Imagine this. A young teenager, 17, years old, who is fully developed. Now imagine this, the same teenager has a fully developed extra set of limbs and a pelvis. That extra set of pair is attached with chest artery. But, how can this happen?

While it is extremely rare, and has a chance of less than one case occurring per 100,000 births. Such things do happen. This is called parasitic twin.

What Is A Parasitic Twin?

It is an extremely rare type of cojoined twin where a baby is born with an underdeveloped twin attached to its body. This condition is also known as vestigial twins. The condition is very closely related to conjoined twins, where babies are connected at birth and share organs. However, the main difference is that in conjoined twins, there are two developed babies, whereas in parasitic twins, only one is fully developed, other one is underdeveloped and non functional.

In such a case, the twin who is developed is medically known as the autositic or the dominant twin. The dominant twin is healthy in most aspect but may have extra tissue, organs, or limbs from the parasitic twin.

The parasitic twin may be attached with the dominant twin through several places. The common joints are at the head, torso, chest, pelvis, buttocks, or back. In these cases, the parasitic twin is not alive and they die either in the womb or during the childbirth.

Doctors Remove Parasitic Twin

Now, let's go back to the case we referred to, where a young teenager had an extra pair of limbs attached to chest. The teenager who has not been named is from Uttar Pradesh's Unnao neighbourhood, and was treated in AIIMS, Delhi. The team of doctors successfully removed the extra set of limbs from his body.

Dr Asuri Krishna, who led the team of specialist who surgically removed the extra limbs told the BBC that only 40 to 50 cases of parasitic twins have been documented in world medical literature, and in those cases, the surgery had been attempted on children. The doctor said that without much medical literature to guide them, the team of doctors depended on "intuition, skill and knowledge".

The doctor shared that the child had two fully formed legs, buttocks and external genitalia, which weighed around 15kg "protruding from his abdomen".

How Was The Surgery Performed?

The doctor shared that first they identified how interconnected the parasitic and host twins were. The doctors took scans and found that parasitic twin was attached to the teen's breastbone. The blood was being supplied from a vessel in his chest. However, "there wasn't much connection with other main organs like the liver or kidneys," said Dr Krishna. The team also found a large cyst in the teen's abdomen.

Then the surgery was performed in two stages. In the first stage, the parasitic twin was removed. Then the cystic mass was extracted from the surrounded area. The entire surgery was completed in two and a half hours and the team of doctors included radiologists, anaesthetists, and plastic surgeons.

The biggest challenge was when the teen's blood pressure dropped as 30 to 40% of his blood flowed to the parasitic twin, however, the doctors were prepared for it and they stabilized him.

Like any other young boy, Evan Lallo from Kirtland, Ohio, was finding his footing in life. What were his hobbies, what kind of sports he likes etc. And it is a given that starting any sports meant hurting muscles, tiredness and random pangs of pain. However, it was not simple for Evan. Although he may not have wished for a sports injury, what he found was much worse.

Evan’s difficult journey began with something that seemed simple: a painful shoulder. As a 14-year-old athlete who loved basketball, football, and lacrosse, the pain he started feeling was initially diagnosed as a common sports injury. He went through treatment, but the pain kept getting worse, eventually becoming so severe he couldn't even hold a pencil.

This alarming change led his family to the emergency room in search of answers. An MRI revealed a shocking truth: a mass was growing on his neck. Evan was quickly sent to Cleveland Clinic Children's, where a team of specialists worked together to identify the rare tumor. They discovered it was a type of cancer called Ewing sarcoma, which was growing along his nerves and causing all the pain and loss of function in his arm.

What Is Ewing Sarcoma?

According to National Cancer Institute, Ewing sarcoma is a type of cancer that forms from certain cells in your body. It usually appears in your bones or the soft tissues around them, such as muscles, fat, and cartilage. This cancer is most common in teenagers and young adults, typically from their teens up to their mid-20s.

This cancer can develop in the bones of your arms, legs, feet, hands, chest, pelvis, spine, or skull. It can also form in the body’s soft tissues, which are the tissues that connect, support, and surround your other organs.

Following the life-changing diagnosis, Evan’s treatment began immediately and was incredibly challenging. Over the next seven months, he endured multiple rounds of grueling chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Evan’s mom, Megan, shared that they spent more than 70 nights in the hospital throughout the treatment.

What Are Symptoms of Rare Bone Cancer?

The symptoms of Ewing sarcoma can vary from person to person. They may look like a lump on the arms, legs, or chest. Some other signs to be aware of include:

• Bone pain that comes and goes, especially at night.
• Swelling around a bone that hurts when you touch it.
• A lump near the skin's surface that feels warm and soft.
• A fever that won't go away.
• A bone that breaks without an obvious injury.
• Feeling very tired and losing weight without trying, which can happen if the cancer spreads.

