk is especially important because some populations are diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages. Among Asian, Black, and Hispanic women, one-third of all breast cancers are diagnosed under age 50, highlighting the importance of evaluating individual risk rather than relying solely on age-based screening recommendations.

Resources are available to help people take that first step. Mammography Saves Lives, an educational initiative of ACR, provides information about breast cancer risk factors, breast density, screening recommendations, and questions patients can discuss with their healthcare providers. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection. Learning your risk by age 25 can provide valuable information that helps guide future screening decisions and, for some, may lead to earlier detection when treatment is most effective. For more information, visit mammographysaveslives.org.  

(Mitch Jelniker) - For people diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, the clinical trial conversation belongs in the very first appointment.

A diagnosis of SCLC can trigger a whirlwind of appointments, tests, and decisions. But amid all that noise, there is one question patients should ask their doctor as early as possible:

“Is there a clinical trial that might be right for me?”

Many patients may associate that question with running out of treatment options. But according to Dr. Ashish Saxena, Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine, that’s not always the case.

Some clinical trials are available only before treatment begins, while others are studying promising therapies as a first treatment. For someone facing a fast-moving cancer like SCLC, timing is everything.

“There are a lot of changes going on in the landscape today, more than we've seen for a very long time. Emerging treatments now involve immunotherapy, where your immune system attacks small cell lung cancer. Studies are also exploring antibody-drug conjugates, antibodies that target specific proteins in small cell cancer and deliver chemotherapy with them, rather than free-flowing chemotherapy in your bloodstream. And we’re learning more about the biology of small cell lung cancer and how certain patients may react better to certain drugs. So, all of these things should give patients a lot of hope when they are diagnosed with small cell lung cancer,” says Dr. Saxena.

Why Clinical Trials Matter

For years, people with SCLC had few treatment options. Now, research is expanding what may be possible, from new treatment approaches to a better understanding of distinct types of SCLC that could lead to more personalized care.

For patients, that progress means something especially important: hope.

Living Better, Not Just Longer

The research happening in clinical trials isn’t focused only on extending life. Researchers are also paying closer attention to how patients feel while they are living it.

Along with tracking whether a tumor shrinks or how long a treatment keeps cancer from growing, clinical trials increasingly look at how treatment affects everyday life, including fatigue, breathing problems, pain, and emotional well-being.

“The goal is to have meaningful time, not just more time,” says Dr. Saxena.

These patient-reported outcomes can also provide clues about whether a treatment is working before the next scan. A cough may improve. Breathing may become easier. Energy may return.

Your Voice Is Part of Your Treatment

Patients can play another important role in their care: Speak up.

Reporting side effects and changes in how you feel can help doctors adjust medications or dosages and better manage symptoms, helping patients maintain their quality of life and potentially stay on treatment longer.

In clinical trials, that feedback also helps researchers understand how a therapy affects a person’s daily life, not just what appears on a scan.

For Wendy Brooks, who is living with small cell lung cancer and is a member of the LCFA's Voices of Hope Speakers Bureau, the pace of change is encouraging.

“I'm more hopeful today than I have ever been,” says Brooks.

For people facing SCLC, the message is simple: Don’t wait to ask about clinical trials. Ask early. Ask before treatment begins. And keep asking as your treatment journey continues.

That one question: “Is there a clinical trial that might be right for me?” could open a door you didn’t know was there.

Learn MoreTo hear the full conversation between Wendy Brooks and Dr. Ashish Saxena on the Hope With Answers podcast and learn more about small cell lung cancer research, clinical trials, and treatment, visit LCFAmerica.org.

About LCFALung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) is dedicated to dramatically improving survival rates and quality of life for people diagnosed with lung cancer. Through funding innovative research, amplifying patient stories, and raising awareness, LCFA brings hope to the millions impacted by the world’s deadliest cancer. Learn more at LCFAmerica.org. 

(NewsUSA) - In 2018, then-52-year-old Todd Repass Jr. stood up after a meal and immediately knew something was wrong. It was terrifying. He felt weak, short of breath, and, at times, dizzy. The eventual diagnosis – atrial fibrillation (AFib) – kicked off a nearly seven-year health journey, during which he leaned on his son, an employee of medical device manufacturer, Medtronic, for guidance. 

