(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.

(Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies) - Over the past few months, you may have come across advertisements online or on social media for a new weight loss drug called retatrutide, also commonly referred to as “Reta” or “GLP-3.” Despite savvy marketing and “personal testimonials,” there is something critical consumers need to know: retatrutide is not FDA approved for human-use, and the companies selling it are operating illegally through unregulated channels. 

You Can’t Verify What’s in Illicit Retatrutide – Or Where It Even Came From 

Retatrutide is an investigational product still being studied in controlled clinical trials. It has not been approved by FDA or any regulatory body worldwide, meaning no one can sell it to consumers.

And yet, online sellers, telehealth providers, and compounders are using deceptive advertising to market illegal powders, vials and injectables that put consumers’ health at risk. Some label their products as “research-grade” to suggest legitimacy. Buyers should be aware that this label means it was manufactured strictly for lab experiments—not for human or even animal use. Others deploy scientific and medical language to create the impression that their products are safe and clinically validated. They are not—these products have never gone through clinical trials, let alone been found to be safe and effective. 

Given that sellers are operating illegally, consumers have no reliable way to verify where these products are coming from, how they were manufactured, or whether the dosage and ingredients match the label. Their products may be mislabeled, contaminated, incorrectly dosed or entirely different from what is being advertised. 

This creates serious patient safety concerns. Since the beginning of 2026, poison control center reports involving illegal retatrutide have increased 265 percent compared to the final four months of 2025. Retatrutide products sold online have been found to contain entirely different chemicals. Some patients have been hospitalized after taking black-market retatrutide, including several who were hospitalized after taking a potentially contaminated batch. 

Taking Control: How to Spot and Avoid Illegal Online Sellers 

As online marketplaces and wellness platforms multiply, it’s getting harder for consumers to tell safe and approved products from dangerous imitations. In fact, an ASOP Global Foundation  consumer survey found that 65 percent of Americans falsely believe all online pharmacies or health-service websites are reviewed or approved by FDA or state regulators, while 51 percent incorrectly believe only safe sellers appear on the first page of search results.

Before purchasing any medication online, take these steps to ensure you are protecting yourself from an illicit and unsafe product:

• Verify online pharmacies through trusted resources such as https://safe.pharmacy/ or http://www.legitscript.com/
• Avoid any website offering medicines without a prescription, especially unapproved drugs
• Get prescriptions from licensed healthcare providers

Patients should never have to wonder whether they are getting genuine medicine. Awareness is an important first line of defense, and consumers should also encourage platforms, regulators and policymakers to ensure that illegal sellers can’t hide behind search rankings, social media ads and polished websites.

Learn more at buysaferx.pharmacy.  

(Erika Braaksma ) - While World Lung Cancer Day was recognized on August 1, the urgent need to raise global awareness for those affected by the disease and to accelerate the search for a cure remains year-round. With this ongoing mission in mind, Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) are observing the month by awarding $200,000 to two of the field's most promising young scientists. This investment addresses a critical reality in oncology: too often, brilliant research ideas stall not because they lack vision, but because they lack resources. By providing this funding, LCFA and IASLC are ensuring these researchers have the momentum they need to turn today’s innovative ideas into tomorrow’s life-saving breakthroughs.

The two funded projects take aim at two of the toughest questions in the fight against the disease: how to catch lung cancer earlier, and how to stop it from outsmarting the very treatments designed to beat it. Both are essential to the same goal, helping patients live longer, better lives.

The Early Career Researcher (ECR) grant program gives emerging scientists the fuel they need to secure a major independent research award, which can be a launching pad for a career. These researchers aren't just studying the future of lung cancer science; they're building it.

This year's recipients, selected for the originality of their proposals and their potential to change patient outcomes, are Dr. Jared Mayers of Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Dr. Jaime L. Schneider of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The timing could not be more urgent. Competition for research dollars grows fiercer every year, even as lung cancer claims a life in the United States every 4.2 minutes. When bold, early career investigators are handed real, independent funding, their most innovative ideas don't stall on a shelf. They move forward, and they change what's possible in oncology.

"Supporting early-career investigators is not just a strategic priority. It is a necessity for the future of oncology," said Kim Norris, co-founder and president of LCFA. "By investing in these researchers, we are accelerating the pace of discovery and ensuring that promising ideas in metabolic tracking and drug resistance can move from the laboratory to the clinic, where they are needed most."

Dr. Jared Mayers, Fred Hutch Cancer Center: Hunting the hidden influencers inside the lung. Dr. Mayers is investigating how the naturally occurring bacteria living in our lungs may quietly shape the development of lung cancer. Because these bacteria exist in such tiny amounts, they've long been nearly impossible to study. So Dr. Mayers is building the tools to see them by developing highly sensitive new techniques to capture and analyze how these microbes behave inside lung tissue. By mapping how they contribute to cancer, his team hopes to uncover entirely new ways to stop the disease before it ever starts. 