Does Bone Cancer Reduce Limb Functionality?

Even after the intensive chemotherapy and radiation shrank Evan’s tumor, he was still struggling with limited function in his arm because the cancer had caused nerve damage. This created a new challenge for his recovery. His team brought in a specialist, Dr. Megan Jack, a neurosurgeon who performs a rare procedure called a nerve transfer.

She explained that the surgery essentially takes a healthy nerve and reconnects it to the damaged one to restore movement. Evan’s successful surgery in May 2025 gave him a new sense of hope. Although his arm would take time to heal and require physical therapy, his doctors were already seeing signs of improvement.

A Brave New Beginning: Life After Cancer

By June 2025, Evan had reached the final milestone of his cancer journey. His scans showed no signs of cancer remaining. He celebrated this incredible victory by ringing the Bravery Bell, a moment filled with relief, pride, and gratitude.

With his cancer treatment behind him, Evan is now focused on the future. He is looking forward to going back to school full-time and, with continued healing, getting back to playing sports with his friends. Evan’s powerful message to others is simple: “Just keep going.” His journey is a true testament to his incredible resilience and the strength of his support system.

Prostate cancer deaths in the United States were on the decline, thanks to advances in screening and treatment but new data from the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows that the tide is shifting — prostate cancer rates have been climbing steadily for the past decade, particularly in advanced stages of the disease. At the same time, a new national survey highlights a troubling gap in public awareness, 80% of Americans don’t know that early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, underscoring why early detection remains such a challenge.

According to the ACS’s latest prostate cancer statistics report, diagnoses of prostate cancer have increased by about 3% per year since 2014. This rise is particularly striking given that the decade before saw a 6.4% annual decline. What is most concerning is not only that more men are being diagnosed, but that more cases are being caught at advanced stages. The report notes that advanced-stage diagnoses are climbing at an even faster rate — up to 6.2% annually, depending on the age group.

Mortality trends add another layer of concern. In the 1990s and 2000s, prostate cancer death rates declined by 3% to 4% per year. Over the past decade, however, that rate of decline has slowed dramatically to just 0.6% annually.

Why is Prostate Cancer Screening Still Debatable?

One reason for the reversal may lie in the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) guidance from the early 2010s, which advised against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. The goal was to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, as PSA testing can detect cancers that are slow-growing and unlikely to ever cause harm.

But the shift away from routine screening may have had unintended consequences. With fewer men undergoing PSA tests, cancers are now being discovered later and at more aggressive stages. “We actually see PSA testing this decade versus the previous decade going down, so the incidence [of prostate cancer] is going up despite less testing occurring,” experts from ACS noted. “That starts to speak to other factors that might be environmental or nutritional or other things that we don’t fully understand.”

The paradox is clear: cutting back on PSA tests may have reduced overdiagnosis, but it may also be fueling the resurgence of advanced-stage disease.

Why Are Americans in the Dark About Prostate Cancer Detection?

Compounding the problem is public misunderstanding of prostate cancer symptoms. A nationwide survey conducted by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center revealed that four out of five Americans don’t know early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms at all. Most cases are detected only through routine screening, usually via a blood test for PSA levels.

The survey also found that 59% of respondents did not know sexual dysfunction can be a warning sign. Often, it’s partners who first notice these changes and encourage men to seek medical care. Other lesser-known symptoms — such as fatigue or unexplained weight loss — were better recognized by Black adults than by white adults, but Black respondents were less likely to know that early-stage disease can be asymptomatic.

This knowledge gap matters. When men assume they’ll feel ill if something is wrong, they’re less likely to prioritize regular screenings.

The ACS report also highlights stark racial disparities. Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as men from any other racial or ethnic group. Native American men, meanwhile, have a 12% higher death rate compared to white men despite a 13% lower incidence of the disease.

The reasons for these disparities are complex, involving a mix of biology, access to care, socioeconomic factors, and structural inequities in healthcare. What remains clear is that certain populations are paying a higher price for gaps in screening and treatment access.

Most common cancer in US men, Prostate cancer accounts for about 30% of male cancer diagnoses in 2025. Second leading cause of cancer death: After lung cancer, prostate cancer kills nearly 36,000 men annually in the U.S.

Annual cases: More than 300,000 American men are expected to be diagnosed in 2025.

Age factor: The majority of cases occur in men over 50.

Why Is Prostate Cancer Screening Crucial?

While the debate over PSA testing continues, experts agree on one point: men need to have informed conversations with their doctors about screening. The ACS and other organizations recommend that men aged 45 and older talk with their healthcare providers about the benefits and risks. For those at higher risk including Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer — those discussions should begin as early as age 40.