“You just have no clue what’s happening to you,” Todd recalls. “So, you’re confused, you’re scared.”

Atrial fibrillation, commonly called AFib, is an irregular heart rhythm that occurs when the heart’s upper chambers beat out of rhythm. It impacts more than 10 million U.S. adults and can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.1 For Todd, receiving the diagnosis brought a new level of uncertainty as he tried to understand what AFib meant for his health and daily life. 

Over the next several years, Todd tried medication, cardioversion (a procedure intended to restore a regular heartbeat), and lifestyle changes, including adjustments to his diet and sleep schedule. Despite these efforts, his AFib remained unpredictable and disruptive. During episodes, he often felt weak and short of breath and struggled with everyday activities – even short walks with his four golden retrievers. Some of Todd’s AFib episodes would last continuously for weeks or even months at a time.

Throughout those years of uncertainty, Todd’s wife was a constant source of support. She stood beside him through the uncertainty of his AFib episodes, doctor visits, cardioversions, procedures, and recovery—caring for him through the difficult days while continually encouraging him to keep looking for answers.

“My wife was there for me through all of it,” Todd says. “When I was scared, frustrated, or just didn’t feel like myself, she was the person beside me every day.”

While cardioversions and medication helped lessen some of the symptoms, his AFib remained elusive. His doctors used in-office electrocardiograms (EKGs) and prescribed externally worn, temporary Holter monitors. These external cardiac monitoring solutions were prescribed for short durations, often less than 30 days at a time, and were often not able to record his unpredictable AFib episodes. The uncertainty remained.

“The AFib diagnosis is not necessarily the hardest part,” Todd says. “It’s the day-to-day uncertainty that comes with not knowing how to track what’s happening.” 

Determined to better understand and manage his condition, Todd began doing his own research, leaning on his son along the way. 

“He was a reassuring best friend all the way through it,” Todd says. “He helped me better understand the technologies that were available and pointed me toward information I could research and discuss with my doctors. Having someone I trusted who understood the medical device field gave me both knowledge and reassurance throughout the journey.”

After discussing options with his care team, Todd’s cardiologist recommended the Medtronic LINQ II™ insertable cardiac monitor (ICM). Placed just under the skin, the small device (about 1/3 the size of an AAA battery) continuously monitors the heart and transmits abnormal heart rhythm information to a patient’s care team.

The outpatient procedure took only a few minutes. Afterward, he downloaded the MyCareLink Heart™ mobile app, which allowed him to record symptoms on his cell phone when he felt dizzy, weak, or out of rhythm. 

“The app was easy to use and gave me peace of mind knowing I had a way to capture what I was feeling when it happened,” Todd says.

For the first time, Todd no longer had to hope an episode would occur during a scheduled test. When he felt symptoms, he could record them in the app, and his care team could compare what he felt with the heart rhythm information collected by the device. 

For several months, the ICM recorded episodes of AFib and other abnormal heart rates, providing Todd’s care team with additional diagnostic information to help inform a more targeted treatment strategy. Doctors recommended Todd would be a strong candidate for a type of cardiac ablation procedure called pulsed field ablation (PFA) using the Medtronic Affera™ mapping and ablation system and the Sphere-9™ catheter. The all-in-one dual-energy catheter uses both short electrical pulses and radiofrequency energy to target heart tissue responsible for the abnormal electrical signals that cause AFib.

More than a year after his ablation procedure, Todd is AFib-free, and his LINQ II ICM continues to monitor. Not only does Todd feel better, but the continued monitoring also provides reassurance that his AFib is under control while giving his care team a consistent view of his heart rhythm activity.

Today, Todd is enjoying life with his family and spends far less time worrying about his AFib. He exercises, participates more fully in family activities, and spends plenty of time walking and caring for their golden retrievers. He no longer organizes his entire day around trying to prevent a possible AFib trigger. 

Looking back, Todd credits the strength of his family with helping him navigate the years of uncertainty that came with AFib. His wife provided the constant love and care that carried him through the most difficult periods, while his son empowered him to ask questions, better understand the available technologies, and have more informed conversations with his healthcare team. For Todd, their support reinforced how important a strong support system can be when facing a long and uncertain health journey.

