Women who skip their first breast cancer screening appointment face a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal.

The findings come from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where experts analyzed the long-term health outcomes of nearly half a million women. All participants received their first screening invitation between 1991 and 2020, with researchers tracking them for up to 25 years.

1 in 3 Women Missed Their First Appointment

The study revealed that almost a third (32%) of women did not attend their first mammogram appointment. This early absence had far-reaching consequences.

Data showed that women who missed their initial screening had 9.9 breast cancer deaths per 1,000 over 25 years, compared with seven deaths per 1,000 among those who attended. Importantly, the overall rate of breast cancer diagnosis was similar across both groups, suggesting that the increased mortality was due to delayed detection rather than more frequent disease.

Researchers concluded that early non-attendance not only raised the risk of late-stage diagnosis but also set a pattern, these women were less likely to attend subsequent screenings, further compounding the risk.

Why the First Screening Matters

The team behind the study emphasized that missing the very first appointment has long-lasting implications. “First screening non-participants had a 40% higher breast cancer mortality risk than participants, persisting over 25 years,” the researchers noted.

They suggested that early screening behaviour could serve as a predictive marker for identifying populations at higher risk of late-stage disease. Detecting such patterns decades in advance could help public health systems intervene earlier.

An editorial published alongside the study, written by US researchers, reinforced this point. They described the first screening as “far more than a short-term health check.” Even if no issues are detected, simply attending provides valuable information, reassurance, and guidance on what symptoms to look out for—essentially a long-term investment in breast health.

Current Breast Screening Uptake

Breast screening guidelines vary worldwide. In England, women are typically invited from age 50 until 71, with the first invitation arriving by age 53.

Latest NHS data shows that as of March 2024, around 70% of eligible women were up to date with screening. This means nearly one in three were not, a figure mirroring the Swedish study’s finding.

Claire Rowney, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, described the numbers as “worryingly high” and called for urgent action to make screening more accessible and appealing. The charity has urged governments across the UK to push for an 80% uptake target, arguing that early diagnosis saves lives.

Broader Global Cancer Trends

The Swedish research comes against the backdrop of a projected surge in global cancer cases. A separate study published in The Lancet estimated that annual cancer deaths will rise by nearly 75%, from current levels to 18.6 million by 2050.

New cases are expected to jump 61% over the next 25 years, reaching 30.5 million annually. Much of this increase is attributed to population growth and ageing. However, lifestyle factors remain significant: around 42% of cancer deaths are linked to modifiable risks such as smoking, poor diet, high blood sugar, and toxin exposure.

Advances in Cancer Research Offer Hope

Amid these sobering statistics, researchers continue to make progress on potential breakthroughs. In a separate development, scientists have identified a protein target that could help stop the spread of pancreatic cancer.

The research, published in Nature, focused on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and aggressive form of the disease. Scientists discovered that blocking a protein called SPP1 could prevent the cancer from spreading and extend survival time.

According to experts at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, the next step will be to develop drugs that can precisely target SPP1, raising hopes of more effective treatment options in the future.

Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has raised concerns across India and in parts of Asia, triggering screenings at airports. India's Ministry of Health clarified on Tuesday that "speculative and incorrect figures regarding Nipah Virus Disease cases are being circulated in certain sections of the media”. This statement was regarding the higher number of cases reported by the media in Kolkata hospital. The statement stressed on the fact that only two cases have been centrally confirmed in West Bengal since December.

Nipah Virus Outbreak India: Can This Infection Become The Next Pandemic?

Many are worried about the Nipah virus outbreak and are speculating whether this could spread to an extent that it could become the next pandemic. Dr T.S. Anish, professor of community medicine and nodal officer for Nipah at the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience, as reported by South China Morning Post, said health authorities closely monitor all suspected Nipah cases to make sure no infections are missed. However, he explained that most people who are tested eventually turn out to be negative.

“Out of 100 suspected cases, almost all are usually negative,” he said. He added that tracing every contact of a Nipah patient is difficult, so there is always a chance that a case may appear outside the known contact list. Still, he believes the current outbreak is likely to remain small, affecting fewer than 10 people.

Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak in India, Travelers Screened At Airports

Nipah virus mainly circulates among animals, especially fruit bats, across large parts of Asia. Human outbreaks, however, tend to be limited to specific areas. In South Asia, cases have appeared off and on in Bangladesh and India over the past 20 years, mostly between December and April. Many infections have been linked to people drinking raw date palm sap contaminated by bats.

Kerala has reported Nipah cases occasionally in recent years, including 19 cases in 2019 and six in 2023.

Some medical experts say large outbreaks usually happen only when there are early super-spreader events and continuous person-to-person transmission. That appears unlikely now, as enough time has passed since the cases in West Bengal were identified.

Amir Ullah Khan, professor of health economics at Manipal University, said the timing of the cases raised concern because it coincided with preparations for Lunar New Year travel across Asia. However, he said widespread screening at airports should help prevent the virus from spreading further.

Also Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: All That You Need To Know About This Infection

“If airports continue proper screening, there should not be a major risk of a wider outbreak,” he said, adding that precautions should continue without causing the kind of discomfort passengers experienced during the Covid pandemic.

Nipah Virus Outbreak: Travel Restrictions

After two cases were reported in India's West Bengal, concerns have sparked in many parts of Asia, and measures at airports have been tightened.

• Thailand has begun screening passengers at three airports that handle flights from West Bengal.
• Nepal has also stepped up checks, screening arrivals at Kathmandu airport as well as at several land border crossings with India.

Nipah virus spreads from animals to humans and carries a high fatality rate, estimated to be between 40 percent and 75 per cent. At present, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the infection.

Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal has raised concerns in parts of Asia. This has also led some airports to implement precautionary health screenings. As of now, five infections have been reported from the state, including two nurses, a doctor, hospital staff and some patient. According to India's health ministry, 196 people are known to be in contact with the infected individuals, however, when tested, the results came out negative.

Nipah Virus Outbreak India: How Contagious Is This Disease?

Nipah virus is infectious and can spread from animals like bats and pigs to humans through bodily fluids or contaminated food. It can also pass between people through close contact, especially in caregiving settings. While it can spread via respiratory droplets in enclosed spaces, it is not considered highly airborne and usually requires close, prolonged contact for transmission. Common routes include direct exposure to infected animals or their fluids, consuming contaminated fruits or date palm sap, and contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, urine, or blood from an infected person.

Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak in India, Travelers Screened At Airports

People most at risk of Nipah virus are those who are more likely to come into close contact with infected animals or patients. This includes:

• Healthcare workers caring for Nipah patients, especially without proper protective equipment
• Family members and caregivers who have close physical contact with infected individuals
• People living near bat habitats, particularly fruit bat roosting areas
• Those who consume contaminated food, such as raw date palm sap or fruits partially eaten by bats
• Farmers, animal handlers, and slaughterhouse workers who work with pigs or other animals that can carry the virus
• Residents of outbreak-prone regions in India and Bangladesh, where Nipah cases recur
• People with weak immunity, who may develop more severe illness after infection
• Close, prolonged contact is the biggest risk factor. Casual contact in public spaces is far less likely to spread the virus.

What Is Nipah Virus?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people.

Also Read: Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: How Did It All Begin?

Nipah Virus Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• Breathing difficulties
• Cough and sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain and severe weakness

Nipah Virus Outbreak: Origin

The original infection was first identified in September 1998 in Perak, Malaysia, which was followed by second and third clusters in the state of Negri Sembilan, notes a 2021 study that tracks the evolution of the virus. The cases were prominent in adult men who were in contact with swine. By March 1999, a cluster of 11 similar cases were identified in Singapore, mostly common in slaughterhouse workers, who were in contact with pigs imported from Malaysia.

Then appeared a new, distinct strain of Nipah virus with infection which was characterized largely by severe respiratory symptoms. In 2000-2001, Bangladesh and India were affected.

It was later revealed that due to the consumption of raw date palm juice, the infection developed. This is because bats also are carrier of the virus and they may bite into raw fruits or lick them, and consuming juice from such fruits could spread the infection. This was a common practice in Bangladesh and much of South Asia.

Donald Trump's niece has suggested her uncle may be showing signs of Alzheimer's disease after noticing a concerning facial expression. Mary Trump, a well-known critic of her uncle who frequently speaks about him on her YouTube channel, has implied that he could have the degenerative condition, noting similarities to her late grandfather, who also suffered from Alzheimer's.

Donald Trump's Niece Says He May Have Alzheimer's

As per UK Express, Mary highlighted that she has seen resemblances to Fred Trump, Donald's late father and former real estate magnate, who battled Alzheimer’s before passing away more than 25 years ago in 1999 at the age of 93. Speaking last year, Mary recounted witnessing her grandfather’s decline and suggested that Donald sometimes doesn’t seem “oriented,” pointing to a particular look. Talking about her grandfather, she told New York Magazine: "One of the first times I noticed it was at some event where he was being honored. And I looked at him and saw this deer-in-the-headlights look, like he had no idea where he was."

In further remarks, Mary said she now notices what the publication described as “flashes” of her grandfather in her uncle when she sees him on stage, pointing out the same “deer-in-the-headlights” expression.

She added: "Sometimes it does not seem like he's aware of time or place. And on occasion, I do see that deer-in-the-headlights look."

Donald Trump Rejects Alzheimer’s Claim

Meanwhile, the former US President has rejected such claims, previously stating that he “aced” three cognitive tests and insisting there is no possibility of him having Alzheimer's disease.

In a conversation with the magazine, Trump also reflected on his father’s diagnosis: "He had one problem. At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting what do they call it?"

His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, supplied the term for Trump, who referred to it as an “Alzheimer’s thing,” asserting that he did not “have it.” The health of the 79-year-old has been the subject of much public speculation recently, with observers noting bruises on his hands, what appear to be swollen ankles, and rambling speech.

However, in October last year, reports indicated that Trump had undergone a “routine yearly checkup” at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

His physician, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, stated in a one-page note: "President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and physical performance."

What Is Alzheimer’s?

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a term used to describe a group of symptoms linked to progressive brain function decline. Memory problems are often one of the earliest signs, but as Alzheimer’s progresses, people may experience confusion, disorientation, difficulty with language and speech, and changes in behavior.

What Health Condition Has Trump Been Diagnosed With?

Earlier this year, the White House revealed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common vascular condition in which veins in the legs struggle to return blood efficiently to the heart. This disorder can result in swelling and discomfort in the legs.

On October 10, Trump made another visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, described it as a “routine annual check-up,” despite it being his second visit to the facility in six months. Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, did not disclose details of any imaging or preventive tests conducted during the appointment but stated that Trump’s lab results were “exceptional” and his cardiac health appeared about 14 years younger than his chronological age.

On October 27, Trump mentioned that he had an MRI scan during a previous visit to Walter Reed. He claimed the results showed “some of the best reports for the age” and “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” though the lack of specifics has fueled continued speculation about his health.

Trump has also spoken about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a test designed to detect cognitive decline, but has described it as a “very difficult IQ test.” It is unclear whether another MoCA test was conducted during his October visit or if he was referencing the assessments he undertook in April 2025 or January 2018.