Screening can be a double-edged sword. It may detect cancers that grow slowly and never cause harm, but it can also catch aggressive cancers before they spread. Without it, many men may not realize they’re sick until it’s too late for curative treatment.

Ohio State Cancer Center patient Daryl Wilber and his wife, Jodi, were shocked when a routine blood test revealed he had early-stage prostate cancer. He had no symptoms. For Jodi, the lesson is clear: partners play a vital role in men’s health. “Help them get over that hump from going from ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I should do it’ to, ‘OK, I’m going to go tomorrow and do it,’” she said.

Their story echoes what oncologists stress — early detection saves lives. Because prostate cancer often progresses slowly, finding it early greatly improves survival odds.

What are The Pros and Cons of Screening?

PSA testing and digital rectal exams remain the two primary tools for early detection. But both come with limitations. Elevated PSA doesn’t always mean cancer, and not all prostate cancers need immediate treatment. Some may never grow large enough to cause harm, leading to unnecessary treatments that carry risks such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

That’s why many doctors recommend “shared decision-making”, weighing the risks and benefits together with the patient. Screening is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The right approach depends on age, race, family history, and personal health values.

The ACS projects nearly 314,000 new prostate cancer cases in 2025. That number, coupled with the slowed progress in reducing mortality, signals a pressing need to rethink screening strategies and public education.

Too many men and their families still believe symptoms will be obvious. Too many assume prostate cancer is always slow-growing. And too many at-risk populations lack access to timely testing and care.

Heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death globally, yet it is not the biggest cause of concern for people. It is not just an unhealthy lifestyle that can push you to cardiovascular diseases. Sometimes when your body lacks important components, it can tip your heart health sideways.

Unexpected things like too much stress, lack of vitamin D, as well as too much vitamin B (according to some studies) can increase your risk of heart diseases. However, a surprising deficiency that can increase your risk of heart diseases is B12. However, how is a vitamin, whose role is to support nerve and brain function, responsible for your heart health?

How Does B12 Vitamin Affect Heart Health?

Another function of vitamin is forming healthy red blood vessels and DNA. While vitamin B12 is crucial for our health, but it hasn't been clear how a person's B12 levels relate to their risk of death. To understand this better, a study published in the 2024 Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of existing studies to find out if there's a link between B12 levels and the risk of dying from all causes, heart disease, or cancer. What they found was that

• People with very high B12 levels (over 600 pmol/L) had a 50% higher risk of death from any cause and more than double the risk of death from heart disease.
• Even moderately high levels (400-600 pmol/L) were linked to a 34% higher risk of death from any cause.

They analyzed 22 studies that included a total of 92,346 people. The results showed a clear pattern:

• For every increase of 100 pmol/L in serum vitamin B12, there was a 4% higher risk of death from any cause in the general population.
• This risk was even higher for older adults, who had a 6% higher risk of death for the same increase in B12 levels.
• The connection was a straight, linear trend, meaning the risk steadily increased as B12 levels went up.

Can A Lack Of Vitamin B12 Also Cause Heart Diseases?

To find this a 2023 study published in the BMC, looked at vitamin B12 (B12), a marker for B12 deficiency called methylmalonic acid (MMA), and the risk of death has been unclear, especially for people with coronary heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to explore how MMA and B12—from blood levels, diet, or supplements—are connected to the risk of death from any cause and from cardiovascular issues in adults with CHD.

Researchers used data from a major US health survey to conduct this study. They included 1,755 adults who already had coronary heart disease (CHD) and whose levels of B12 and a related marker called MMA were measured. The study also looked at how much B12 the participants got from their diet. These individuals were followed for an average of nearly eight years to track how many of them passed away.

The study's key findings were about the connection between B12, MMA, and mortality:

Out of the 1,755 people in the study, 980 died during the follow-up period.

The study found no significant link between a person's B12 levels (from blood, diet, or supplements) and their risk of death.

In contrast, people with the highest levels of MMA had a 70% higher risk of death from any cause and double the risk of death from cardiovascular problems compared to those with the lowest MMA levels.

Interestingly, the risk of death from high MMA levels was even greater for participants who had a sufficient amount of B12 in their blood. In fact, CHD patients with high levels of both MMA and B12 had twice the risk of death compared to those with lower levels of both.

The study suggests that for patients with coronary heart disease, high levels of MMA are strongly linked to an increased risk of death, especially from cardiovascular causes. This was true even when their blood and dietary B12 levels were normal. This "paradox" may indicate that the body's ability to properly use vitamin B12 is what's important, not just the amount present in the blood.

Conclusion

Both studies and many experts agree that lack of vitamin B12 is an alarming factor for your heart health, however too much of it is also a risk variable. Before you make changes to your diet, whether to increase or decrease your vitamin B12 intake, make sure you speak to your healthcare professional to get a better idea of how much of it do you need.