“Getting the LINQ II ICM and the ablation with the Affera system were the best health decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” Todd says. 

If you have AFib or are experiencing symptoms of an irregular heart rhythm, such as dizziness, shortness of breath, fluttering, racing, or pounding feeling in the chest, talk to your doctor about diagnosis and treatment options. This is one patient’s experience; results may vary. Learn more about atrial fibrillation and available treatment options. 

Possible risks associated with the implant of the LINQ™ Family ICMs include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site, device migration, erosion of the device through the skin and/or sensitivity to the device material. For important safety information, see: https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/insertable-heart-monitors/getting-monitor/important-safety-information.html.

Possible risks associated with Sphere-9 may include stroke, pericardial tamponade, narrowing of pulmonary veins, damage to the blood vessels in your groin area, and a serious but extremely rare risk of atrio-esophageal fistula. Other risks include irritation, infection, or bleeding occurring where the catheter was inserted; the heart could be punctured; fluid may build up around the heart, or in rare cases death may occur. Please talk to your doctor to see if this treatment is right for you. For important safety information, see:  https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/l/patients/treatments-therapies/catheter-ablation-for-atrial-fibrillation.html#benefits-of-pulsed-field-ablation

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  https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2024/atrial-fibrillation-estimated-affect-about-1-22-americans 

(Dr. Matthew Holman) - There is a piece of good public health news that deserves more attention: youth tobacco use in the United States has fallen to historically low levels. That progress did not happen by accident. It reflects years of prevention work, stronger age restrictions, public education, and a broad consensus that tobacco and nicotine products should not be used by anyone under the legal age.

That progress is worth saying plainly, especially at a time when public discussion often leaves people with the impression that youth tobacco use is only moving in the wrong direction. The data tell a more encouraging story. But encouraging does not mean solved. Any youth use is unacceptable, and prevention must remain central to how nicotine products are marketed, sold, monitored, and regulated.

The public health challenge now is to protect that hard-won progress while confronting a different, persistent problem: cigarettes. According to the CDC, cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Millions of adults continue to smoke despite decades of warnings, restrictions, taxes, and cessation campaigns. Complete cessation is always the best choice for health. But for adults who would otherwise continue smoking, access to accurate information about scientifically substantiated smoke-free nicotine alternatives matters.

That is why FDA's recent action on ZYN nicotine pouches is significant. After scientific review, the agency issued modified risk orders for 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products, allowing them to be marketed with a specific FDA-authorized claim: "using ZYN instead of cigarettes puts adults at lower risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis." FDA did not say these products are safe. It did not say people who do not use nicotine should start. It authorized a claim to help adults who smoke better understand relative risk.

That distinction is important. Nicotine products are addictive and not risk-free. They are not substitutes for quitting tobacco and nicotine altogether, and they are not intended as nicotine replacement therapies (e.g., patches, gums, etc.). But science-based policy should recognize meaningful differences in risk between cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products for adults who switch completely.

The latest youth tobacco data show these goals are not mutually exclusive. According to FDA's analysis of the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey, current use of tobacco products, combustible tobacco products, and e-cigarettes declined between 2022 and 2025. FDA also reported that youth use of nicotine pouches remained low and stable, with 1.7 percent of students reporting current nicotine pouch use in 2025, compared with 1.8 percent in 2024.

Those numbers should give policymakers confidence, not complacency. They show that historically low youth tobacco use can coexist with a marketplace that includes FDA-authorized smoke-free alternatives for adults. Keeping youth use low requires continued discipline from regulators, retailers, manufacturers, parents, educators, and public health leaders.

PMI U.S. has been clear that smoke-free nicotine products are for current nicotine consumers who are 21 and older—not youth, not non-users, and not people who are trying to quit nicotine altogether. The company's responsible marketing practices reflect that commitment. Advertising features only individuals aged 35 or older. Branded websites require independent online age verification for visitors 21 and older. PMI U.S. limits its social media presence to platforms that allow age-restricted controls. It does not pay social media influencers to endorse its products and does not engage in product placement in movies or television programs.

