Two years ago, in 2023, it came as a shock for fans to learn that veteran actress Sharmila Tagore was battling cancer. She was diagnosed with lung cancer, but at stage zero. Recently, her daughter Soha Ali Khan opened up about the experience of her mother being diagnosed early on and how it helped her in treatment and recovery.

In an interaction with Nayandeep Rakshit, she said, "With my mother, she was one of the very few people to be diagnosed with lung cancer at stage zero, and no chemotherapy, nothing. It was cut out of her and she is, touchwood, fine."

The first time the conversation about this was made publicly was during Sharmila's appearance on Koffee with Karan. Host Karan Johar had said, "I would offered Sharmila ji the part played by Shabana ji. She was my very first choice. But because of health reasons at that time, she couldn't say yes." To this, Sharmila responded, "After my cancer...they didn't want me to take that risk."

What Is Stage Zero Lung Cancer?

As per the American Lung Association, Stage Zero is an early-stage lung cancer that is only in the top lining of the lung or bronchus and has not yet spread.

Why Is Staging So Important?

The American Lung Association notes that once your specific type of lung cancer has been identified, the next crucial step in the journey from diagnosis to treatment is staging. This process determines how far the cancer has spread and helps your care team design the most effective treatment plan for you.

To assign a cancer stage, doctors use a combination of imaging tests—such as CT scans and PET scans—and tissue tests like biopsies. These provide a comprehensive view of the cancer’s location and extent.

Staging does more than guide treatment—it also offers insight into your overall prognosis, or likely course of the disease. By looking at data from other patients with the same type and stage of lung cancer, doctors can estimate outcomes. However, it’s important to remember that each case is unique, and no doctor can predict exactly how your cancer will respond to treatment or determine your life expectancy with certainty.

The staging process can vary depending on the individual case. Generally, it starts before treatment begins, based on the results of imaging and biopsy tests. This is called the clinical stage.

For some patients, doctors recommend pre-treatment intranodal staging—also known as invasive nodal staging or intrathoracic staging. This involves examining the lymph nodes in the chest to see if cancer has spread there. Understanding this early can be especially important if the cancer hasn’t yet reached other organs, as it helps doctors determine the full extent of the disease and tailor the treatment accordingly.

Pre-treatment intranodal staging is best done before therapy begins and can sometimes alter the clinical stage based on more detailed information. Two procedures commonly used for this are:

EBUS-TBNA (Endobronchial Ultrasound with Transbronchial Needle Aspiration): A minimally invasive test that uses a bronchoscope and a needle to collect tissue or fluid samples from chest lymph nodes.

Mediastinoscopy: A surgical procedure that allows doctors to examine and take samples from the mediastinum—the space behind the breastbone between the lungs.

If a patient undergoes surgery as their first treatment, doctors may assign a pathological stage afterward. This combines the clinical stage with findings from the surgery itself, often providing a more accurate picture of the disease and informing future treatment steps.

If the cancer returns after treatment, it will be restaged, often using the same types of tests that were done during the initial diagnosis.

What Determines Lung Cancer Stage?

Lung cancer staging is based on three main criteria, commonly referred to as the TNM system:

T (Tumor): Size of the tumor and its exact location in the lung.

N (Nodes): Whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, especially in the chest.

M (Metastasis): Whether the cancer has spread to other organs in the body.

Each of these components is assigned a value, which is then used to determine the overall stage of the cancer. This system helps guide treatment decisions and gives patients and caregivers a better understanding of the disease.

That sudden tightness after washing your face, the redness that won’t calm down, or the stinging from a product you’ve used for years—those aren’t just random flare-ups. They’re signals. Quiet, persistent warnings from your skin barrier, your body’s frontline defense system.

Most people don’t even realize they’ve been slowly breaking it down. From over-cleansing to layering too many actives, modern skincare trends often leave the barrier confused, stripped, and vulnerable. But the good news? This protective layer is also incredibly responsive. When you treat it right, it bounces back—stronger, smoother, and more resilient than before.

“The skin barrier is your body’s natural shield, protecting against pollution, bacteria, and moisture loss,” says dermatologist Dr. Rupika Singh. “When it’s healthy, your skin looks and feels balanced. But when it’s damaged—often due to over-cleansing, too many actives, or skipping moisturizer—your skin can become dry, red, sensitive, or breakout-prone.”

What Is The Skin Barrier?