Dr. Mayers says his inspiration is simple: "We don't get new drugs, we don't get new therapies, we don't get longer lives, better quality lives, more time with family unless we invest in the upfront groundwork.”

Dr. Jaime L. Schneider, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Cutting off cancer's escape route. Dr. Schneider is decoding how lung cancer cells learn to survive and keep growing even after treatment. Her focus: how these cells manage their energy and where that system has a weak link worth exploiting. Her goal is to design new, more effective therapies that keep cancer from adapting, offering better and longer-lasting options for patients whose disease has grown resistant to standard chemotherapy and targeted treatments.

 "I was simply blown away by the tremendous arsenal of new drugs that had just come out that were really changing patient lives," said Dr. Schneider, describing what drew her to thoracic oncology.

LCFA and IASLC invite the community to go behind the science with all of the LCFA/IASLC ECR grant recipients. Visit these researchers’ profiles and video insights into their lab work at LCFA’s Meet the Researcher.

LCFA’s Early Career Research Grant Program is known for a remarkable "multiplier effect" currently at 13X return on investment. By providing the first spark for transformative science, the program has awarded 25 grants totaling $4.6 million, funding that has since grown into more than $50 million in additional grants from other organizations building on LCFA-supported research. That track record means Dr. Mayers and Dr. Schneider aren't just receiving funding, they're gaining the foundation to secure the major, long-term support their life-saving work deserves.

This $400,000 investment underscores LCFA and IASLC’s ongoing commitment to accelerating the pace of discovery for patients everywhere. For more resources and information about lung cancer, visit lcfamerica.org.

(NewsUSA) - As millions of Americans turn to social media, online videos and AI-driven platforms for health information, the Health In Hand Foundation is launching a new resource to help consumers navigate an online environment where not everything they see is real. 

Health In Hand today released “How to Spot an AI-Generated Health Video,” providing practical, accessible guidance for evaluating health videos and claims before liking, sharing, following advice, or making a purchase. 

Why Evaluating Online Health Information Matters

The resource comes as Americans increasingly seek health information online. According to recent research, more than one-third of Americans get health information from social media and 1 in 5 use AI chatbots. At the same time, more than half of consumers say it has become difficult to know which sources to trust.

As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, some videos are designed to resemble healthcare professionals, medical experts, or trusted wellness influencers, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish credible information from misleading or fabricated claims.

The new Health In Hand resource is intended to support safer, more informed self-care decisions, encouraging consumers to pause and evaluate the information they encounter rather than relying solely on how professional or convincing a video appears. 

"Consumers today are navigating a health information environment unlike anything we've seen before. An AI-generated video can look professional, sound credible, and spread to millions of people within hours," said Mary Leonard, Executive Director of the Health In Hand Foundation. 

"Health In Hand is committed to helping consumers separate fact from fiction,” Leonard added. “Our goal is not to make people distrust everything they see online. It's to give them practical tools to ask the right questions, verify sources, and make informed self-care decisions with confidence for themselves and their families."

Think Before You Trust: Three Questions Every Consumer Should Ask

The tool starts with three simple questions consumers can use to evaluate online health content.

Does the video look or sound artificial? Strange blinking, unusual mouth movements, robotic speech, distorted background text, or visuals that appear unnaturally smooth can sometimes indicate AI-generated content. However, Health In Hand emphasizes that appearance alone is not enough to determine whether information is trustworthy.

Can you verify who is speaking? Consumers should look for a real name, professional credential, or organization and determine whether the person can be verified outside social media. A clinic, hospital, or professional organization website may provide useful confirmation.

What is the video trying to sell? Consumers should be cautious when a video promotes a miracle cure, unrealistic results, or a single urgent solution. Health claims should be compared with information from trusted health sources.

Five Red Flags That a Health Video Deserves a Second Look

Next, the tool highlights five red flags consumers should watch for. Among them are videos that look unnaturally perfect, with faces, voices or movements that seem slightly off despite polished production. Another warning sign is an apparent expert who relies on staged visual cues, such as a white coat, generic certificates, or vague titles, to create a sense of authority without providing verifiable credentials.

Consumers should also be cautious of health messages that promise a cure, suggest replacing a current medicine, or guarantee dramatic results with little or no evidence. Urgency is another potential red flag. Statements such as “limited time” or “act now,” particularly when paired with an immediate purchase link, can be pressure tactics rather than indicators of trustworthy health information.

Finally, consumers should take a closer look at dramatic before-and-after results. Claims involving rapid weight loss, instant improvements, or seemingly perfect transformations may be edited, exaggerated, or fabricated.

Helping Consumers Navigate the Future of Digital Health Information

As artificial intelligence continues to transform how health information is created, shared, and consumed, Health In Hand is expanding its efforts to help consumers evaluate what they see online and make safer, more informed self-care decisions for themselves and their families. 

The Foundation's new tool is part of its broader mission to provide trusted, evidence-based self-care education while helping consumers recognize and avoid misleading health claims online. The "How to Spot an AI-Generated Health Video" tool is available now at HealthInHand.org.