Those practices are part of a broader 10-point approach to underage prevention that includes responsible marketing, retail support programs, real-world monitoring, and a call for collective action. The approach includes age-gated website access, monitoring of underage-use data, responsible marketing standards, retail technology advancement, responsible social media policies, FDA regulation, continued innovation for age restriction, support for enforcement against illicit products, responsible retail practices, and support for compliance checks such as mystery shopping by FDA.

No single company, regulator, or public health organization can do this alone. The right framework is practical and evidence-based: keep nicotine products away from anyone under 21, enforce minimum age of purchase laws, address illicit products, maintain clear product standards, and require responsible marketing.

The United States has made extraordinary progress reducing youth tobacco use. That is worth saying plainly, and it is worth protecting. The next step is to bring the same seriousness to the adults who still smoke. A mature tobacco policy should be able to do both: prevent young people from starting and help adults who continue to smoke move to better alternatives. Those goals belong together.

Dr. Matthew R. Holman is the vice president and chief science and regulatory strategy officer for PMI U.S. Holman is the former chief scientist at the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. 

(Peter Pitts, President and Co-founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest ) - Consumers purchasing retatrutide online may think they are buying a safe, clinically tested weight-loss drug. They are not. Medical spas and online sellers have built a booming black market around an unapproved investigational drug – exploiting polished websites and professional packaging to sell illegal drugs to unsuspecting Americans. What is especially concerning about today’s version of this deception is how FDA is doing nothing to stop it, allowing this black market to turn into a digital-age Wild West. 

Retatrutide is an investigational molecule currently being studied in clinical trials for the treatment of obesity. It has not yet received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and cannot be lawfully sold. That is not an opinion. That is the law. And yet sellers are aggressively marketing it as equivalent to – or even superior to – FDA-approved therapies already on the market.

Illicit retatrutide is being sourced from unregistered foreign manufacturers with no assurance of sterility, potency, or ingredient authenticity. When something goes wrong, distributors face no accountability and no obligation to report it. Consumers have no meaningful way of knowing what they are actually injecting – and the consequences are already showing up in hospitals and poison centers across the country. 

Documented reports describe hospitalizations for acute kidney damage and severe gastrointestinal distress. One 42-year-old woman was rushed to the emergency room after experiencing severe symptoms from black market “retatrutide” she purchased online. Poison center reports have surged – with hundreds of reports in the first four months of 2026. 

FDA’s response to this explosion of illegal drugs – a handful of warning letters with no follow up – amounts to less than a slap on the wrist. Warning letters do not shut down black markets. Arrests and seizures do. 

The deeper threat is institutional – every day this market operates without aggressive enforcement, it becomes more entrenched, profitable, and normalized. The message that FDA is sending to these criminal sellers is that there is no cop on the beat.  When they turn to even more dangerous and brazen schemes to sell these illegal drugs, it will be that much harder for FDA to put a stop to them when it finally decides to act. That erosion of institutional credibility has consequences that outlast any single drug. 

Clinical trials exist because consumer demand is not a substitute for scientific evidence. Allowing investigational peptides to become internet lifestyle products before FDA review and approval is not the democratization of medicine, but the degradation of it. 

The FDA must take aggressive steps to shut down this market and must coordinate with the Department of Justice, Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Trade Commission to pursue seizures, injunctions, and criminal referrals against the sellers and platforms fueling this illegal market. The longer regulators hesitate, the harder this black market becomes to unwind.  The FDA must act now – before the window closes to rein in this new frontier for illegal drugs in the digital age. 

(Novartis) - Dr. Koo, EVP and CMO at Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Bill, who is living with prostate cancer, answer some frequently asked questions about PSMA testing. Talk to your doctor and visit GetYourScan.com. Sponsored by Novartis

Hi, I am Dr. Phillip Koo, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at the Prostate Cancer Foundation, here on behalf of Novartis, to talk about PSMA testing and how a scan can help men take charge.

I am also joined by an amazing patient advocate Bill, who is living with prostate cancer. We’re here to answer some frequently asked questions.

DR. KOO, HOW COMMON IS PROSTATE CANCER?

Unfortunately, prostate cancer is very common and affects roughly 1 in 8 men, that’s why early screening and detection is so important. 

DR. KOO, WHAT SHOULD MEN KNOW ABOUT SCREENING?