Your skin barrier lives in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of your skin, and it functions much like a brick wall. The "bricks" are made up of dead skin cells, while the "mortar" that holds them together consists of lipids—specifically fatty acids, ceramides, and cholesterol. These lipids are essential for maintaining the skin’s structure and integrity. Inside the cells, Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs) act like water magnets, pulling in and retaining moisture to keep the skin hydrated. This highly organized system isn’t just for structure—it plays a crucial role in protection.

A healthy barrier keeps out irritants, allergens, bacteria, and pollution, while locking in hydration and essential nutrients. When functioning properly, your skin feels smooth, resilient, and balanced. But when this barrier is compromised, your skin quickly begins to send warning signs like dryness, tightness, redness, or increased sensitivity.

How to Know If Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged?

Here’s the tricky part, the first clue your barrier is under stress might be subtle—just a little dehydration. But if ignored, this can spiral into:

• Persistent dryness and flakiness
• Tightness after cleansing
• Redness or inflammation
• Breakouts or rough texture
• Increased sensitivity to your go-to products

“Your skin doesn’t need more products—just smarter ones,” says Dr. Singh. “A resilient barrier means fewer flare-ups, faster recovery, and that healthy, glowing texture we’re all after.”

What Damaged Skin Barrier Looks Like?

While environmental stressors like UV radiation, air pollution, and extreme weather are well-known culprits in weakening the skin barrier, the real damage often begins much closer to home—right at your bathroom sink. Daily skincare habits, when not done mindfully, can erode your skin’s natural defenses over time.

Over-exfoliating, for instance, strips away protective oils that are essential for barrier function. Using harsh cleansers can disrupt your skin’s natural pH, making it more vulnerable to irritants. Skipping moisturizer allows precious water to escape through transepidermal water loss, leaving your skin dry and more prone to damage. Overusing potent actives like retinol, AHAs, or BHAs may seem like a fast track to glowing skin, but they can actually compromise healthy cell turnover if not balanced properly. Even less obvious factors—like emotional stress or lack of sleep—can trigger inflammation that silently breaks down your barrier from within.

How Long Does It Take to Repair Your Skin Barrier?

A healthy skin cycle typically lasts about 28 days, so with proper care, most skin barrier issues can start to improve within 2 to 4 weeks. That said, even a few days of barrier-friendly habits can bring relief from tightness and irritation but consistency is key. Think of barrier repair like physical rehab—it requires patience, the right tools, and a slow, methodical approach.

Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Protective Skin Barrier

1. Simplify and Reset

Dr. Singh advises starting by scaling back:

“The first step toward healing? Simplify your routine. Switch to a gentle, hydrating cleanser and reduce exfoliation to once or twice a week. Give your skin a break from strong actives like retinol or acids until it feels calmer.”

Stick to essentials: a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Once your skin stabilizes, you can slowly reintroduce actives.

2. Cleanse Gently

Use cleansers with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, which match your skin’s natural acidity. Cream and oil-based formulas tend to be less disruptive than foam cleansers. Always wash with lukewarm water and pat dry instead of rubbing.

3. Hydrate and Moisturize in Layers

Hydration is about more than just applying moisturizer. Start with a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin. While skin is still damp, apply a nourishing moisturizer with barrier-building ingredients like:

• Ceramides
• Niacinamide
• Panthenol
• Squalane

Dr. Singh emphasizes, “A nourishing moisturizer, applied twice a day, helps restore hydration and comfort.”

4. Don't Skip Sunscreen—Ever

Even mild sun exposure silently chips away at your skin’s barrier integrity. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher helps prevent this, while antioxidants like vitamin C or E add an extra layer of defense against environmental stressors.

When your barrier is strong, your skin naturally fends off signs of premature aging, inflammation, and sensitivity. But when it’s weak?

• You’re more vulnerable to fine lines and wrinkles
• Inflammation triggers uneven skin tone
• Hydration loss makes skin look dull and tired

In other words, barrier health is the foundation of all good skincare. You can’t glow if your skin is busy trying to protect itself from further harm.

Most skin barrier issues are reversible. But you need to stay tuned in. If your skin suddenly feels off, flaky, or reacts to a product you’ve used for years, that’s your cue to reassess and recalibrate.

“So the next time your skin feels off, take it as a sign to slow down and tune in,” says Dr. Singh. “Often, what your skin really needs is less stress and more support—and that starts with protecting your barrier.”

Much like your gut or your immune system, your skin barrier is a living, breathing part of your health. Respect it, support it, and respond when it speaks up.

With a few thoughtful changes and a barrier-first mindset, you can transform not just how your skin looks, but how it behaves—resilient, calm, and confident in the face of whatever the world throws at it.