The screening is performed using a simple blood test called PSA, prostate specific antigen. It's been used for decades to detect disease early, so you maximize your chances for the best outcomes, including cure. So, I recommend speaking to your doctor about getting this test when appropriate. 

DR. KOO, FOR MEN HEARING ABOUT PSMA FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

PSMA is a biomarker that can be imaged using PET to determine if the prostate cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, which is vital to determining your next steps for care. 

DR. KOO, WHY DOES PSMA MATTER IN PROSTATE CANCER?

PSMA is so important with regards to detecting disease and also determining the appropriate treatments that patients should receive down the road. The good news is over 80 to 90% of prostate cancer patients express that biomarker, which allows us to again determine the appropriate therapies at the right time. 

BILL, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU FIRST LEARNED ABOUT PSMA?

I would tell you that I'm always been a person that should take charge, and one of the things I did right after I was diagnosed 18 years ago with prostate cancer was seek knowledge, and as I looked for more and more information, I came across this listing about PSMA, and I took that to my doctor, and we decided that that would be a great course of action in our attack plan to this disease.

BILL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH PSMA TESTING?

Once I found out exactly what it was, I was very, very excited, because it helped me understand truly where I am in this journey and the status of our based on the PSMA results, and knew it was going to give me a leg up on moving forward with treatments.

BILL, WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PSMA SCAN RESULTS?

The first thing we did was get together with my oncologist, and we examined, you know, all the results and crafted a plan of action, because taking a look at the choices, I've never been a passive participant in this process, I always take that the active role because information is power, and when you ask the questions and insist upon getting the right answers you want until you do get them is key to your success

DR. KOO, HOW CAN PATIENTS AND DOCTORS WORK TOGETHER WHEN DECIDING IF THE PSMA TEST IS RIGHT FOR THEM?

First off, patients need to speak up, and they also need to be heard, and in order to accomplish this, patients need to go out and learn as much about this as possible, because that'll allow them to feel empowered to have those conversations, because knowing your PSMA status is vitally important to your cancer care. 

DR. KOO, WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PSMA?

Patients can go to GetYourScan.com to learn all you need to know about the PSMA scan. And also how to advocate for this important test for your care.

(Gilead and Kite Oncology) - Vanessa had a plan. As a travel nurse from Memphis, Tennessee, she was working across the country, building her career and saving up to buy a home. She had mapped out her next steps and was looking ahead to a future she worked hard to create. 

Then, everything changed. 

Vanessa was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. The diagnosis forced her to put her life on hold and shift her focus entirely to treatment.

Hearing the words “you have cancer” changed everything for Vanessa, but also her family. 

Even as a nurse, Vanessa found herself navigating unfamiliar territory. 

“I’ve taken care of patients my whole life,” she says. “But I didn’t really know what breast cancer truly entailed.”

Treatment began quickly. In the months that followed, Vanessa bravely navigated the uncertainty and emotional toll of breast cancer. 

Then came the news that every cancer patient dreads: the cancer had spread, and Vanessa was now facing metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. 

“When I found out I had metastatic breast cancer, it was just an awful feeling to know you have to go through treatment again,” she says.

Triple-negative breast cancer tends to grow and spread more quickly than many other breast cancer types. For about half of women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, their first treatment might be their only opportunity to keep the cancer from growing, making it critical to choose the best option on day one.

Triple-negative breast cancer also occurs more often in younger women, and it appears at higher rates in Black and Hispanic women than other breast cancer subtypes. For these communities, access to the latest education isn’t just helpful—it’s a matter of survival.

Like many people living with metastatic breast cancer, Vanessa wanted to clearly understand her treatment options and what questions she should be asking her doctor. She quickly learned that metastatic triple-negative breast cancer treatment options have historically been limited to chemotherapy-based therapy, which impacts cancer cells more than normal cells, so they then tend to take up more of the chemotherapy. 

Her doctor suggested a clinical trial for a newer class of medicine called antibody-drug conjugates, more commonly known as ADCs. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, ADCs are designed to find specific markers and deliver medicines more directly to cancer cells.

Until recently, ADCs were used later in treatment, after other options had been tried. Now, patients may be able to receive an ADC as their first treatment after a metastatic triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. 

Innovations, like ADCs, have already made a difference for many people living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by helping to keep cancer from growing. For Vanessa, that means being able to better plan ahead, knowing her good days and her bad days —whether that’s the next girls’ trip or time with her family.

However, not all ADCs are the same. Safety and efficacy can vary for each ADC.   

While not every patient will be eligible, understanding when they may be considered and how treatment can impact daily life can help patients feel more informed when discussing treatment options with their care team.

“When selecting treatment, it’s important to consider patients’ goals, wishes and needs so that we can try to realistically plan around those,” says Vanessa’s medical oncologist, Dr. Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research at West Cancer Center and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “All patients are different and may qualify for different ADCs.”

Dr. Vidal encourages patients to feel empowered to have open conversations with their care team and ask questions, such as what treatment goals make the most sense at their stage of care. 

Every person’s experience is different, but many people living with metastatic breast cancer remain on treatment for life, with the goal of helping manage disease and slow progression while maintaining quality of life.

While the physical and emotional impact of treatment could be difficult at times, Vanessa kept going. She leaned on her close friends and family to help her keep “faith over fear” by focusing on the positives and planning outings around her treatments.

Vanessa encourages others living with metastatic breast cancer to stay positive, ask questions and advocate for themselves during treatment conversations.

“You definitely have a fight in front of you, but you can get through this.” Vanessa says. “You have to do your research and get answers.”

To see how Vanessa and others living with metastatic breast cancer navigate ADC treatment for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, visit Expose-MBC.com/ADC.

 

GILEAD is a trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.KITE is a trademark of Kite Pharma, Inc.All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

(NewsUSA) - It's no secret that kids today are struggling with mental health. Heightened academic pressure, the stress of growing up, family dynamics and lack of social connection all play a role, alongside the overuse of phones and devices. 

Young people and parents alike need – and have been asking for – practical, comprehensive solutions designed to help kids thrive in today's fast-paced, increasingly online world. This week's landmark agreement between the states and Meta is incredibly important because it offers new protections for teens and expanded tools for parents. The agreement is meaningful progress for families and should serve as the model for the entire industry.  

The safeguards for young people in the agreement represent important components of a comprehensive approach to youth wellbeing. For example, time limits will help ensure that young people are not overexposed to social media and instead are spending more time on activities like after-school sports, clubs and other extracurriculars. Prohibiting message alerts during school hours and overnight will help kids maintain focus in the classroom and protect their uninterrupted sleep. Teenagers and parents will also have the option to turn off "autoplay" and algorithmic recommendations in teens' feeds, and likes will automatically be hidden, which will help reduce anxiety. Taken together, these changes will make a real difference in broader efforts to protect kids online. 

We all know that social media usage is complex, however. According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of teens use YouTube, 68 percent use TikTok, 63 percent use Instagram and 31 percent use Facebook. Twenty-one percent report using TikTok almost constantly; 17 percent say the same about YouTube. And this doesn't even account for other platforms like Discord, Reddit, Roblox and Snapchat. 

While a real and meaningful step forward, the reforms reached between the states and Meta still require others to join; otherwise, kids will simply migrate to the apps with the fewest safeguards. That is why my organization is calling on all other social media platforms where young people spend their time to adopt similar safeguards. 

That fact is, parents are hungry for tools and support that contribute to safe, sensible use of technology. The Coalition to Empower our Future's latest survey found that more than eight-in-10 voters and nearly nine-in-10 parents agree that young people should be taught how to use emerging technologies safely and responsibly. Across the board, there is support for a wide range of solutions to increase digital literacy, including solutions such as online safety lessons for students (84 percent); digital wellness guides for parents (85 percent); and media literacy training programs for teachers (87 percent). 

There is still much more work to be done to meet the youth mental health and wellbeing challenge. That includes investing in mental healthcare, normalizing conversations about mental health, teaching digital literacy in the classroom, increasing opportunities for after-school programs and cultivating third spaces where young people can build connections. But this week's agreement opens the door to expanding the adoption of important safeguards across social media. 

It is essential that we build on this momentum and continue our work toward a comprehensive approach to youth wellbeing. There is no higher priority than protecting kids and helping them thrive in the modern world. 

Glen Weiner is Executive Director of Coalition to Empower our Future, an organization dedicated to convening a comprehensive conversation on the state of youth mental health.