Dr. Rupika Singh is a Dermatologist and Founder at Akiya Aesthetics in India

Plastic is everywhere. On mountaintops, in oceans, inside our bodies, and according to a new expert review published in The Lancet, it is silently wreaking havoc on human health from the womb to old age.

The review, first reported by The Guardian, calls the global surge in plastic production and pollution a full-blown “plastics crisis,” attributing at least $1.5 trillion a year in health-related damages to it.

The problem isn't just environmental, it’s deeply human.

The report warns of long-term consequences, ranging from infertility and birth defects to heart attacks and strokes. Vulnerable groups, especially infants and children, bear the brunt of the burden. “The impacts fall most heavily on vulnerable populations,” said Prof. Philip Landrigan, a paediatrician and epidemiologist at Boston College in the US, and the report’s lead author. “It is incumbent on us to act in response.”

A Rapidly Escalating Threat

Plastic production has skyrocketed, by more than 200 times since 1950, and if current trends continue, it's expected to almost triple again by 2060, exceeding one billion tonnes annually. While plastics have undeniable value in medicine and technology, the most explosive growth has been in single-use items: plastic bottles, food packaging, and disposable cutlery. These are the very things that crowd our landfills, rivers, and oceans.

Less than 10% of all plastic is recycled. The rest? It seeps into every corner of our ecosystem—from the deepest ocean trench to the peak of Mount Everest. In total, an estimated 8 billion tonnes of plastic waste now pollute the planet.

Harm at Every Stage: From Extraction to Disposal

What makes this crisis uniquely harmful is that plastics pose risks at every stage of their life cycle. They're derived almost entirely from fossil fuels: oil, gas, and coal, whose extraction and processing pollute air and water and fuel the climate crisis. Manufacturing plastic releases about 2 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, more than Russia's total emissions.

Once produced, plastics expose people to thousands of chemicals, over 16,000, including flame retardants, fillers, and stabilizers. Many are toxic, and worryingly, many more haven’t even been fully studied. The lack of transparency from manufacturers makes it difficult to know exactly what we’re being exposed to.

As plastics degrade, they break down into micro- and nano-plastics, minuscule particles that can infiltrate nearly every organ of the human body. These particles have been detected in blood, placentas, breast milk, semen, and even brain tissue. Though long-term health effects are still being researched, early links suggest increased risks of strokes, heart attacks, and cancer.

A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

In many ways, plastic has become too familiar to question. Its pervasiveness masks its cost. While it's often treated as a cheap material, the true cost, once health impacts are accounted for, is staggering. The report notes that just three plastic chemicals (PBDE, BPA, and DEHP) are responsible for $1.5 trillion in damages annually across 38 countries.

The danger also extends to the environment in unexpected ways. Discarded plastics become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, potentially accelerating the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria.

A Turning Point: Can the World Act?

This latest report comes ahead of the sixth and likely final round of UN treaty negotiations aimed at creating a legally binding global agreement to address the plastics crisis. Over 100 countries support capping plastic production, while petrostates, particularly Saudi Arabia, and powerful industry lobbyists are pushing back, insisting that the focus should be on recycling, reported the Guardian.

But the report is clear: "The world cannot recycle its way out of the plastic pollution crisis."

Margaret Spring, a co-author and senior legal expert, said this analysis marks the beginning of a series of reports that will track plastic’s impact on human and planetary health. “These reports will offer decision-makers a robust and independent data source,” she said, “to inform the development of effective policies.”

As the world waits for action, the message from the medical and scientific community is becoming increasingly urgent: we cannot afford to ignore the cost of plastic any longer.

If you're planning or experiencing the emotional and physical rollercoaster of IVF while living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) you're not overthinking about the added complexity. While IVF is often painted as the silver bullet for infertility, women with PCOS quickly discover that one-size-fits-all protocols often fall short for them. The diagnosis of PCOS introduces a unique set of biological challenges that can’t be managed with standard IVF plans.

So, what makes IVF more complicated for people with PCOS? And how can treatments be tailored to fit these more complex bodies? We asked three top fertility specialists to break it down—and their answers underscore the importance of a highly personalized approach.

"Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is especially difficult to manage with IVF due to its combination of endocrine disturbance, insulin resistance, and a diffuse number of antral follicles," says Dr. Nishi Singh, Head of Fertility at Prime IVF.

According to Dr. Singh, women with PCOS often show an increased ovarian reserve, which may sound like a good thing. But in reality, it sets the stage for them to become hyper-responders—women who react too strongly to standard IVF stimulation, putting them at risk for Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

To mitigate these risks, Dr. Singh relies on individualized ovarian stimulation using low-dose therapy and GnRH antagonist protocols. “Oocyte quality is also an issue in PCOS. Although numerous eggs can be retrieved, they may have less developmental potential,” she notes. For this reason, the dosage must be carefully calculated to avoid overstimulation while still supporting optimal outcomes.

But it’s not just about the medication. “Successful IVF in PCOS goes beyond medical management,” Dr. Singh emphasizes. “Therapy would necessitate an approach that includes a lifestyle reaching a peak of metabolic health.”

That includes weight control, lifestyle modifications, insulin-sensitizing agents, and targeted supplements—all of which can improve ovulatory function and egg quality. Dr. Singh stresses that personalized care must be embedded in every stage of the IVF cycle, from initial stimulation to embryo freezing.

“If done with accuracy, IVF in PCOS patients is not a limitation but a promise,” she concludes. “The solution is individualized, regulatory, and based on individualistic knowledge of each patient's reproductive plan.”

Balancing High Ovarian Reserve, Low Egg Quality for Women with PCOS

Dr. Kaberi Banerjee, Founder and Medical Director of Advance Fertility & Gynecology Centre, agrees that PCOS requires a meticulous and integrated approach. "PCOS presents a special challenge in reproductive medicine since its impact on ovarian function is multidimensional," she says.

She explains that while high ovarian reserve is common in PCOS, as indicated by higher AMH and antral follicle counts, the quality of those eggs can be subpar. "Ovulation can be irregular or even cease to occur. Even mild stimulation can bring about an exaggerated ovarian response, increasing the risk of OHSS," she notes.

To counter this, Dr. Banerjee emphasizes pre-treatment optimization. Addressing insulin resistance, hormonal imbalances, and weight management before starting IVF can greatly improve results. She recommends lifestyle adjustments such as low glycemic diets, moderate physical activity, and supplements like inositols and CoQ10. Metformin also plays a central role in managing insulin resistance and improving ovarian response.

Her go-to strategy during IVF includes starting with low-dose gonadotropins, using GnRH antagonist protocols, and employing GnRH agonist triggers. “In high responders, we commonly follow a ‘freeze-all’ policy to prevent compromising endometrial receptivity,” she explains.

For younger PCOS patients, early preconception counseling and ovulation monitoring are vital. “First-line therapy such as letrozole, usually taken in combination with metformin, is very effective,” she says. And if that doesn’t work? IVF with a tailored approach is the next logical step.

“Achievement in treating PCOS-related infertility is a harmonious, evidence-based measure that benefits safety and long-term reproductive health,” Dr. Banerjee concludes.

What is The Role of Insulin, Hormones And Weight in IVF Success?

"The management of PCOS and IVF requires an extremely individualized approach," says Dr Shweta Mishra, Gynecologist and Obstetrician at Trulife Family Health Clinic in Ghaziabad, underscores the need for ultra-personalized care.

Dr. Mishra points out that PCOS affects nearly 70–80% of women with insulin resistance and presents with high antral follicle counts—often exceeding 24 per ovary. This makes conventional stimulation protocols not just ineffective but risky. “PCOS women may have a normal ovarian reserve but are susceptible to hyperstimulation,” she says. That means patient-specific regimens like low-dose stimulation and GnRH antagonist protocols are non-negotiable.

Egg quality is another critical piece of the puzzle. “Although numerous eggs can be retrieved from PCOS patients, the developmental potential of those eggs may be compromised,” she warns. Improving egg quality involves not just medication but also addressing hormonal balance through weight management, insulin sensitization, and supplements. “Enhancement of metabolism is critically important for success in IVF,” she adds.

Her message to younger women is clear: early diagnosis and a comprehensive plan can make all the difference. “PCOS need not be viewed as a disadvantage. It is an aspect that needs caution. Success rates significantly increase when IVF is treated with a personalized, specifically designed method.”

Does PCOS Make IVF More Complicated?

Yes, but it also opens the door to more personalized, effective treatments. As all three experts make clear, success with IVF and PCOS isn’t about pushing harder or using more medications. It’s about understanding the body’s unique biochemistry and crafting a treatment plan that respects its complexity.

IVF in the context of PCOS demands more than a protocol—it demands a philosophy of care rooted in customization, evidence-based medicine, and long-term reproductive health. And when that’s done right, PCOS isn’t a limitation. It’s a roadmap to smarter fertility care.

Before beginning any IVF treatment, consult a fertility specialist who understands the nuances of PCOS. The road may be more complex, but with the right plan, it can also lead to lasting success.